Parks staff recommend fee tweaks, motor‑coach restructuring and proposed splash‑pad sites

Parks & Leisure Director Kelly Carmichael presented several recommendations to commissioners at the March 2 workshop, proposing modest fee increases, a new motor‑coach fee model and preferred splash‑pad locations drawn from the department’s Master Plan and PLAC review.

On the FY27 fee schedule, staff recommended a 2.7% increase to facility rentals to reflect inflationary pressures, setting aquatic‑center admission for children ages 3–17 at $3 per visit and making legacy museum admission free to encourage resident access. Staff said rental fees are intended to be revenue neutral, covering maintenance and staffing costs.

On motor‑coach operations (the "Making Tracks" program), Parks staff proposed replacing a flat sinking‑fund charge with a usage‑based hybrid: $185 per trip day plus $0.40 per mile, allocating sinking‑fund contributions 70% by day and 30% by miles. The slide package estimated that with 110 travel days (the programmatic target for year one) the sinking‑fund contribution would be about $29,150 toward a $52,500 target. Staff discussed options for the county to run programmatic trips and the need for a part‑time coordinator to manage scheduling, ticketing and registrations.

On splash pads, staff said PLAC vetted potential sites and recommended two locations (Upper Fairmont and Upper City Park) because each has restrooms and parking. Commissioners raised concerns about vandalism at recently opened county facilities and urged staff to evaluate sites adjacent to staffed community centers or to add fencing and controlled access; staff noted three bids were received through Georgia’s procurement registry and reminded the board that base bids do not include site work, shade, benches or other amenities.

Several commissioners pressed staff on revenue neutrality for the aquatic center and the timeline for ramping motor‑coach contributions to the sinking fund; staff provided usage numbers (about 30,158 check‑ins last calendar year) and said the county will need to supplement operations while programming and participation grow.

What’s next: staff will refine fee recommendations for the board’s voting agenda, return with more site‑specific splash‑pad cost breakdowns and develop a staffing plan and sinking‑fund schedule if the board approves the motor‑coach fee model.