Council approves updated recreation and facility fee schedule with modest amendments

Town staff presented an amended master fee schedule for facility rentals and sports use, reflecting consultant recommendations and Parks & Recreation Committee input. Proposed changes included processing fees, a $25/hour cleaning fee, new public‑agency fees, an updated sports-user fee matrix (10% increases in many categories), and a $246 staff consulting fee for complex rentals.

Councilors and public commenters questioned the modest $25 cleaning rate, deposit structure and whether fee information would be transparent on the website. After debate the council adopted a motion to raise the cleaning fee to $50/hour (as a stronger deterrent and partial cost recovery), set town court user fees to $75 per person, and offer a $500 resident discount on the community hall rental. Staff will post clearer fee breakdown information online and produce a consumer-facing summary so renters can estimate a total cost without incurring staff consulting charges.

Why it matters: Fee changes affect resident access to town facilities and cost recovery for maintenance. Council sought balance between cost recovery, competitive rates versus nearby venues, and public access. The council also asked staff to return at mid‑year with additional analysis (per-field vs per-player pricing) and more transparent web presentation.

Next steps: Staff to update the fee schedule and public web materials, implement the amended rates effective July 1 and return to the council for mid‑year review of fee structure and competitive comparisons.