Title
Approving a fee and application process for business and special event uses of City parks and Lake Pflugerville.
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Department is seeing an increasing demand for use of City parks and Lake Pflugerville for organized sports and fitness activities. This item was brought to Council on November 9, 2010 at which time staff was directed to convene a committee consisting of members of the Parks and Recreation Commission as well as Mayor Jeff Coleman and Councilman Wayne Cooper. The committee was to develop a plan to manage and regulate such uses without deterring the fitness culture of the community. Pending the development of the plan, the Council also approved the conditional use of the special event permit to manage events at Lake Pflugerville until July 2011. The Committee held two meetings and developed the following plan:
Business entities holding classes in the park system will be required to:
• Submit a permit application to the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Pay an annual permit fee of $125.00 per business entity.
• Obtain a Comprehensive General Liability Insurance policy with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Staff has researched such policies and learned that the average annual cost is $230.00.
The City will:
• List business entities on the Parks and Recreation Department website page as permitted to do business in parks and at the Lake, but not endorsed or supported by the city.
• Waive annual permit fee for entities not charging for classes. Those entities will still be required to complete a permit.
Special event use of parks and Lake Pflugerville:
• Submit a permit application to the Parks and Recreation Department.
• Obtain a Comprehensive General Liability Insurance policy with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Staff has researched such policies and learned that the average one-time cost is $300.00.
• Pay fee as applicable per fee structure
|
Event |
Per entrant fee |
Minimum fee |
|
Triathlon |
$4.00 |
$1,500 |
|
Run, bike, swim |
$2.00 |
$750.00 |
|
Non-profits |
$1.00 |
no minimum required |
|
Local non-profits |
all fees waived |
all fees waived |
The City will:
• List business entities on the Parks and Recreation Department website page as permitted to do business in parks and at the Lake, but not endorsed or supported by the city.
• Waive fees for local non-profit organizations hosting events. Those entities will still be required to complete a permit.
A tracking system will be put into place ensuring permit renewals will be reviewed in a timely fashion. The Parks and Recreation Department will have the authority to move any group if wear and tear on the park grounds is evident. Any disputes between business entities will be decided by the Parks and Recreation Director or their designee. This type of management meets the goal of the committee to develop a fair, non-egregious fee structure as part of best management practices governing the use of City parks and Lake Pflugerville. The City Attorney has reviewed the permit application. The Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously at the February 17, 2011 meeting to recommend the fee and application process. Staff would like to establish an effective date of July 1, 2011.
Deadline for City Council Action
Approval is requested on June 14, 2011.
Prior City Council Action
November 9, 2010
Fiscal Impact
Assessment of fees is a way to manage demand for use of parkland and Lake Pflugerville and recoup some of the maintenance costs incurred by those uses.
Staff Recommendation
Approve fee and application process.
Drafter
Amy Atkins, Parks and Recreation Director