Memorandum 18-131 Re: Camping, Dump Station and Picnic Shelter Fees

Memorandum 18-131

To:                         Mayor Castner and Homer City Council

From:                   Parks, Art, Recreation and Culture Advisory Commission

Through:           Julie Engebretsen, Deputy City Planner, Matt Steffy, Parks Maintenance Coordinator

Date:                    November 20, 2018

Subject:              Camping, dump station and picnic shelter fees

At the October 25, 2018 PARCAC meeting, the Commission voted to make the following recommendations on the Fee Schedule:

$25 rental fee for exclusive use of picnic shelters (4 hours)
$50 daily rate for picnic shelter reservation. (typically for special events, and rare)  
Standardize tent camping and RV camping to both be $20 per day.
Dump station fee should be raised from $5 to $25

Background

Pavilion Fees: The City of Homer offers multiple pavilions for reservation throughout the year. It is the common practice with most communities that this service comes at a fee. Not simply because of the staff time associated with maintaining the calendar, posting notices, trash removal, etc but because we are granting exclusive use. Anyone can use the pavilions at any time for free, but to get exclusive use (no one else is allowed in the pavilion) should come with a fee.  For example, if a person wants to host a family reunion or company event at a shelter and reserve it solely for that use, that would come with a $25 fee. If it’s a nice Saturday and a family wants to BBQ at Hornaday Park, and the shelter is not reserved, that family can use the shelter free of charge, and other families can also use the area.

Some examples of other communities:

Fairbanks:         Pavilion Rental up to 4 hours = $30, Pavilion Rental over 4 hours: $50

Valdez:                $25 for up to 6 hours, $10 per hour for each additional

Soldotna:          $31.86 (with tax) for up to 4 hours

 Camping fees: Staff recommended, and the Commission agreed, to standardize camping fees. This will save hours of employee administrative time, and should have minimal revenue impact.