Title
Authorizing the Parks Superintendent to Approve Fee Modifications for Use of Parks Space
Body
Madison Parks strives to provide park spaces that are well-used, positive community assets. At times, reservations for a section of a park for a fee are approved to accommodate a specific user group. Reservations can be beneficial to guarantee a particular space is available and to mitigate conflicts with other park users. Fees for reservations of park space recognize that reserved use of park space reduces overall public access to parkland and can offset some of the expenses incurred by the Parks Division. With all fees, Madison Parks has the mission of providing affordable opportunities for recreational and educational experiences.
Over the past five years, Madison Parks has worked hard to standardize fee rates and implement them consistently across the system. From time to time, there are requests for use of park space that do not conform to established fee structures. In these situations, a fee modification approved by the Parks Superintendent can allow the Parks Division to respond to the needs of park users in a timely, practical manner. Situations where fee modifications may be used include:
• Legacy user groups that predate the establishment of a new fee and have mitigating circumstances that need to be addressed with a fee modification.
• A pilot concept for a use that would have minimal impact, only occur at one park location and does not have an established fee in the Park Division fee schedule.
• Uses that align with the citywide goal of Racial Equity and Social Justice.
WHEREAS, the Park Commission has authority to establish rules for the parks system; and
WHEREAS, the regulation of uses and requirement of fees for reserved use of space in the Park system is needed; and
WHEREAS, the Parks Superintendent will, prior to approving a fee modification:
• Review impact on other known park user groups and neighborhood residents;
• Evaluate the circumstances that would make a fee modification preferable;
• Review other established fee modifications and agreements to strive for consistency of treatment among park user groups;
• Send the fee modification to the Park Commission if the proposed fee amount is more than a 50% reduction in the rate from similar fees;
• Send the fee modification to the Park Commission if the use includes an alcohol or public amplification 2 (PA2) permit;
• Document the fee modification in writing and with signatures from the user group and Parks Superintendent or designee.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Park Commissioners authorizes the Parks Superintendent to approve fee modifications for a period of up to three (3) years per fee modification for use of parks space; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parks Superintendent will annually report to the Board of Park Commissioners all fee modifications.