Wednesday, April 7, 2004

New parks and
planning fees enacted

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Ketchum City Council members Monday, April 5, approved a wide range of fee increases for city parks programs, special events on city property, and planning and zoning services.

In a set of unanimous votes, the council approved five resolutions that will ultimately cost some citizens more to receive services from the city Parks Department and Planning Department.

Council members agreed that the city should require its department heads to help increase city revenues by bringing their fees more closely in line with those of other, comparable cities.

Councilman Baird Gourlay said city officials need to cooperate to begin saving enough money to pay for future public projects, including a much-talked-about capital improvement plan for parts of downtown.

"This will not happen unless we have a sense of teamwork," Gourlay said, stressing that the revenue increases are relatively small but could help the city over time.

The Parks Department has estimated the fee increases would raise approximately $4,000 in the first year they are implemented.

The approved resolutions include:

• A new sliding-scale fee structure for city recreation programs. As part of the proposal, scholarships would remain available to all children who could not afford the programs.
  
   
• A new fee schedule for the reservation of and exclusive use of facilities at Atkinson Park and Rotary Park.
  
   
• A new fee schedule for planning and zoning services. The Planning Department has not raised its fees since 1996.
  
   
• A new set of fees for use of the city’s Park and Ride lot, now $500 for the first day and $100 for ensuing days.
  
   
• A new set of fees for holding special events at city parks, excluding specific gatherings such as small weddings and birthday parties.

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