Wednesday, June 16, 2004

New user fees set

Charges cover costs of events in Hailey

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

The Hailey City Council Monday approved fee increases, changes in fees and new fees for business licenses, parks use permits and special event permits.

Viewed as a housekeeping measure, the changes will also bring the city greater revenues especially from use of public property.

Hailey city clerk Heather Dawson noted that the Hailey Parks and Lands Board that met on June 1 recommended that fees should be tied to use rather than type of user. Distinctions between not-for-profit and for-profit events have been eliminated from the board’s fee schedule as well.

Also, because processing security deposits for users is time consuming for city staff, a flat fee of $125 will be charged for all special events permit applications. The same fee will be charged for all business license applications as well. A $50 business license renewal fee was also established.

A per diem fee of $500 for events like the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival was put on hold until October 2004. The delay was made at the recommendation of City Councilman Rick Davis who said it was unfair to hit special events with the new daily fee after planners had already set their budgets for 2004 and had not accounted for such a fee.

A security deposit of $500 per event will be assessed for public property damage and cleanup during or after a special event or a major organized event within a Hailey city park. If damages and cleanup costs are more than the deposit, the city can also charge the added cost.

Davis asked if the deposit was necessary, since historically special event users like the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival did an excellent job cleaning up after events. Mayor Susan McBryant and City Administrator Jim Azumano argued that the deposit and the per diem charge were important because there are impacts to city costs that may appear hidden.

Azumano said in the next year city departments would study use of city parks to establish the true financial impact and used to negotiate future user fees with more than an eyeball approach.

Park pavilion use will require a $25 per day fee. Organized events of 25 to 99 participants will be charged a user fee of $50. Events with participation of 100 to 150 people will be charged a fee of $75 per day.

Any seasonal event like farmers markets will be assessed a $100 park use fee per park for the season and will be exempt from the organized event fees except during events like a softball tournament when 200 or more people are present. Then, the $500 per day major event fee will be assessed.

Vendors may operate in the city only under special event permits, which may be held by sponsors of special events like the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival or by private businesses. Special event sponsors and their vendors are subject to parking and pedestrian access requirements.

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