Travis County Commissioners Court
December 8, 2009,
Item 8
Number 8, consider and take appropriate action regarding park free and he refund policy proposalss by the transportation and natural resources department.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners.
good late morning.
with me -- charles byrd within with me is robert, he's going to be operating our power point presentation, and kurt neilsen who is here to discuss our proposal.
t.n.r.
parks is proposing an increase in some park fees along with the adoption of policies involving deposits and refunds.
this proposal includes new fees at our area lake parks, establishing refundable deposits for shelters and participated in the shell -- sheltersand pavilions.
adoption of administrative changes this our rental policies and updating the refund policy for park permits and athletic fields and facilities.
this agenda item was presented to the court on October 22 in a public hearing.
and at that time we are directed by the court to talk to community in the east on metro area so we met with park springs neighborhood association on November 9th to discuss proposed fees for the basketball pavilion to be used as a shelter.
and at that time we didn't get any -- the neighborhood association did not indicate any direct opposition to the proposal.
we have a short power point presentation which outlines the specific details.
robert armisted will present the proposed park fees and deposits and kurt will talk about the refunds for the athletic facilities.
>> let me ask you this.
since we've heard the presentation and had a chance to think about it, can we just discuss changes made since our last discussion?
are we able to do that?
that's what we need to focus on, right?
>> uh-huh.
>> we raised some issues and we understood a little work welcome back done including a discussion -- would be done including discussion with impacted residents about changing the basketball court.
and from what I heard a few minutes ago, residents didn't really -- object to that so I assume it's probably all right.
>> the discussion at the time at the meeting centered more on the ymca at the swimming pool than it did on the pavilion.
>> would you like me to just go over what we're proposing as far as that park?
>> changes since our last discussion.
now.
i guess we knew about that one, right?
so we are proceeding with the original recommendation.
are you about to sum vice that for us?
>> I can do that.
>> and whatever changes.
>> power point or summarize it?
>> I would summarize it.
>> I can do that.
the youth fees, we're proposing changing day use fees and that would be tom hughes, bob
>> [inaudible] reimers ranch and
>> [inaudible] and loop 360, $10 a vehicle.
at hippie hollow, we've always had a surcharge and we would be proposing retaining that and $10 entry fee and $2 to $12.
we would also be recommending an annual day use permit go from 75 to 100.
the duplicate annual would go to $50.
we're recommending for deposits, refundable deposits on shelters at ben fisher, valley valley, east metro, northeast metro, southeast metro, rich moya and webberville.
and $100 pavilion rental -- I mean deposit at the bob wentz and
>> [inaudible] to a rentable facility.
so $50 for shelters, $50 refundable deposit for shelters and $100 for pavilions, all refundable.
>> refundable contingent upon --
>> how they leave it.
>> leaving it in the shape they found it.
>> if we have to spend time cleaning it up, we'll retain a portion or all of it based on how much effort.
additional changes, remove southwest metro from our field concession rental schedule.
we have no plans to put athletic field at reimers ranch.
that was originally called southwest metro before we bought it.
and the general use trailer parking at loop 360, that park is just like our other parks, our lake parks and we want to treat it just like our other lake park free structure.
we're also proposing to rent out the mansfield dam concession building as a -- as a -- a rental facility and that would be similar to bob wentz and that would be $10 an hour for a minimum.
and we had referenced earlier make east metro basketball courts available for group reservations and that would be $75 for a half court.
and change --
>> again, the goal will be raised.
>> that's correct.
>> because it is a basketball goal down there.
>> on a site that's reserved, that will be raised.
>> so people don't have to worry about folks playing basketball while they are picnicking.
>> that is the plan.
>> okay, thanks.
>> we're suggesting changing bob wentz which is currently $15 to $10 so it's compatible with all our other reservation fees.
all our reservation fees are $10 for facilities and so we're recommending changing 15 to 10.
and then we have discussions about refunds, and kurt, you want to run through the refund policies?
>> there are no changes from what we brought to the court last time, but we're just -- for our permit refunds, we're looking at instituting -- giving us the opportunity to give a monetary refund along -- in lieu of just the vouchers, which is what we're approved to do now.
we have run into cases where that was more applicable.
and then --
>> would you have cash on hand?
>> no, it would go through the auditor's office.
>> so there's still a short delay, it's just you don't have to deal with a voucher.
>> correct.
correct.
and then changes to our refund policy for athletic fields.
and we initiated that to follow up on last year in why I pose the court approved our new fee structure for athletic fields, we found that when we're given enough notice, that we should refund reservation fees because that's such a large part of our user's fees from last year's proposal.
if that makes sense.
>> [one moment, please, for change in captioners] change blank
>> ...
if they give us enough notice to cancel the event, I think it's 12 business days, they give us 12 business days advance notice, which gives us enough time to rebook it, they give us 12 days to -- to cancellation notice, we will give them a cash refund.
they will give them their money back.
>> in other words, prior to this, the reservation fee was non-refundable.
now that the reservation fee is such a large part of their cost, like charles said, we would like to be able to give them that back if they give us enough advance notice.
>> it -- the fee structure is set up to -- kind of get more accountable with the users.
because people would try to block people out, then only book what they have needed or interest in their further tournament, then the fields lay empty for the course of the weekend.
every Monday we got calls from other users wanting to have access to the fields.
>> okay.
>> you've got it.
>> what would be the effective dated of these changes?
>> we would recommend January, the month of January.
we have to institute the computer modifications at -- on our computer system.
but we would be proposing January 2010.
>> we would be able to get that done by January of 2010?
>> we would hope so.
>> okay.
>> we could keep you posted on that outcome.
>>
>> [indiscernible] posted website on this
>> [indiscernible] will be posted?
>> yes, we do.
>> how are these changes going into our Travis County code?
or are they?
>> good question.
we can -- we can -- what we could do is come back with formalized documentation and have you guys approve that.
with a code.
>> yeah, we generally will put together a fee schedule and that will reflect all of the changes that are approved by the court.
>> since we're having just the fact that the fee schedule exists to be reflected in the code so we don't have to change the code itself.
but it should be referenced, I believe.
>> there is one fee schedule
>> [indiscernible] Travis County.
>> [inaudible - no mic]
>> get with legal and let us know if we need to do anything.
move approval of the proposed fee and refund policy changes.
seconded by Commissioner Davis.
discussion?
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous vote.
we will recess until 1:30.
all in favor?
that passes by unanimous
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 2:30 PM
