2004 AGN SEP 07 I22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF COLTON AGENDA REPORT FOR COUNCIL MEETING OF September 7, 2004 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Bill Smith, Community Services Director SUBJECT: Approval of Fee Amendment for Community Center Monthly Pass Program DATE: August 25, 2004 Item #22 BACKGROUND: On May 18, 2004, the City Council approved several new fees and fee changes for Community Services Department programs and services. This new fee schedule included fees for facility reservation, summer programs, and a new Community Center Fitness Pass Program, which established a monthly fee for the use of fitness facilities at the Gonzales Community Center. Since this approval, all referenced fee changes have been publicized to the community, and have been implemented as soon as possible. At this point, all new fees and fee changes, with the exception of this Fitness Pass Program, have been implemented. The Fitness Pass Program is scheduled for implementation on October 1, 2004. DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: During the development of the new Fitness Pass system, staff has received multiple concerns from residents, regarding this particular fee. While most residents are in favor of this program, and are very willing to pay a fee for this service, there is a concern regarding the fee amount. The opinion has been expressed to staff that this fee, while appropriate, is too large, given the services that the Gonzales Center provides. Many of our regular resident users have expressed that they will not continue to use the facilities at the Community Center, given the current, approved fee. Since the intention of the fee was not to deter residents from participation at the Gonzales Center, staff has researched fees at other fitness facilities in the immediate area. Staff has found that monthly fees to use commercial fitness facilities in the area are very competitive with the Gonzales Center Fitness Pass fee, and in some cases, lower than the approved fee. While the fitness facilities at the Gonzales Center are appreciable, they are not comparable, in quantity or quality, to those of commercial fitness facilities. Because of this finding, staff is recommending an amended fee schedule for the Gonzales Center Fitness Pass Program. This amendment would set fees at a more reasonable level, and make the program competitive with other such programs in the community. The amendment will not delay the implementation of the program, which is still set for October 1, 2004. This fee amendment recommendation is supported by the Recreation &Parks Commission.