BENTONVILLE -- The fees for Parks and Recreation programs are set for this year but may change in 2017 for those not residents of the city but participating in its programs.
The 2016 fees are similar to those last year. A few programs increased slightly, and there are several new programs to be offered.
Council Action
Bentonville’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:
• Annexation of 9004 Windmill Road, less than a half acre on Peach Orchard Road and five acres on Glen Road.
• Lot split on North Walton Boulevard and Northwest J Street.
• Creating design standards for the municipal airport.
• An agreement with Ozark Regional Transit for $125,757 for transit services.
• Spending $104,750 for a new dump truck for the Electrical Department.
• Spending $104,750 for a new dump truck for the Water Department.
• A $39,900 contract with Garver for the design, bidding and limited construction services for an influent by-pass channel at McKissic Lift Station.
Source: Staff Report
City Council approved 8-0 the 2016 fees at its Tuesday meeting.
Most of the fees that increased, went up by $5 to $10. Some programs added include community events, such as a daddy-daughter dance and a mother-son dance, and various adult sports, such as basketball tournaments, volleyball and dodge ball.
The approval came a day after council members talked about having resident and non-resident fees for programs during a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday. The change, if made, would be done no sooner than 2017 since this year's were already developed, the council discussed with David Wright, parks and recreation director.
The Community Center membership and admission costs are slightly more for nonresidents than residents, Tim Robinson, Ward 2 alderman, said at the Monday meeting. He asked the Parks and Recreation Department and the council consider separate fees for nonresidents for other on-going programming, specifically the sports programs, facility rentals and admission for the Melvin Ford Aquatic Center, the Downtown Activity Center and Lawrence Plaza.
One-time events, such as the Bentonville Half Marathon or Slaughter Pen Jam, should be exempt, and everyone should be charged the same fee, Robinson added.
Forty five percent, which is "thousands of participants," taking part in the city's sports programs aren't residents, Wright said. The city programs are geared toward serving those in the Bentonville School District, not necessarily the city limits, he said.
"It's an expense to run programs for nonresidents," he said.
Robinson said he didn't want to "price gouge" nonresidents who participated, but also said nonresidents are recipients of services without paying property taxes.
Nonresidents, however, are buying gas and food while coming into the city to participate in these programs, Bill Burckart, Ward 3 alderman, said.
"How do we bridge that gap and take into account that economic impact?" he asked, emphasizing he would like all the variables to be considered.
The city needs to first be fiscally responsible to its residents, but "at the same time, we should be proud people are coming here to use our facilities," Octavio Sanchez, Ward 4 alderman, said.
A price difference for nonresidents may also be an incentive to other communities to develop similar programming, Robinson said.
Wright said he would look into a different pricing structure over the next few months and vet it through the Parks Advisory Board before bringing it back to council before next year's budget discussions.
The council had no additional discussion on the fees at its meeting Tuesday.
NW News on 02/10/2016