By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, Dec. 1 introduced an ordinance raising fees charged for recreation.
The increase in fees was recommended by Recreation Director Andrew Miles.
“Our fees have not been updated since 2012,” he told commissioners during the worksession meeting. “We are not looking to drastically increase pricing for anything. We just want to get things in line with costs that are coming into us now. Labor costs are up, supply costs are up.”
The ordinance revision includes a range of fees to be charged for certain programs.
One fee was adjusted before the ordinance was introduced after Commissioner John Amodeo questioned the $500 fee charged to rent the first or second floor meeting rooms at the Bloom Pavilion for up to four hours.
“The $500 is a little stiff,” Amodeo said.
The facility is leased only two or three times a year, and use of the building for weddings and big parties has declined over the years, Miles said.
After discussion, the commissioners agreed to reduce the fee to $250 for two hours, with an additional $50 for each additional hour. Those using the room will also have to put up a security deposit to ensure they perform a proper cleanup following the event. The city could impose additional fees for labor and cleaning for certain events.
The city will charge $10 per hour for all users to rent the tennis courts, eliminating the resident discount. The $300 fee to rent the basketball courts for four hours, with an additional $50 for each additional hour remains unchanged. The game fees for lined fields will remain at $50 per game, but a new fee of $25 per hour will be charged for non-lined fields.
Fees will also be adjusted for athletic programs and children’s and adult classes, workshops, dancing, day camps and senior citizen luncheons and activities at the pavilion to include a range of charges.
Pickleball membership will be $75-125 per year, $20-40 per week, and $7-15 per day. Tournament fees will be $20-75.
A public hearing and vote on adoption will be held 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15.
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