VERO BEACH – The Vero Beach Recreation Commission plans to recommend the Vero Beach City Council change fees in a hope of generating additional revenue for the Recreation Department.
The commission wants to increase the processing fee associated with events and implement a new fee for for-profit vendors participating in non-profit events.
The group also discussed a $1 fee for using the Royal Palm Pointe fountain as well as charging $1 for parking at Riverside Park for the Fourth of July fireworks. The fountain fee was shot down by the majority of the commission members and the parking fee was put on hold pending more information.
Members of the Vero Beach City Council recommended the Recreation Commission meet to discuss ways to trim its budget and make suggestions for raising revenue.
“It’s really surprising what this review will reveal,” Commission Chair Richard Yemm said at the outset of the meeting.
Recreation Department Director Rob Slezak reviewed the programs and staff the city had in 2005-2006 as compared to 2010-2011. The city employed 47 staff members in 2006, a level that has since been cut to 31.
As a way to cut back on costs, the city’s recreation department has eliminated various programs – but the number of community-driven events that require the department’s support has increased.
Slezak said he had thought the number of community events, such as Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Craft Show and 5Ks, was in the neighborhood of 30 to 50. Once he started to categorize the events, the number was 79.
There were 36 such events in 2006.
Yemm said that the city has cut costs by cutting its own programs only to incur more cost from the increased number of community events.
He suggested the commission follow City Councilman Craig Fletcher’s direction from the budget hearings and charge a fee for for-profit vendors participating in non-profit events, such as Under the Oaks.
Yemm recommended a $25 per event fee the vendors would be charged, which would go back to the Recreation Department to help offset the cost to the department for paying staff overtime and other such expenses handling the community events.
“It’s well worth it,” member Debbie-Kay Whitehouse said for the vendor to pay $25, given the amount of money the vendor can expect to make during the event.
Yemm reminded the commission that the department is trying to recoup its costs, not generate a profit.
“Right now, we’re giving it away,” Yemm said.
Yemm also recommended increasing the processing fee for community events from the current $50-$550 sliding rate to $100-$1,000.
Slezak told the commission that the last time the fee was changed was in 2007. The rate is charged to offset the administration side of community events and depends on the scale of the event – the bigger, more involved the event, the higher the charge.
The commission voted unanimously to send the two recommendations to the Vero Beach City Council for review.
Whitehouse had recommended the $1 fee for the Royal Palm Pointe Fountain, which was overruled. She told the commission that the fountain needs major work done and there is no money to get it done.
She also recommended the parking fee for the Fourth of July, but Slezak said the major private donor who helps fund the fireworks might not be willing to donate if the city were to charge for parking.
That item was put on hold pending more information.
Other changes the Recreation Commission heard from Slezak included a change to the hours at Leisure Square Pool, charging fees or increasing fees for clubs and programs, and shifting lifeguards.
The following are proposed adjustments to the 2011-12 Recreation budget and have not yet been approved –
By the Numbers:
- Leisure Square Pool – hours to vary by season from 41 hours/week to 56.5 hours/week; pool to be closed between Dec. 18 and Jan. 7 for holidays and maintenance.
- Leisure Square Facility – close at 3 p.m. Sunday; open at 8 a.m. Mon., Weds., Fri.; close 5 p.m. Fri. excluding Indian River County Schools Summer Break.
- Jaycee and South Beach lifeguard towers to close one day a week for 38 weeks on opposite days; when guarded, towers will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Humiston tower to be open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
- Royal Palm Pointe Fountain – closed Sundays year-round unless city can find sponsor to keep it open.
- Shuffleboard Club – pay $5 member fee.
- Community Special Events – a percent of entry/alcohol revenue to be paid.
- Performing Arts Students – pay $40/month instead of $10/month; had been low to attract students to the program.
- Stage/Bleacher Rentals – increase fee by $30.
- Riverside Tennis Pro Shop – closed Noon – 5 p.m. Mon.-Thurs.; Courts to close at 8 p.m. Weds.-Thurs.
