- December 15, 2024
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People who want to swim or hit a golfball or tennis ball at one of the city of Palm Coast government's recreational facilities will soon have to pay a bit more to do so: The city is raising its user fees to cover rising costs.
The city last revised its fee structure three years ago.
City staff checked fees at facilities in surrounding areas before creating the new fee schedule for Palm Coast.
"They’ve done their homework, and this is also a work in progress, so the fees will be monitored to be consistent with what is appropriate for the public," Mayor David Alfin said at a Palm Coast City Council meeting Aug. 17.
For individual users, the increases won't be especially steep — an extra $5 on monthly payments for an annual pass for the tennis center, for example.
The more notable increases will affect people and groups that rent out city facilities like rooms at the Community Center, where rates have been lower than comparable rates elsewhere: The Community Center's Room 116, for example, is currently offered after-hours at $30 an hour plus a setup fee of $37.50 for up to 50 guests, or $50 for more than 50. That will change to a flat $75 hourly fee.
Fees will also rise for park pavilion rentals.
"I think that these fees are more — more— than fair, especially in comparison to what's around us," City Councilman Eddie Branquinho said at the Aug. 17 council meeting. "I've been speaking to other people, especially at the golf course, and they are absolutely in favor ... especially for the product that we’re giving for that money."
Also at the Aug. 17 meeting, the City Council approved this year's set of requests to the Florida Legislature.
The city has three requests this year: That the state deem the restoration of power to PEP tank areas after emergencies such as hurricanes a "lifeline function," to help keep PEP tanks from backing sewage into homes due to extended power outages; that the state support the Old Kings Road widening project, and that the state support transportation projects that would link Matanzas Woods Parkway, Palm Coast Parkway and Whiteview Parkway to land tracts on the western side of Palm Coast.
The City Council approved the new Parks and Recreation fee schedule and the three legislative priorities 4-0. Councilman Ed Danko was absent, quarantining due to potential exposure to COVID-19.
