09-07-95 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINtJ'PES CITY COUNCIL SEPTENiBII2 7, 1995 Program declined, but pointed out that due to the low cost of that program, some people were using it as a day care. Numbers also declined because the hockey program and swimming lessons were eliminated. Morelan asked what those kids were doing rather than participatinq in youth programs. Fahey stated that he would not support raising any fee unless there was a reason to do so. If the City should be run like a business and there is the need to keep money cominq in, then fees should be raised across the board every year. Morelan replied that may be true, but also pointed out that a periodic evaluation of fees to determine how they compare with surrounding cities is not out-of- line. Scalze agreed there was the need to make fees equitable, and then an across-the-board increase could be adopted. The Administrator reported that staff tries to look at fees as objectively as it can, even though this is a subjective area. Staff does compare fees with those of surrounding aities given that the City compares many things with what is going on in these other cities. The Administrator pointed out that there are many fees in line with other cities' fees that do not warrant an increase versus fees that are not in line. Morelan suggested that once fees are at a level playing field, it may be a good idea to adopt an annual across- the-board increase. The Administrator pointed out that the 1996 Budget included an increase from part-time recreation assistant to full-time in mid 1996. The Administrator pointed out that this has been discussed in the past, and may be necessary to achieve the program expansion that has also been discussed. The Administrator reported that one of the part-time assistants may be leaving at the end of 1996. Rather than replace the part-time assistant, it may be more reasonable to increase the other position to full-time. Morelan agreed that the position should be made full- time in mid-1996. 10