JACKSON, Wyo. — On Tuesday, March 21, the Teton County Board of County Commissioners voted to withdraw the recently proposed Rec Center fee schedule and, rather than release a revised list, opted to revisit the fees at a later meeting before opening up more public comment.
The Rec Center is currently in the midst of a $33 million renovation. The proposed fee schedule aims to capture 44-46% cost recovery. For reference, the old Rec Center fee schedule had a cost recovery rate of 18%.
During the meeting on Tuesday, Alyssa Watkins, the board’s administrator, attempted to answer questions on behalf of Parks and Recreation Director Steve Ashworth, who was absent. Ashworth submitted a revised fee schedule for the board to consider.
The revised schedule added a discount for local residents for annual, three-month, monthly, day-use and 10-punch passes. Commissioners still took issue with certain aspects of the fee schedule but with Ashworth absent, many questions went unanswered.
Commissioner Greg Epstein asked, “Is the public looking for everything to just be at a very reduced cost no matter what, or is the public sensible enough to know that this is a new amenity, this is a new program, this is a new service, that has its operations requirements and everything else that goes along with it?”
“You’re not being asked today whether or not you agree with this fee schedule, you are just being asked whether you agree with publishing it,” Watkins said. But she also noted, “this [revised fee schedule] mirrors the initial fee schedule that was approved for 45-day public comment.”
Commissioner Wes Gardner also pointed out the issues he has with the revised fee schedule, including the steep increase in 10-punch passes from $34 to $120. Gardner pushed for another revision before releasing the schedule to public comment again.
“I don’t think it takes a Nostradamus to predict what those comments are going to be and maybe we would be better served to get in front of those,” Gardner said.
Keith Gingery, chief deputy attorney for Teton County, pointed out that if commissioners want to drastically change the structure of the fee schedule, public comment would need to be taken again, starting the 45-comment period again.
Vice Chair Natalia Macker said she would like to see more public comment but, “we only get to set the initial rates for the new components of the gym, once, so I want to get the first pass right.”
The proposed fee schedule was made public on Feb. 15 and the 45-day public comment period began on March 1. Due to feedback from the public, the Parks and Rec Department suggested withdrawing the proposal.
County staff members noted that time is limited to nail down the fee schedule ahead of budget discussions. The county’s fiscal year begins in July. The board concluded that they can revisit the fee schedule prior to the May Joint Information Meeting with the Town Council.
Gingery clarified that the County publishes the proposed fee schedule and takes public comment on the issue. “The town comes into the game at the end when you are actually approving [the fee schedule],” Gingery said.
