metro
04-10-2007, 10:46 AM
Oklahoma City approves fee increases
Bryan Dean
Staff Writer
Oklahoma City Council members today passed another round of increased fees, including garage sale permits and park pavilion rentals.
The city is in the midst of reviewing and changing fees in all departments. The changes approved Tuesday affect the parks and finance departments.
The cost of a garage sale permit will go from $5 to $7.
The cost of renting of various park pavilions and athletic practice fields is also going up.
Oklahoma City Parks Director Wendel Whisenhunt said the higher fees will help the city recover its costs for operating the pavilions and fields and will also discourage groups from monopolizing the areas.
The city will also stop renting out its pools. Whisenhunt said the city only rented out pools occasionally, and staff members are concerned about security problems.
Lifeguards were assigned to the pools when they were rented, but Whisenhunt said their focus is on pool safety, not handling conflicts that might arise out of the water.
Council members are scheduled to continue their review of city fees through the spring and early summer.
Fee increases
A few of the fee increases approved Tuesday:
•Athletic practice field season permit:
Old fee - $20
New fee - $30
•Stars and Stripes Park picnic pavilion rental:
Old fee - $40
New fee - $45
•Trosper Park picnic pavilion rental:
Old fee - $20
New fee - $45
•Senior citizen center rooms:
Old fee - $40
New fee - $70
Bryan Dean
Staff Writer
Oklahoma City Council members today passed another round of increased fees, including garage sale permits and park pavilion rentals.
The city is in the midst of reviewing and changing fees in all departments. The changes approved Tuesday affect the parks and finance departments.
The cost of a garage sale permit will go from $5 to $7.
The cost of renting of various park pavilions and athletic practice fields is also going up.
Oklahoma City Parks Director Wendel Whisenhunt said the higher fees will help the city recover its costs for operating the pavilions and fields and will also discourage groups from monopolizing the areas.
The city will also stop renting out its pools. Whisenhunt said the city only rented out pools occasionally, and staff members are concerned about security problems.
Lifeguards were assigned to the pools when they were rented, but Whisenhunt said their focus is on pool safety, not handling conflicts that might arise out of the water.
Council members are scheduled to continue their review of city fees through the spring and early summer.
Fee increases
A few of the fee increases approved Tuesday:
•Athletic practice field season permit:
Old fee - $20
New fee - $30
•Stars and Stripes Park picnic pavilion rental:
Old fee - $40
New fee - $45
•Trosper Park picnic pavilion rental:
Old fee - $20
New fee - $45
•Senior citizen center rooms:
Old fee - $40
New fee - $70