New Pool Fees Proposed By The PRMCC

The Park, Recreation, Marina and Cultural Commission proposed hiking the family fee at the Rankin Pool to $16, and renting out the picnic areas for as much as $250.

The family pool pass, as of now $12 for a family of up to five people, is a little on the low side in the view of the pool managers, said Patty Lorick of the Recreation Department. It was intended for two adults and up to three children, she said, but last year pool employees saw a number of instances where three adults and two children would come in on the pass.

Lorick had proposed raising the fee to $14, but commissioners felt that it should be even higher, and suggested that the City Council adopt at $16 fee for the family pass.

One commissioner, Bryan Etchner, said he wanted to revisit the entire pool fee structure with the council, with an eye toward raising the entrance fees.

The council shot down the commission’s suggestion last year of a flat $5 entry fee, and instead instituted a tiered fee schedule based on age: $2.75 for ages 3-17, $5 for ages 18-55, and $4 for ages 55 and up.

The commission also suggested a fee of $250 for rental of the two picnic areas by the play equipment. She said staff was “flabbergasted” last year by the number of birthday parties people were having at the pool. But because the covered picnic areas were “first-come, first-serve,” people were getting in fights and causing pandemonium over the use of the area.

Lorick said the idea is to avoid that this year by allowing people to reserve the area, and pay for it ahead of time at City Hall with their credit card.

The fee proposals will go to the City Council for approval.