Draft Recreation and Parks Facility Use Policy 12-11-2007-7a

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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: December 11, 2007 Action Agenda Item No. _7 -- c~ SUBJECT: Recreation and Parks Facility Use Policies DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Parks .PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): Draft Policy Document INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Blackmon, 245-2300 Lori Taft, 245-2660 PURPOSE: To review and consider policies associated with use of recreation and parks facilities and properties. BACKGROUND: In June of 2007, Commissioners approved new and revised fees for use of Recreation and Park Facilities. One of the fees was for the use of an entire park. The fee for such use was set at $250. In October of 2007, a facility use application was filed for the use of Fairview Park. The applicant for this permit requested that the new fee be waived and this request was brought forward to the Commissioners for consideration. After review by the County Attorney, it was determined that fees could not be waived. The Board decided at that time to rescind this park use fee. Further discussion by the Board focused on whether use of an entire park by an outside entity should be allowed at all. The Board raised several questions relative to this type of park use. Staff has reviewed applicable Orange Countyordinances and found that at least three ordinances address issues of Orange County facility use. Each of these ordinances may require amendments as may be determined by the BOCC. Issues recently discussed by the Board concern use of the whole park, maximum duration of exclusive use, for-profit and other use which may be inappropriate, fees, fee waivers, agencies or entities not subject to fees, fees charged by park permittees, types of allowed use (for what purpose), conditions of use, etc. The attached policy draft may assist in guiding discussion on each of these issues and others as the Board desires. A formal policy document can then be drafted and ordinance language revised for final review by the Board. This could be a lengthy process as the implications could affect facility use county-wide and not just recreation and parks facilities.