5.2. SR 12-07-2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Park & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 30 November 18, 2009 8.1.A Field usage by For-Profit Agencies Recreation Manager, Steve Benoit shared that the department has received several requests from private, for-profit organizations wishing to rent Ciry of Elk River athletic facilities for the purpose of operating tournaments for profit. Currently we do not have an in-take process in place to accommodate these types of requests. In the past the primary users of fields has been Elk River Athletic Associations as well as in-house Park and Recreation Programs. A survey of other agencies in how they manage for-profit groups was conducted. Results showed a mix of agencies that allow for-profits t<, ren~ athletic fields and others that do not. Those that do allow rentals have. higher fee scales developed in relating to for-profit agencies. Other Information to Consider 1. Our current field use process was set uh ~~~irh the intent of accommodating non- profit youth agencies. 2. Most participants in these activities would likely resi~le outside of l/lk River. 3. Renting to for-profit agencies would potentially generate additional rental revenue as well as the economic value of bringing participants into the Elk River community for an event. 4. Activities that for-profit agencies wish t~> cun~luct u~a~- directly compete against both in-house programs as well'as activities being j~ro~~ided by Elk River Athletic Association. 5. Elk River Athletic .Associations do invest financially into field improvement projects. 6. Booking fielcl~ to fur-profit agencies can cause scheduling conflicts with Elk River Athletic Associations. 1 ~~-en ~~~ith ~i~-ion Talk River Athletic Associations' first access to fields, rhea- often Flu uor I:nc>w the field needs until close to their Tournament dates. There way a situation where an association could have c~panded the size of their rourn:xment but the additional fields they needed were already booked to a for-profit agency. Staff Recommendations 1. Staff recommends that for-profit agencies not be allowed to rent Elk River Athletic fields for the purpose of operating a program or tournament for profit. The original intent of building the fields was for use by non-profit athletic associations and in-house programs. Allocating the fields to for-profit agencies would conflict with this intent. 2. If the Commission does determine that for-profit agencies should have access to rent Elk River athletic fields for profit activities, staff recommends a new fee scale be implemented that is more appropriate fox these types of events. Also, a priority date system be put in place to ensure non-profit groups have first access to field usage. Commissioner Peterson asked who the user groups were.