Title
Approval of Policy 1735 "Use and Rental of County Facilities/Lands"
Recommended Action
I move that the County Council approve the updated Policy 1735 "Use and Rental of County Facilities/Lands”, effective October 1, 2021.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
Parks & Recreation Board recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Body
Policy 1735 is a 2006 document that provides information about the facilities and lands owned by Los Alamos County the public can use. As whole this document has not been updated since 2006, and Los Alamos County staff has worked to update the document to reflect current practices and procedures, streamline processes, add facilities that have come into existence since its creation, and include information about business use of County lands and facilities.
Large noticeable changes to name a few are: proposing to have the availability to rent Ashley Pond in three separate sections, addition of outdoor North Mesa arenas, including the covered arena; proposing to change how North Mesa Stable Fees are calculated, proposing to change how RV storage lots are calculated, and the addition of Appendix B. While Appendix A contains rates and charges for exclusive use of a facility, Appendix B contains the admission and rentals charges related to facility admittance and season passes for the Aquatic Center, Ice Rink and Golf Course.
Additionally, the current 1735 document discourages and is very restrictive for businesses to rent or use our facilities for business/commercial use. The proposed document has been revised to provide a mechanism to allow greater opportunities for businesses to use Los Alamos County facilities.
This document was taken to Parks & Recreation Board as an agenda item in May, June and July for public comments. During the May and June meetings additional information and concerns specifically and singularity about the stables were voiced and additional work and research was performed. Additionally, CSD staff held an all-Stable Licensee meeting on June 30th to address questions and concerns in one setting.
Based on the feedback gained from public and Parks and Recreation Board input staff recommended the policy dated 2006 be updated to as written in 2021. The updated 2021 document, pending legal review, was unanimously supported at the July 8, 2021 Parks and Recreation Board meeting by formal vote to recommend for approval by County Council. This policy supports County Council priorities of Protecting, maintaining and improving our open spaces and cultural amenities and Enhancing support and opportunities for local business environment.
Fiscal and Staff Impact
Staff Impact is that we are working to update other documents that are associated to this one, to ensure all reflect the same information. Minor incremental financial impacts as business assess the opportunity to use County lands and facilities
Attachments
A - High Level changes to Policy 1735
B - Current (2006)
C - Draft 2021 Policy 1735
D - Policy 1735 Presentation