Other/Miscellaneous Request Template (Appointments; ROW; Code Changes; Zoning Action, etc.)
Date Submitted: 8-15-2022
Requesting Agency: Parks and Recreation
Division:
Subject Matter Expert Name: Alaina McWhorter
Email Address: Alaina.McWhorter@denvergov.org
Phone Number:
Item Title & Description:
(Do not delete the following instructions)
These appear on the Council meeting agenda. Initially, the requesting agency will enter a 2-3 sentence description. Upon bill filling, the City Attorney’s Office should enter the title above the description (the title should be in bold font).
Both the title and description must be entered between the red “title” and “body” below. Do not at any time delete the red “title” or “body” markers from this template.
title
A bill for an ordinance amending Sections 32-123 and 39-121 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code regarding certain park and park related fees.
Amends Chapters 32 and 39 of Denver Revised Municipal Code regarding certain park and park related fees. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 8-16-2022.
body
Affected Council District(s) or citywide? Citywide
Executive Summary with Rationale and Impact:
Detailed description of the item and why we are doing it. This can be a separate attachment.
The 2019 Game Plan for a Health City declares easy access to parks, open space, and recreation a basic right for all residents, and establishes Denver’s parks, facilities and recreational programs as essential for a healthy environment, healthy residents, and a high quality of life. The strategies in the Game Plan ensure our parks, recreation, open space, and forests create a system focused on Every Drop, Every Person, and Every Dollar that is Uniquely Denver. The Game Plan guides all operational and investment decisions of the department in line with DPR’s mission, values, and strategic goals centered on equity, affordability, accessibility, and fiscal responsibility. This ordinance proposes department-wide fee modifications that will streamline and simplify DPR’s fee structure and position the department for success in executing the Game Plan vision to improve and expand high-quality parks and recreation services to meet the needs of our community now and through the future.
While the department’s fee proposal impacts all DPR divisions, the specific rates proposed are driven by the framework of the department’s fee setting methodology:
1. Identifying the level of community versus individual benefit of any program or service determines the appropriate cost for the activity. Highly community benefit programs are low to no cost to participate and may be subsidized by the General Fund while those that are highly individual benefit programs are expected to be fully funded by user fees tied to the program or service.
2. Identifying comparable services allows the department to assess changes in the market, identify opportunities for programming partnerships, and affirm DPR’s position as the most affordable, accessible, and equitable service provider.
3. Identifying cost recovery targets ensures DPR’s fees can sustain the costs of providing any given program or services.
Today’s proposal makes progress on implementing Game Plan goals including expanding access to Mountain Parks and Cultural Museums, improving equity and sustainability of fees to support and achieve service goals, eliminating unnecessary financial and regulatory barriers to park users, and increasing the preservation and care of Denver’s tree canopy. A summary of changes by subsection of municipal code is shown below.
DRMC 39-121(#) Summary of Changes
1 Boating - Remove motorboating fees to reflect boating activities allowed in Denver waters. Eliminate fees for hand-launched watercraft to open waters to recreation without financial barriers.
2 Golf - Across the board increases to green fees, tournament fees, and membership fees based upon demand by tee time to ensure fiscal sustainability of the Golf enterprise.
7 Buffalo Bill Museum - Extend the child admission rate to include 6 to 17 years old to expand youth access. Increase military rate to the nearest dollar to simplify fee calculations, cash payments, and the need for coin change.
9 Reservation and permit - Streamline and simplify athletic field and court permits, integrate volleyball fees, and remove tournament rates.
10 Event Facilities - Increase rates for City Park Pavilion and compile all facility rental fees (including 18 & 19) into one chart.
11/12 Recreation centers, facilities, and programs - Replace resident-specific language with general fee language to enhance accessibility.
13 Kid slope at the Children's Museum - Update title, modify challenge course rates, and remove skills fees. Streamline group camping rate structure to incorporate new Yurts and eliminate $5/person add on fee.
15 Chief Hosa campground - Increase the nightly price for RV campsite rentals, increase the maximum people per site to six, remove add-on fees to encourage park stewardship and eliminate financial barriers.
18/19 Chief Hosa Lodge / Pavilion at Central Park - Simplify Chief Hosa Lodge rates and compile all facility rental details under subsection (10).
ALL Remove administrative, non-park-use, add on, and outdated fees to simplify fee calculations and enhance transparency for users. Authorize manager to approve special rates, discounts, and non-use charges.
DRMC 32-123 Summary of Changes
- Increases the Tree Service License application fee and establishes a new Tree Service License exam fee.
Address/Location (if applicable):
Legal Description (if applicable):
Denver Revised Municipal Code (D.R.M.C.) Citation (if applicable):
Chapters 32 and 39
Draft Bill Attached? Yes