PRESCOTT VALLEY - Residents here might not want to swim, drink water or flush the toilet after the 2009-10 fiscal year begins July 1.
The Town Council Thursday reviewed recommendations from the Parks and Recreation Commission to increase fees for using the Mountain Valley Splash pool, ball fields, ramadas and other town amenities. The council also reviewed a report on water/sewer rates that could lead to small increases in the upcoming fiscal year.
The town has not raised park and recreation fees since the 2002-03 fiscal year, according to a memo to the council from Parks and Recreation Director Brian Witty. The Parks and Recreation Commission, an advisory body to the council, prepared recommendations for a fee schedule for 2009-2010.
"We have diligently studied this, and the town is still subsidizing most of the programs," commission Chairwoman Elaine Fahlman said after the discussion. "We have done this with great care for all of our townspeople."
The commission and Witty presented to the council a 16-page document that lists current fees and what the commission proposed to help the department recover costs. The document also compares rates with the Humboldt Unified School District and the municipalities of Prescott, Chino Valley, Cottonwood and Flagstaff.
Among other things, the commission proposed minor increases for the open swim at the pool, which holds a capacity of 237 people. If adopted, daily fees would increase by 25 cents to 75 cents for children 5 and under, $1.75 for youths 6 to 17 and $2.75 for adults 18 to 59.
The proposal calls for raising the daily rate for seniors (60 and older) for using the Mountain Valley Splash swimming pool from $1.50 to $2.
Daily rates for families (five or more people) would increase by 50 cents to $9.50.
The fee schedule also covers pavilion/ramada rates, ice-skating and hockey at Tim's Toyota Center, town-operated concessions, and renting the Mountain Valley Park amphitheater, athletic fields and the Civic Center.
Councilman Mike Flannery commented that the council is relying on the research the commission conducted, adding that the council plans to review the fee schedule every year.
The council took no action during the work/study meeting Thursday, but will place the fee schedule on its agenda June 25.
Council members also discussed recommendations to revise water and sewer rates, which will be the subject of a public hearing at a date that remains to be set.
Management Services Director Bill Kauppi and Cordell Compton, customer accounts manager, presented a report on the current rate structure and their proposals for small increases based on water use.
The monthly rates for most residential customers would remain at $9. However, staff has recommended increasing the block, or usage, rates from $2.52 to $2.77 per month for every 1,000 gallons of water use for residents who live north of Highway 89A.
The higher rates apply to the former boundaries on the town municipal water system, which dates to 1996. The Prescott Valley Water District, which the town established in 1999, covers a majority of the developed area of Prescott Valley.
The town merged the water district and municipal systems this past July, with the goal of eventually making their rate structures the same.
Staff has proposed increasing monthly sewer rates by a dime to $3.79 per month per 1,000 gallons.
Prescott Valley has about 18,000 residential and commercial accounts for water and sewer service, Compton said.
Reader Comments
Posted: Thursday, June 11, 2009
Article comment by:
ROBBED AGAIN
The town of prescott Valley has been raping people since their INCREASE last October , Now they are going to do it again. I have never seen a city WASTE so many resources with wasteful spending, then turn around and ask (DEMAND) more from its townpeople. Have lived here for my entire life, and only seen it get worse. You can fill the meeting with towsnpeople who say No and it will still happen I promise you.
Posted: Monday, June 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Future senior
Did I read this right??
Daily rates for seniors (60 and older) and families (five or more people) would increase by 50 cents to $20 and $9.50, respectively. So it costs $20. for a senior to swim for a day?? If that isn't profit what is?
Posted: Monday, June 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Make a water shortage, Charge More, Justify the Pipe line
Didn't the town just happen to pay for running water lines to the apartment complex by the foot of the existing Glassford Hill Apartments? So it seems we, the taxpayer residents of Prescott Valley are a pool of saps to be exploited by the Fain vetted politicians. Get ready for a steep water/sewer raise North of 89 folks, that will provide a push for and a reason for the Fain water pipeline. This is another move in their game to rob us. ArmyVet
Posted: Sunday, June 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Every penny counts when you're trying to fund a 200 million dollar pipeline for developers.
Posted: Sunday, June 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Whats With That Big Bill For Library Signs? Who's Who???
Very nice. Merge the water systems then raise the rates of the North of 89a communities who were doing quite well thank you. Why not raise rates across the board so commercial establishments get the hit in increases too? Another example of landowner, developer,business people slant by town government. By the way.. HOW MUCH was that very high cost estimate for signs for the new rusty library and who's family member owns a sign company? We need to put this bunch of "politicians" under a microscope as their actions continue to batter the average taxpayer while stroking the Good Ole Boys.
Posted: Sunday, June 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
How can they legally make the rate structures the same? We are told growth pays for growth! If it cost more to get water to a development it cost more. Anyone that votes for this should be impeached. We have had enough lies and deception. The money used from our water escrow should have never been used for the pipeline. Remember we really do not need that pipeline; the developers do!!
Posted: Sunday, June 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Tom Steele
Remember all Commissioners are "approved" by select council members. No one "questioning" past activities would EVER be appointed. As for "the town" subsidy for P & R, how about all the SUBSIDIES to the Fain Signature Group and other developers? Prescott Valley is owned by the taxpayers; or at least it's supposed to be.
