Parks filling policy gaps

Wrangell’s parks and recreation department will be changing up the fee assistance program, its advisory board decided.

Meeting on March 2, the board examined the program since its redesign last year.

“What we found there is, we are going to eliminate the option for people to get annual passes,” explained parks director Kate Thomas.

With the pass rate increases which also took effect, someone applying for assistance could get upwards of $700 off of a family pass.

The program only budgeted $1,800 to start with, so an application or two could take a considerable bite. Instead, the board leaned toward limiting fee assistance to punch cards and community activities.

The assistance program budget is replenished through donations and fundraising activities such as swim meets and joint activities.

A liability waiver for public facilities users Thomas had been working on was approved. A review of the policy came about after patrons were dissatisfied with the waiver’s language. Decision on a draft revision was held from January’s meeting, and after speaking with the department’s insurers and city lawyer, the language was further revised.

“Ultimately the parks board approved my recommendation,” Thomas said. A user agreement for gym and court space is common practice, she explained, and is meant to shield Parks and Rec from lawsuits.

On the theme of users and policies, the board also supported development of a new fundraising policy for park property. The department currently lacks any clear policy, with decisions left to the discretion of the parks director.

Previously pass holders and clubs have been able to raise funds on a case-by-case basis, sometimes at the invitation of the department and others at their own request, at city parks or at its various recreation facilities. But Thomas said the rationale was not clear cut, and as a matter of fairness she felt it would be best to define things.

One of the questions that has arisen is how to handle reciprocal situations, where a group uses a facility for free or in kind for a service. Thomas put the idea out for the board to consider, and will return with a policy proposal for next month’s meeting.

She explained the new policies are meant to aid program development in a time when public finances are a concern, and give direction to the department.

“I think there’s a lot of that missing here,” Thomas said.

A budget for the upcoming year is also being put together, which will be put to the board to review and make suggestions at an upcoming meeting.

On a lighter note, Thomas reported numbers for the weekly Tot Gym were nearly back to 2013-14 levels. Fees were introduced at that point, and subsequently user rates dropped from a monthly high of 157. As a contrast, the next year the highest monthly user rate was only 48.

“We’re working back towards that number again,” Thomas said of the former figure. Since Tot Gym’s restart in mid-November, numbers have increased to 63 people for December, to 77 in January, with 115 in February.

The addition of a bounce house on Fridays has greatly helped bring families in, and Thomas has been working with local parents to improve service for the program.

“It’s proven to be great overall,” she said.

The Parks Department will be hosting a paddlers potluck tonight in the community center at 6 p.m.

A kayak-rolling clinic will be hosted this weekend at the pool. A professional paddler is being brought up to demonstrate different safety tips. The clinic will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“We’ll get a few, moderately-sized kayaks,” Thomas said.

There is limited space available so ask ahead at the pool office at 874-2444. The department plans to host two more clinics at the ends of April and May, ahead of the summer recreating season.