- May 2, 2024
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The Palm Coast City Council agreed on parts of the fee structure, but will consult with park users for the controversial items.
A decision on fees for using athletics fields and lights, as well as hosting tournaments, has been benched. Fees for the Frieda Zamba Swimming Complex, the Palm Coast Community Center and various pavilions at city parks will be voted on by the Palm Coast City Council at the Oct. 18 regular meeting.
The City Council agreed, at its Oct. 11 workshop, to remove the fees for athletics fields and lighting from the ordinance so that it could take action on the aspects that are more straightforward.
City Manager Jim Landon said a sports commission could be formed, but at the very least, discussions will take place between city staff and leaders of area youth sports organizations.
“The dialogue is out there, and I think it is very good,” Landon said Tuesday.
Last week, City Council member Frank Meeker said he completely disagreed with the idea of charging any type of fees for the athletics teams.
But now that the city has proposed the fees, Meeker added: “We have attention now.”
Initially, the City Council agreed to the fee structure proposed by Luanne Santangelo, parks and recreation director for the city.
However, at the Oct. 4 regular meeting, leaders in Flagler County sports spoke out.
Fred Lewers, of Palm Coast Little League, and Chris Howard, of Phantom Flag Football, both spoke during public comment last week.
According to Lewers and Howard, these nonprofit organizations are being treated like businesses by the city.
In the initial proposal, a seasonal permit for soccer would be $40 per team, while baseball would be $13 per team. Additionally, lighting for fields would cost $10 per field per hour. Hosting a tournament would come with a price tag, too. A security deposit of $250 would be required. Then, a field reservation would be $110 per day; two fields would be $85 per day; and three or more fields would be $60 per field per day.
Landon said there is no timetable for when such fees would be brought back to the City Council for a formal vote.
“At this point and time, it’s not on the agenda,” Landon added. “Fees for the teams and fees for the tournaments have been eliminated from the resolution altogether. We’ll get together with all the groups.”
Indian Trails Sports Complex
The Indian Trails Sports Complex hosted almost 70 soccer teams Oct. 8 to Oct. 9, and with the addition of four new fields, the complex will host a 7-on-7 lacrosse tournament Oct. 15 to Oct. 16.
As use of the complex continues to grow, demand for parking, concessions and storage increase.
At the Oct. 11 Palm Coast City Council workshop, council members heard a proposal for three projects that will take place at the complex.
Carl Cote, project manager, presented the three projects.
The first project is to transform a pavilion in the northern portion of the complex into a concession stand. The second project is to build a maintenance and storage building. The final project is a joint agreement with Parkview Baptist Church to add a second entrance to the complex.
“This is very timely with all of our tournaments,” Landon said.
The contract council members reviewed Tuesday was for the concession stand and the storage building.
Daytona-based A.M. Weigel Construction Inc. came in with the lowest bid for the work, at $317,000.
Cote said there were 10 bidders, but none was submitted by a local company.
The final cost for all three projects is estimated to be around $430,000.
PARK PAVILION FEES
Users of Palm Coast pavilions will be required to pay if the new fees system is accepted.The current rate to use the pavilions is a $50 refundable deposit and then a $15 daily rate. The proposed changes follow:
Security deposit: $50
Daily rate (change): $25
Athletic field reservation (new): $25
Athletic court reservation (new): $25
A formal vote will take place at the Tuesday, Oct. 18 regular meeting of the Palm Coast City Council.
Contact Andrew O’Brien at [email protected].
