With the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park scheduled to be completed in October, the city determined that it was time to set up the fee structure for its use.
During its Aug. 10 meeting, the Sedona City Council approved the fee schedule that will be in place by the time the park opens.
A city report states that the facility will be operated by the Parks and Recreation Department and like all amenities within the park like ballfields, ramadas, etc., it will have fees associated with it that will allow individuals or groups the opportunity to reserve the facility.
The city has not had a performance venue with established rental fees before. The Parks and Recreation Department looked to multiple sources to make sure their proposed fees were fair and in line with best-practices in the industry.
Parks and Recreation Manager Rachel Murdoch said she did research into what’s being charged at venues around the state as well as in neighboring states. But, she said that was easier said than done.
“It was very hard to compare because we’re comparing not only indoor and outdoor but built for thousands of people versus our smaller amount,” she said. “So it was tricky. That’s why I didn’t mirror their prices. But I did look at what other types of fees they charge and if ours is going to be fair for what we have here.”
According to Murdoch, factors taken into account when determining new fees included:
- Fee structure is comparable to all other Parks and Recreation fees. Divided into similar categories such as hourly rental and events rental.
- Covering the cost of maintenance and supplies during event rentals.
- Comparing fees to other facilities within Sedona, surrounding cities and out of state venues of comparable size.
- Keeping fees affordable so that amenities/facilities can still be available to community users.
- Response to public feedback from Friends of Posse Grounds. If adopted, these proposed changes would take effect 30 days following adoption.
For the complete fee schedule for the new park, visit sedonaaz.gov.
