*** Ahtanum Park Entry Will Cost $3 - Eventually ***

Union Gap/Yakima, Washington -- 04/16/2006
The Union Gap City Council on Monday provisionally
approved a $3 parking fee for Youth Activities Park to
go into effect July 1.

The City Council voted 5-1 in favor of the fee, despite
community protest. Councilman Dan Olson voted against
the proposal. Councilwoman Toni Webb did not attend
the meeting.

The council intended to implement the fee May 15 but
reconsidered after learning the charge could affect an
upcoming soccer tournament. The new ordinance,
reflecting the date change and other fee details, will
be presented for the council's approval April 24.

"It buys us two months of time," said Greg Stovall,
director for Yak Attack, a 180-team soccer tournament
taking place May 20-21. "I came here for no fees. I think
the City Council is misguided in thinking they can fund this
park simply with user fees and parking fees."

The city acquired the park at 1000 W. Ahtanum Road
last month. The 74-acre complex was previously owned
by the county, but was transferred to Union Gap for
financial reasons.

Public Works Director Dennis Henne explained that there
are costs and benefits to implementing a parking fee.

According to county figures, the park attracted an average
of 193,702 visitors annually between 2002 and 2004.

According to Henne's calculations, a $1 daily parking fee
would bring little or no decrease in visits. With a $2 fee,
the number of visitors could decrease anywhere from 5
percent to 15 percent. And with a $3 fee, visits could
decline by as much as 50 percent.

With the $3 parking fee, the city is expected to generate
$290,553 in annual revenue. Two-thirds of the charge will
pay for maintenance and operation expenses in the park,
while one-third will pay for future capital improvement projects.

The City Council has yet to decide how the fees will be
collected but is leaning toward installing a series of machines
that would accept both cash and credit cards.

The council also approved other parking-related charges
that are to gain final approval on April 24. Parking permits
will cost $80 for a seasonal pass and $45 for a three-month
pass. The date range of the seasonal pass will be decided at
the April 24 meeting.

All permits will be nontransferable and nonrefundable.

Those who illegally transfer permits to other vehicles will
be fined $250. People who neither pay the daily parking
fee nor buy the parking pass will be charged a $100 fine.

Olson, who voted against the transfer of the park to the city,
said he's against the parking fee. He wanted the city to develop
a long-term funding strategy before accepting the park from the
county. Imposing a parking fee now, he added, would be unfair.

"Parks aren't revenue makers," he said.
"They are there for the people."

Stovall and a handful of others echoed this statement,
saying the Youth Activities Park is not a destination site.
They also oppose charging parents to attend their own
children's soccer games.

Although sympathetic with the community's concerns,
council members said a parking fee is needed to pay
for the park's upkeep. If the city used money from its
general fund, cuts would have to be made to other city
services, such as police.

"We need to protect the interests of our citizens by
protecting our general fund," Councilman Jim Lemon said.

The city has already budgeted $235,000 to pay for basic
park operations and repairs this year. This amount is expected
to be reduced to $145,000, due to expected revenue from
reservation deposits and other fees.

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