PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
title
SKATE PARK OPERATIONS AND FEES
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
The Martin County Board of County Commissioners (Board) has requested a presentation on the user fees charged at County skate parks.
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DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
PREPARED BY: Name: Kevin V. Abbate
Title: Parks and Recreation Director
REQUESTED BY: Martin County Board of County Commissioners
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
The Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains three skate parks, which are located at Jock Leighton Park, Mary Brogan Park and the Pat Mark Rio-Jensen Skate Park at Langford Park.
At the time when the County’s three skate parks were initially constructed and opened, liability waivers for use of the skate parks were required by Florida Statutes § 316.0085. The Parks and Recreation Department developed a process to register users and ensure liability waivers are signed (initially in-person and then online) to comply with this law.
Skate Cards are issued to users, which are checked periodically by staff at all three skate parks. In addition to spot checking skate cards, staff also conduct safety reviews of the skate parks and are on-site to monitor behavior and assist with any issues.
During the economic downturn, a $20 annual pass and a $5 daily pass fee was established to reduce the operating impact of administering the liability waiver process.
ISSUES:
The Martin County Legal Department, Risk Department, and TRICO evaluated the requirement for the County to obtain liability waivers for skate park participants. The Legal Department conducted research to determine if a statutory requirement was still in place, and it was learned that effective July 1, 2015, Florida Statutes § 316.0085 was amended to remove the requirement for government entities that operate skateboarding facilities to obtain a signed liability waiver from minor’s parents.
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
To the extent this item contains legal issues, it has been reviewed for legal sufficiency; although this is primarily a matter of Board policy.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board direct the County Administrator to sunset the collection of users fees for County Skate Parks and to remove the requirement to collect liability waivers.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Direct staff accordingly.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
None
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☐Resolution
☐Other:
This document may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772) 320-3131, the County Administration Office (772) 288-5400, Florida Relay 711, or by completing our accessibility feedback form at www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback <http://www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback>.