Even though there was no specific agenda topic, Parks and Recreation held a roughly 40-minute workshop on June 3, discussing revenue generation. Chair Mark Ingram had a question for the other commissioners: Why does Parks and Rec not issue permits for the parks, especially Basin Park, if they are responsible for cleanup and repairs?
“We’ve got to do something because the total amount of funding we get is not enough for the number of parks and properties we have,” Ingram said.
Ingram said it occurred to him at Blues Fest, as Basin Park was loaded with bands and vendors, that parks benefits very little monetarily, if any, from issuances of park permits.
“I don’t know who does make the money, but it’s not the Parks and Recreation Department. But we are responsible for repairing and cleaning. How did it get away from us? Why are we not the ones giving permits? Why are we not getting the revenue from that stream, when it is the main park in the city?”
Commissioners spent the rest of the meeting centered around ideas for fundraising events.