Hours for Carson City’s MAC approved, fees altered

Multi-purpose athletic center hours were approved as recommended Wednesday, but not the public’s fee structure as proposed by city staff.

The Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-3 to accept the hours proposed during the first six months of operation at the center, also known as the MAC, but to peg the fee structure at the same level as the one used by drop-ins at the Carson Aquatic Facility. Parks and Recreation Department staff had recommended some higher fees for the MAC, saying they are different types of facilities.

Roger Moellendorf, department director, said the city’s Board of Supervisors wants some “pay to play” factors built into the provisional budget. Lori Bagwell, the supervisor who’s on the commission, said she wasn’t speaking for the entire board but basically took the same tack Moellendorf did during the discussion.

“I hate to hitch the MAC to that (Aquatic Center) wagon,” she said. Despite that, Sean Lehmann made the motion to switch from the higher staff recommendation for the fee structure and garnered just enough commission support. The trio opposing his motion included not only Bagwell, but Charles Adams and Robert Glenn.

“I want to be careful about micro-managing the Parks and Recreation Department,” said Glenn. Chairman Brett Long didn’t discount Glenn’s concern, but after voting with Lehmann and two others made the point the commission isn’t a departmental rubber stamp.

Hours for the open gyms and overhead track use in January will be 6:30-9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays, and for the track will be 3-7 p.m. on weekday evenings. On weekends leagues will close off gym usage, but the track will be available 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays.

The fees recommended would lower adult drop-in cost from the recommended $5 to $4 and make punch card discounts equivalent at both centers despite Moellendorf’s concerns about lowering the city subsidy for the MAC. Moellendorf said the MAC is going to likely be 80 percent for programs while the Aquatic Center is about 70 percent for drop-in use. He and other staff said a better handle on usage and the budget will be available as 2016 progresses.

There also will be ascending court rental fees at the MAC for individual and non-profit programs, for non-residents in the same categories and for any for profit commercial entities.

The $8.5 million MAC, expected to be completed next month and in use by January on Russell Way, has two collegiate basketball courts overlaid with four high school courts, and can be used for other court sports as well.