Parkersburg City Council approves pavilion name, first reading of rates
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PARKERSBURG - City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance establishing rental rates for the new structure in City Park that was unanimously named the Simms Powell Pavilion during a regular meeting Tuesday.
During discussion on the ordinance establishing rates for the arena and gym spaces for the pavilion, Councilman Zak Huffman proposed an amendment establishing two to three hours a week of "open play," free of cost for the community.
Mayor Tom Joyce asked the amendment be rejected, stating there would be an expectation the "open play" would be similar to the open gym program held at the Parkersburg YMCA and by Wood County Rec during its summer youth program.
"You know that comes with steep liability, and you got to have the manpower," Joyce said.
Huffman then withdrew the amendment.
Councilwoman Wendy Tuck proposed an amendment that the rates be reduced by 50% for nonprofit organizations. Tuck said she had spoken to organizations who stated the rates were "more than they could handle" and that they could deter them from using the facility.
Tuck's proposal would have adjusted the arena day rate from $1,000 to $500, the gym add-on from $400 to $200 and the gym day rate from $500 to $250.
Joyce, and council members Dave McCrady and Sharon Khul spoke in opposition of the amendment. McCrady said he doubted there would be many nonprofits using the large arena space and there were other, smaller spaces that do not have any rental costs. Kuhl said there needed to be time with the building open before evaluating the impact of the proposed rates.
Joyce said the rates presented were "based on research that (Development Director) Ryan (Barber) and his team did," and while he "would like to be in agreement" the rates are intended to offset the operating costs for the building.
"The cost to operate this building, staffing it, the use, cleaning it, are the same whether it's a for-profit or a nonprofit (renting the spaces)," he said.
Councilman Chris Rexroad said he believed there needed to be further attention to the rates and usage before approving this amendment. He also said there should be discussion in the future of potentially adjusting rates.
The amendment failed in a 6-3 vote.
Tuck also proposed an amendment requiring a biannual financial report to measure the rates and performance of the space. Tuck said it would establish " a measuring date" to reevaluate the rates. Rexroad spoke in favor of the amendment.
That amendment also failed 6-3.
The first reading of the ordinance establishing rates passed in a 8-1 vote, with Tuck opposed.
Earlier in the meeting, council unanimously approved a resolution naming the pavilion in honor of Simms Powell, a councilman in 1896 who advocated for the establishment of the City Park.
The first reading of an ordinance amending city code to allow golf carts to be driven on any city street with a speed limit that does not exceed 25 mph failed on a 5-4 vote, with council President Andrew Borkowski, Councilman Rob Moore, Huffman and Rexroad in favor.
Council unanimously approved the final reading of an ordinance vacating a portion of Seventh Street between Ann and Juliana streets and transferring any fee interest therein to the Urban Renewal Authority.
The council also approved budget revisions allocating $10,000 from opioid lawsuit settlement funds to the Wood County 4-H Leadership Association for youth prevention and development and reallocating $80,848.20 in Community Development Block Grant funds to the city’s minor and emergency home repair programs.
They also passed a resolution moving a combined $668,142.71 in HOME funds from an unused rental rehabilitation program and three fiscal years' worth of allocations to Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley to a proposed affordable housing initiative.
That initiative would build up to four houses on URA-owned property. The authority, consisting of all nine members of council, met after the council session and approved potential sites for that construction at 610 Broadway Ave., 1509 Andrew St. and 202 Pickering St., for two homes.
Sophie Wheeler can be reached at swheeler@newsandsentinel.com.