Golfers not the only users charged fees for city sites

Question:  During the past two years, the cost of golfing at a public course has increased over 50 percent! Are fees charged for using other public facilities, i.e., soccer fields, baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, swimming pools? If yes, what are the rates, if no, why are golfers discriminated against? Many of the public facilities operate during the night so who pays for electricity? “Green fees” generate income to help offset golf course maintenance expenses, therefore, in all fairness, everyone using facilities requiring maintenance, power, water, etc. should be charged a user fee.

Answer: The city has begun charging fees at certain other recreational venues, although the public policy has been to make most beach and park facilities available for free use by residents.

As maintenance costs have risen and government budgets have shrunk, lawmakers have been moving toward instituting “user fees” for more public services, not just recreational.

First off, the five municipal golf courses are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Enterprise Services, while the Department of Parks and Recreation oversees other city recreational facilities.

Golf courses have their own staff and facilities, while the other activities are typically part of a larger, open park.

The recent golf fee increases were set by the City Council as part of a three-year graduated increase beginning in fiscal year 2012, which began July 1, said Keoki Miyamoto, director of Enterprise Services.

Revenue during the current year, with the fee increases, is expected to be a little more than $10 million, with expenses of about $9.4 million.

In fiscal year 2010, the fees for an 18-hole round of golf went up by $3 to $15. Under the new schedule, that fee increases $2 a year in 2012, 2013 and 2014, by which time it will be $21.

Miyamoto said you are probably referring to the increase in the senior monthly card (green fees

for 10 18-hole rounds or 20 9-hole rounds), which increased to $80 in this year from $45 in fiscal year 2011, and will go up to $85 in 2013 and $90 in 2014.

It was $32 for at least 10 years, until the City Council increased it to $40, then $45, he said.

“Despite the fee increases, we believe that playing golf at the city’s golf courses is still an affordable alternative to playing golf at private courses,” Miyamoto said.

Meanwhile, he said that under Section 10-2.12 of the Revised Ordinances of Hono­lulu, the parks director is authorized to charge a fee for the use and rental of facilities at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park, Central Oahu Regional Park, the Hans

L’Orange Baseball Facility, recreational fields, gymnasiums, and other recreational facilities to help cover operating and maintenance expenses.

Depending on the type of activity, the location, and date and time of the activity, fees for use of those park facilities range between no charge to $340 per hour.

Question: The city has again increased the fees for playing at the municipal golf courses. Where is this new money going?

Answer: All revenue generated by operations related to municipal golf courses is deposited into the Golf Fund, said Keoki Miyamoto, director of the Department of Enterprise Services.

“Money deposited into this fund is expended for operations related to the municipal golf courses and for related debt services payments,” he said.

Mahalo

To the state Department of Transportation Highways Division from those of us who live in the 59-200 to 59-300 block of Kamehameha Highway near Sunset Beach/Sunset Beach Elementary School. We dealt for years with “pothole central,” with loss of hubcaps, car alignment issues, tire damage and, worst of all, the constant noise of trucks and cars hitting potholes. Life has gotten a lot more peaceful and quiet because of the newly paved road. — Mari Hartman

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