Consistent policy requires city charge for facility use

For Friday, January 27, 2012

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 27, 2012

~~Question: I’ve been a volunteer teacher of Vietnamese language for young kids at Makiki District Park since April 2010. I registered as a nonprofit organization so I would not be charged a fee for using the room once a week for two hours. In December I tried to renew the monthly permit, and I was told that I had to pay $15 an hour or shut down my class. I did not receive any public notice. As a volunteer I do not collect a penny from the kids. The parents work hard and spend extra time bringing their children to the class. For the community this is a healthy activity, and it should not be charged any fees. When did this policy start? Is there any exception for a nonprofit organization?
Answer: According to the city Department of Parks and Recreation, you should have been charged the fee from the beginning, and it doesn’t matter if a group is a nonprofit.
~~

Question: I’ve been a volunteer teacher of Vietnamese language for young kids at Makiki District Park since April 2010. I registered as a nonprofit organization so I would not be charged a fee for using the room once a week for two hours. In December I tried to renew the monthly permit, and I was told that I had to pay $15 an hour or shut down my class. I did not receive any public notice. As a volunteer I do not collect a penny from the kids. The parents work hard and spend extra time bringing their children to the class. For the community this is a healthy activity, and it should not be charged any fees. When did this policy start? Is there any exception for a nonprofit organization?

Answer: According to the city Department of Parks and Recreation, you should have been charged the fee from the beginning, and it doesn’t matter if a group is a nonprofit. Login for more...