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Could using the city of Longview性视界传媒檚 recreational facilities become more affordable for residents to use?

That性视界传媒檚 the question City Council members considered Jan. 9 and will discuss again during Thursday性视界传媒檚 meeting.

John Albertson, director of Parks and Recreation, proposed that the city create a membership program allowing residents to access recreational facilities for the same price, saving them money.

The details of the proposal haven性视界传媒檛 been finalized. At a minimum, though, the universal membership program would allow people younger than 55 to pay one rate to use the Broughton and Paula Martin Jones recreational centers, while and people 55 and older would be able to use the Broughton, Paula Martin Jones and Green Street recreational centers.

District 6 Councilman Steve Pirtle also said he wants the city to allow youth to use recreational facilities for free. He and District 3 Councilman Wray Wade requested the review of the city性视界传媒檚 recreational fees.

City staffers compared Longview性视界传媒檚 fees to those of 15 other cities in Texas with similar median household incomes. The finding: Longview charges more than the average of what those cities charge. Several of those cities also offer a membership program.

The proposed universal membership program would allow people to purchase annual or monthly memberships, and it could save families and residents hundreds of dollars per year.

Presently, a one-year family pass for the Broughton Recreation Center costs $410, and a family membership at the Paula Martin Jones facility costs $250 for the first member and $100 for each additional member.

Under the proposed membership model, a family would pay $140 for the first member and $50 for each additional member to use both facilities.

The membership model would save individuals money, too. An annual adult membership to use both facilities would cost $140, compared with the present $150 fee for Broughton and the $250 fee for Paula Martin Jones.

The annual youth and senior membership fee would be $85, compared with the $110 fee for Broughton and the $200 fee for Paula Martin Jones.

Longview residents younger than 55 still would need to purchase a separate $15 annual membership to use the Green Street Recreation Center. Those 55 and older would be able to use their universal membership to access that facility. However, if they性视界传媒檇 rather not pay the $85 fee, they still could purchase the $15 Green Street-only membership.

While the cost reduction would keep more money in residents性视界传媒� pockets, it性视界传媒檒l short the city some of the revenue it has collected 性视界传媒� about $22,000 per year. However, Albertson said he believes the lower membership prices would result in an increase in memberships, so the city could make up that revenue.

Wade said he was glad to address the cost of using city recreation facilities, especially Broughton.

性视界传媒淵ou don性视界传媒檛 want that facility to out-price the citizens of Longview to where you can性视界传媒檛 get access,性视界传媒� he said.

Pirtle questioned why the city charges fees to use the facilities, which already have been paid for with taxpayer funds. Charging a fee to use the public facilities is 性视界传媒減enalizing性视界传媒� taxpayers, he said. Many children can性视界传媒檛 afford the $5 or $7 fee to use a facility for a day, much less a monthly or annual membership.

性视界传媒淵ou性视界传媒檝e got to look at the people we want to use these structures,性视界传媒� Pirtle said. 性视界传媒淚f they can性视界传媒檛 afford it, what are they going to do? Go outside and play in the cold?性视界传媒�

He likened the recreational facilities to the city library, where people can obtain a library card for free.

Mayor Kristen Ishihara disagreed with Pirtle性视界传媒檚 stance that the fees penalize taxpayers. All taxpayers receive the benefits of paying for roads and emergency services, for example. But not all taxpayers use recreational facilities and, as a result, don性视界传媒檛 derive a benefit from them.

性视界传媒淲e do have to have user fees, and that性视界传媒檚 the only way to make it fair to every taxpayer in town,性视界传媒� she said. 性视界传媒淚 don性视界传媒檛 necessarily need to bear the cost of everyone that goes to Broughton.性视界传媒�

Ishihara and District 1 Councilman Derrick Conley voiced support for a scholarship program that would help youth pay the cost of using those facilities.

Albertson said that性视界传媒檚 something the city could explore, and Ishihara signaled her support for it.

性视界传媒淲e should fill [Broughton],性视界传媒� Ishihara said. 性视界传媒淚f that means we性视界传媒檙e asking for private donations to make memberships free, I性视界传媒檓 on board.性视界传媒�

Staff members at Broughton often cover expenses for youth who visit the facility, Wade said. Rarely are children turned away because they can性视界传媒檛 pay.

性视界传媒淲hat we can do to make it more accessible, I性视界传媒檓 open for that,性视界传媒� he said.

Pirtle said the city性视界传媒檚 proposed fees should be even lower, and Conley said children shouldn性视界传媒檛 face 性视界传媒渁n obstacle of cost性视界传媒� to use the facilities.

Pirtle insisted that youth should not be charged to use the facilities, and Ishihara said that would be a 性视界传媒渞easonable negotiation.性视界传媒� Under the city性视界传媒檚 policy, people 13 and younger are considered youth.

Pirtle and Place 2 Councilwoman Shannon Moore said they believe the age should be raised. Place 4 Councilman John Nustad said he believes age 13 is sufficient but also wants seniors to be able to be able to use facilities for free.

Pirtle said youth need a safe place to spend time, and the city性视界传媒檚 facilities offer that.