A new fee schedule cuts usage fees for the Wildwood Community Center along Powell Road in an effort to increase events sponsored by city residents.
The fee schedule was approved Monday night by the city commission.
Fees for the Lincoln Room at the community center now are $20 to $30 an hour, depending on the size of the event. Other room combinations cost $25 to $95 an hour. The entire first floor costs $100 to $120 an hour while renting the entire center is priced at $135 to $155 an hour.
Center fees were higher than similar facilities in other communities and drew mostly shows and other events from outside Wildwood.
Mayor Ed Wolf said he would like the fees to attract more resident-sponsored events, but not be set so low that it causes heavy demand.
Dennis Andrews, parks and recreation director, said he isn’t worried about that.
“I think it would be a great problem to have if we do get inundated,” he said.
City Manager Jason McHugh said new software will allow the department to track center usage in great detail and fees could be adjusted again as a result of the tracking.
The new schedule also sets fees for the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Millenium Park and the Oxford Community Center. It also sets fees for the city’s sports facilities.
Commissioners also approved an update of the city’s co-sponsorship policy in which the city helps non-profit groups sponsor events.
The department will spend $3,120 to replace smoke detectors and make other community center improvements needed after a recent fire inspection.
A $75,000 renovation project last year replaced the center’s flooring and upgraded the sound system.
