Small increases are being proposed for open swim fees at the Natatorium, Water Tower and Jaycee pools and at the Mitchell Pool for children two and under.

Those increases are each 50 cents.

The proposed increases would generate an estimated $6,140 toward pool operations, according to the staff report. About $4,311 would be generated at Water Tower and Jaycee pools and about $1,829 for the Natatorium.

Those estimates are based on comparable attendance to 2017, but revenues at the outdoor pools are weather dependent.

The proposed fees are on Tuesday’s agenda for City Commissioners to set a public hearing for Feb. 6.

The proposal would raise the open swim fee at the Natatorium, Water Tower and Jaycee pools for adults from $3.50 to $4 and from $2.50 to $3 for youth 3-17.

The first child under two is free with a paying adult. The proposal would increase the fee for the second child under two from $1.50 to $2 for the Natatorium, Water Tower, Jaycee and Mitchell pools.

No fee increases are proposed for the water slides or flow rider at the water park, water exercise, lap swim fees or pool rental fees.

Pool fees were last increase in 2014, according to the city, and the pool fund has been identified as an at risk fund by the city manager and fiscal department. In this and the previous fiscal years, the general fund subsidized the pool budget with $267,861.

The proposal also eliminates the non-resident fee that was established a few years ago, but never implemented.

According to the Park and Recreation department, the alternative to increase these fees is an increased general fund subsidy or a reduction in services and/or facilities.

The Park and Recreation Advisory Board voted to recommend the fee increases during their Jan. 8 meeting.

The Natatorium was built in 1966 and the facility has been showing its age for some time now. The city made the last $167,935 debt payment on the Electric City Water Park in 2015, but operating and maintenance costs are still outpacing revenues.