11.
City Council Work Session AMENDED
- Meeting Date:
- 11/28/2017
- From:
- Stacy Saltzburg, Deputy City Clerk
- Department:
Co-Submitter:
TITLE:
Discussion and Possible Direction: Re Proposed National Park Fee Increases.
DESIRED OUTCOME:
Council discussion
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On November 14, 2017 Councilmember Odegaard requested staff expedite a conversation regarding the National Park Service proposed rate increase for entrance into the Grand Canyon National Park. Subsequently, staff received additional comments from other Councilmembers, tourism groups, and members of the public in opposition to the proposed rate increase.
Due to the short time period to provide comments to the National Park Service by November 23, 2017, staff created an agenda item for the November 21, 2017 meeting for Council to discuss the proposed rate increase and provide staff further direction. Staff also provided draft comments to Council in opposition to the proposed rate increase (Attachment 1).
After the agenda item was posted, the National Park Service extended the comment period for an additional 30 days to December 22, 2017. As a result, Council directed staff to obtain further feedback from other organizations effected by the proposed rate increase. Council also directed staff to draft a resolution and prepare two separate letters in opposition to the rate increases for commercial tours and private entry into the Grand Canyon. Once approved by City Council, the information in these letters will be provided as comments to the National Park Service.
Due to the short time period to provide comments to the National Park Service by November 23, 2017, staff created an agenda item for the November 21, 2017 meeting for Council to discuss the proposed rate increase and provide staff further direction. Staff also provided draft comments to Council in opposition to the proposed rate increase (Attachment 1).
After the agenda item was posted, the National Park Service extended the comment period for an additional 30 days to December 22, 2017. As a result, Council directed staff to obtain further feedback from other organizations effected by the proposed rate increase. Council also directed staff to draft a resolution and prepare two separate letters in opposition to the rate increases for commercial tours and private entry into the Grand Canyon. Once approved by City Council, the information in these letters will be provided as comments to the National Park Service.
INFORMATION:
Additional information regarding the proposed rate increase can be found on the National Park Service website at https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/hot-topics.htm. For convenience, staff has attached fact sheets for commercial tour fees (Attachment 2) and private entry fees (Attachment 3).