PRESENTER: Presenter
Amy Niles, River and Watershed Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Discuss and Consider Changes to the River Management Fee
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DISCUSSION:
The River Advisory Committee will continue to discuss an increase to the River Management Fee before the 2027 river season. The River Management Fee is currently $2 per non-resident on weekends and holidays from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day and has been this amount since 2016. Residents are eligible for a free resident river pass that is good for 3 years and allows them to not pay the River Management Fee. Revenue collected goes to the River Activities Fund, which is charged for direct river-related expenditures. Over $5.6 million dollars in unfunded maintenance and improvement projects have been identified in and around the rivers in New Braunfels. Last year the River Advisory Committee had some desire to raise the River Management Fee for the 2026 river season but did not take action and decided to postpone the discussion to this year due to the unexpected hardships of the 2025 river season. Currently the River Advisory Committee has considered increasing the River Management Fee to $3, $3, or $5 per non-resident user.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommend an increase to the River Management Fee to address maintenance and infrastructure around the rivers in a phased approach.