PRESENTER: Presenter
Amy Niles, River Operations Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 86 Articles V and VI of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances to clarify the definition of a Holiday and River Outfitter, and current operational practices with river management fee wristbands and reporting.
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DEPARTMENT: Administration
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: N/A
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
As the ordinance currently sits, there are definitions for an “outfitter” and for a “river outfitter.” Due to a few new small-scaled river outfitters specializing in private experiences, the need for clarification was necessary. The River Advisory discussed the two definitions at their regularly scheduled meeting on November 18. The RAC unanimously recommended the definition of a river outfitter to mean any person, firm, partnership, or corporation that rents water-oriented recreation equipment for use on the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers within the city limits. The clarification of this definition resulted in some alterations in the ordinance where the phrases outfitter and river outfitter are used.
The current ordinance defines a holiday as any city-designated holiday. Starting this year, the City of New Braunfels will recognize Juneteenth, which annually occurs on June 19th. The original intent of the definition of a holiday was to ensure that revenue collection would happen on days that the City would require extra staff out working on the rivers. At this time, Juneteenth is not a day that the City has needed to put additional staff on the river which leads to the recommendation to list the applicable holidays as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Independence Day Observed, and Labor Day. The definition of a holiday would continue to include if the holiday is on a Tuesday, then the previous Monday will be considered a holiday as well. if the holiday is on a Thursday, then the following Friday will be considered a holiday as well.
Operational updates have been made to the river management fee wristband distribution, reporting, and fee payment. Recommended updates to match current operations are included.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
The River Advisory Committee will be discussing these recommended changes on January 20th.
City staff recommends approval of the proposed amendments to Chapter 86 Article V and VI of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances.