OROVILLE – The Oroville City Council set new private park-use fees, as well as authorized a new legal description and map for Veteran’s Memorial Park as part of its annexation.

The council also approved Resolution 501 establishing a $200 cash drawer for making change at the campground at Oroville’s Osoyoos Lake Veterans Memorial Park and Resolution 502 setting rates and fees for park usage. There will be a new fee for private rental of portions of the city’s parks with the fee increasing depending on the number of people in the party.

Park use fees for groups numbering 0-50 would be $50, for 50-100 it would be $100 and for 100-150 plus it would be $150. An appropriate size dumpster rental would also be required depending on the size of the group, as well as a $50 refundable cleaning deposit. There is an additional $25 fee for alcohol, plus the group must secure a Washington State Liquor Control Board “Banquet” permit. Proof of Homeowner’s Insurance or a waiver must be submitted as well.

“We are definitely expanding our parks and this is an effort to keep our rules consistent across all of them,” said Councilman Naillon, when making his motion to approve the new fees.

A boat launch fee at both Veterans Memorial and Deep Bay Parks of $5 a day or $15 a year was set for those living in the 98844 zip code. Those living outside that zip code can get a year’s pass for $40. Those with state passes can still use the boat launch without additional fees for this year.

In other matters related to the Veterans Memorial Park, Chris Branch, Director of Community and Economic Development, discussed annexation of the park, which was recently transferred to the city by the state Parks and Recreation Department. Branch said the council had pre-approved the annexation based on the park’s transfer, but a new legal description was being written combining all the separate parcels into one document.

“We annexed Veterans Memorial Park for a specific purpose and we used a list of parcel numbers and a complex array of deeds at the time,” he said. “This new legal description and map will go to the assessor’s office and the state Department of Transportation for review. The assessor has been holding the annexation until we got the legal description done.”

Branch asked that the mayor be authorized to sign the document on condition of the assessor’s acceptance.

“This amends Ordinance 777, revises the legal and map. The park property will be zoned conservancy, which is what all our parks are zoned,” he said. “The legal is due to be sent to the state by the assessor by May 26th.”

Branch also reported to council that the annexation created an “island” of the Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District property that was not included in the annexation. He is looking into whether that property could also be included. He also reported that he and the clerk were checking into whether the irrigation district has or should be paying electrical utility tax as any other pumping facility within the city limits.