Commissioners table facility fee request

CLOVIS — Commissioners on Tuesday tabled a request to consider raising facility fees at the Curry County Events Center and Fairgrounds, with the hopes of keeping the venue affordable for local entities.

A proposal from Spectra management comparing CCEC’s rates with other facilities suggests raising the first day rate for the indoor arena from $1,000 to $1,500, with the second and third days costing $1,200 and $800, respectively.

Rates have not changed since CCEC opened in 2009, and County Manager Lance Pyle said the price increase could help with the anticipated cost of “additional capital improvements that need to be done” on the aging facility.

“This is a way to help offset that cost, but also possibly attract different and larger events,” Pyle told The News following the meeting.

Commission Chairman Chet Spear proposed tabling the request after hearing some reservation from Commissioner Robert Thornton, who said he hoped CCEC could remain a place affordable to local people for special occasions.

“We’re probably never going to make money on (the Events Center),” Thornton said. “But the idea is that we have something to do.”

Pyle pointed out that the CCEC is “full on just about every weekend” as it is and that raising rates could “free up some dates to attract larger events that have other revenues such as concession sales, etcetera.”

Projected general fund revenue transfer to operate CCEC and Fairgrounds in fiscal year 2020 is $585,000, which includes funds for the facility’s forthcoming 10-year anniversary celebration, Pyle said. In the past four years operating funds for CCEC were at their highest with $629,000 in FY2017.

Commissioners voted unanimously to table the request and asked Spectra to return with a proposal that had accommodations for local entities hoping to use CCEC.

Commissioner Bobby Sandoval was not present for Tuesday’s brief meeting, which had no action item other than the rate increase proposal.