City approves agreement for use of Dripping Springs Ranch Park

DRIPPING SPRINGS – Following approval by the Hays County Commissioners Court, the Dripping Springs City Council approved an amended interlocal agreement between the city and Hays County for the use of the Dripping Springs Ranch Park on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.

In the current agreement, there have been uses allowed by the county since it provided $1.8 million in funding of the DSRP in 2013. Hays County Livestock, service agencies, Hays County, Texas AgriLife Extension, Hays County 4-H Horse Project and Hays County 4-H Fancy Feathers are some of the uses that were included.

However, there have been some issues with the current agreement, including uncertainty of which entities are on the list of beneficiaries, no specific point of contact for each use, no description of additional fees, such as cleaning or staff time, and multiple versions controlling uses.

“It was an agreement that also had to do with [the county] giving us the money and how the building would get built and then, kind of added in there at the end, was the county getting uses for specific things,” said city administrator Michelle Fischer. “It wasn’t very clearly spelled out the way it was done. Nevertheless, they gave certain county entities, or entities associated with the county, so many days a year free rental at Ranch Park. There were other entities that had fixed rates.”

The proposed agreement, which expires on Dec. 1, 2033, is listed below.

Monday-Thursday (Non-Peak Reservation Window):

• Hays County: Eight Monday-Thursday 12-Hour rentals per year

• Nonprofit/social service entities: Six Monday-Thursday 12-hour rentals per year

• Texas Agri-Life Extension: Three Monday-Thursday 12-Hour rentals per year

• Hays County 4-H Horse Project: 20 Monday evenings per year (to end by 9 p.m.)

• If additional Monday-Thursday rentals are needed, a 50% discount to room rental rates applies when such rentals are timely scheduled.

Friday-Sunday (Peak Reservation Window):

• Hays County, nonprofits and social service entities: 12 Friday-Sunday 12-hour rentals per year. Entities will be provided with the following: 25% discount off room rental rates if the rental is made more than 90-plus days in advance; 50% discount off room rental rates if the rental is made between 45-89 days in advance; and 75% discount off room rental rates if the rental is made between 0-44 days in advance.

• Hays County 4-H Horse Project: Three 12-Hour rentals per year for a Horse Point Show in Main Arena; Saturday or Sunday will be dependent upon paid event rentals.

There is a component in the agreement that allows for the county to use DSRP for elections. The first Tuesday of November 2024-2033 can be used at no charge, as well as an additional day per year at no charge.

“We would also recommend that we do a separate agreement probably with the county on early voting, just specific to that,” Fischer said.

Additional items in the proposed agreement include: the Precinct 4 Commissioner deciding who benefits from free or low-cost uses; Hays County providing rental agreements and insurance; Hays County users being responsible for tear down or set up, unless paying staffing fees; and other fees, including after hours, custodial, additional staffing and special equipment.

To view the full meeting agenda with the approved amended agreement, visit www.drippingsprings-tx.municodemeetings.com.