ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — In attempts to stir up revenue and bring additional money to the city, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon proposed fee changes for the city’s Recreation Center.

The city’s recreation department has taken a large hit with the recent cutbacks, and steps are being taken to generate more business and keep the service alive.

“If this was a private entity it would have already gone bankrupt,” Kennon said.

The proposal revealed at Tuesday’s work session a plan to obtain more members with more attractive rates.

Originally the center cost $400 to $600 a year for a resident and their family who do not live in Orange Beach — like a Gulf Shores or Ono Island resident. There are less than 20 members signed up under the local’s package.

Proposed is a reduction to $150 per year for a single member and $200 per year for a family.

The introduction of a monthly rate is also included with the hopes to attract snowbirds. With a $40 per month charge for a single and $60 per month for a family, ofificals hope winter visitors will bring a jolt of revenue to the city.

For now, a snowbird would have to pay $5 a day or purchase a year local’s package to use the center.

“We need all the snowbirds we can get (in the city) and if this (center) is an amenity we have in the city that we can offer them to attract them here we need to probably do it,” Kennon said.

Both plans are aimed toward boosting membership and stimulating the budget.

However, an increase in the resident rate has some council members concerned.

A $30 increase for a single resident was not warmly accepted at Tuesday’s meeting. Currently costing $20, the proposal pushes the rate up to $50.

The suggested $100 per family charge would prove to be beneficial to a family of more than six, allow a family of five to break even and cost a family of four or less more.

To date, there are 900 single memberships.

The new plan creates a potential to accrue a $61,000 income.

“If we don’t raise it this way, we’ll have to cut something somewhere else,” Kennon said. “We thought this would be the least abusive way of raising revenue.”

“If you put the word out there, there will be people who won’t want the increase,” Councilwoman Pattisue Carranza said.

Also in question is the cost of fitness classes the center offers and their impact to the budget.

According to Kennon, the city is currently paying for classes out-of-pocket.

“We are subsidizing all the aerobics classes, all the yoga classes and we get back to ‘At what point can the city afford to subsidize everything?’” Kennon said.

At the meeting the council kicked around the idea to have the instructor independently charge for a class to eliminate that subsidization.

However, Kennon said most classes wouldn’t pay for themselves.

“Most of those classes would be eliminated,” Kennon said. “I don’t like subsidization, but we have to offer certain fitness classes.”

Already in effect are the new hours for the recreation center. Now, from Monday through Thursday,members can use the facility from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m; Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays.

A public hearing concerning the rate proposal will be held Dec. 16 at 5:30 p.m. If the council approves the proposal, new rates will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.