The Ypsilanti City Council is expected to discuss a new resolution Jan. 11 to set the 2011 event park fee schedule — a resolution that sparked outcry from event organizers earlier this month. 

Last week, Mayor Paul Schreiber, Council Member Dan Vogt and Council Member Pete Murdock met with Michigan Brewer’s Guild executive director Scott Graham, who heads up the annual Michigan Summer Beerfest in Riverside Park. 

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ideas for generating funds for capital improvement projects in the city’s parks that all parties could agree upon. It was not open to the public.

The council previously approved a resolution to impose a 5-percent tax on festival ticket sales over the next two years and a 10-percent tax starting in 2013. Following outcry from event organizers and a threat that the Beerfest would leave the city, that idea was reconsidered and tabled at the Dec. 7 meeting.

Schreiber and Murdock declined to discuss last week's meeting, beyond saying they were considering a new fee structure for the larger festivals, which would mostly include what the city defines as "class four" events. Schreiber said the resolution will now be discussed with various stakeholders.

“We think we have the framework for some resolution,” Murdock said.

Festivals and events are divided into four classes, depending on size, duration and whether it's public. A city festival application defines a class IV event as any event with alcohol. Those include the Heritage Festival, Michigan Roots Jamboree and Elvisfest.

Depending on the size of a festival and the city resources it requires, event organizers now pay hourly rates for items like clean up, utilities, volunteers and security provided by the Ypsilanti Police Department.

The fees do not cover long-term improvements to the park.

The city’s parks budget has shrunk by roughly $35,000 over the last three fiscal years, and officials want to raise funds for projects like improving lighting, resurfacing blacktop pathways or improving parks buildings. The funds will not be used for regular maintenance items such as mowing grass or emptying garbage cans.

No city official has yet provided a dollar amount that the city is trying to raise.

Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.