General rules for using city facilities were approved last week by the Hastings City Council, with additional rules for renting the city’s newest entertainment venues, the Thornapple Plaza and the Spray Plaza stage.

City facilities are provided for live outdoor concerts, plays, school functions, city functions and weddings, generally for non-profit groups or others, with approval of the city council. Applications for activities are submitted to the Community Development Department. Hours and other conditions are outlined on the applications.

The city encourages the rental of the Thornapple Plaza and the Spray Plaza with reservations on a first come, first served basis, with city sponsored events taking priority.

The rental agreements cover user’s responsibilities, payments, concessions, alcoholic beverages, cancellations, refunds and returned checks, insurance, temporary signs and revoking of applications and refusal of future rentals.

A draft fee schedule for entertainment venues rental shows for entertainment venues, city residents will pay $100, non-residents, $150 for up to four hours; city non-profits, $75, non-profits from outside the city will pay $100. Additional time is $25 per hour; a security deposit of $300 is refundable if the terms of the agreement are met.

For the newly-renovated Fish Hatchery Park building, non-profits and city residents will pay $300, and non-city residents $400, for four hour blocks of time. More time is $25 an hour. A security deposit of $300 and key deposit of $20 will be refunded if terms of the agreement are met. Rental of the building includes power, water, kitchen, rest room and refuse removal.

On the July 9 council agenda, a special workshop is set for 6 p.m. to interview Clerk/Treasurer/Financial Director Jerry Czarnecki for the position of city manager effective July 1, 2019, when current City Manager Jeff Mansfield will step down.