Howard Miller Community Center Use Policy
Background
The Howard Miller Community Center welcomes the public use of its four meeting rooms in keeping with the City's mission to “Feel the Zeel” and build our community, one piece at a time.
Policy Statement
The Howard Miller Community Center allows outside organizations and groups to use facilities and meeting rooms when they are not needed for administrative use or for activities or programs sponsored in whole or in part by the City or the Howard Miller Library. A permit to use the facilities and meeting rooms is revocable and does not constitute a lease. The Community Center staff reserves the right to deny applications for use based on the availability of space and staff.
The Community Center staff does not discriminate when making its facilities and meeting rooms available for public use. The Community Center will not discriminate against any group or individual desiring to use a room in the Community Center in violation of state or federal laws. The permission to use the Community Center facilities and meeting rooms does not signify that the Community Center or the City of Zeeland endorses the policies or beliefs of an individual, group or organization using a room.
City of Zeeland government departments have priority use of the Community Center’s facilities and meeting rooms. The Community Center reserves the right to pre-empt any scheduled meetings. The Community Center reserves the right to attend any meeting to ensure that no unlawful activities are occurring on the Community Center’s premises. The Community Center does not extend any special privileges to the organizations to which staff members belong.
The Zeeland City Council authorizes the Community Center Director to review and modify reservations to use the Community Center facilities and meeting rooms, including pro-rated fee adjustments. The Zeeland City Council authorizes the Community Center Director, or his/her designee, to develop and implement procedures and guidelines in furtherance of this policy.
User Fees
Current user fees for the Community Center rooms are provided on the City of Zeeland’s public website and promotional materials.
Use by Non-Profit Organizations
User fees are charged according to the space desired and the type of organization using the space. Groups which meet the criteria for a non-profit organization as defined below will be charged 50% of the full user fee for the room being used.
For a group to be classified as being a non-profit organization and therefore to receive a discounted room user rate, one or more of the following criteria must be met:
1. The organization must serve the public to further religious, scientific, charitable, educational, literary, public safety of other community service-oriented goals which results in a social benefit for the Zeeland community.
2. The organization must have been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS [501(c)(3) status].
3. The organization’s operations must be conducted by volunteers without the assistance of paid staff members or consultants.
Reservations are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Users or the representatives of a user must be 21 years of age or older to sign a Reservation Agreement.
Fee-Exempt Status Eligibility
The Community Center reserves the right to confer fee-exempt status upon eligible organizations pursuant to the City of Zeeland City Council Policy Directives. In addition, entities may be added to the Fee-Exempt List upon application to and approval by the Zeeland City Council. Entities need to be on the list of approved recipients which is on file with the City Clerk in order to have fee exempt status.
Costs and Damage The Community Center reserves the right to collect payments for costs incurred through the use of its facilities and meeting rooms. The Community Center may also collect payments if a user or a user’s invitees or guests cause damages to its facilities and meeting rooms.
Community Center facilities and meeting rooms are available for use during regular Community Center operating hours.
Alcoholic Beverages
Pursuant to City Ordinance 28-284 which prohibits the sale or distribution of alcohol on City property, no alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances are allowed in the building or on the property of the Howard Miller Community Center.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on the premises.
See the User Agreement for a complete list of user rules and guidelines. The User Agreement is available from the office of the Event Coordinator for the Howard Miller Community Center.