(a) Admission Fees.
(1) An admission fee may be levied at the Commission's
historic sites. The fee will grant entry and provide certain privileges
for a specific date or part thereof.
(2) Reduced fees may be established for visitors in
the following categories:
(A) Children under 6 years old;
(B) Youth 6 through 18 years of age;
(C) School children visiting as part of a school activity
(field trip);
(D) Groups of 10 or more who have made advance reservations;
(E) Seniors 65 years or older;
( F) Family groups (adults and children combinations);
(G) Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces;
(H) Active military members and family; and
(I) State Historic Sites Annual Pass.
(3) The Commission may enter into agreements with non-profit
organizations, in particular friend's groups associated with the Commission's
historic sites, to admit members of the organization without payment
of an admission fee.
(4) An admission fee will be set by the Executive Director
and advertised for each historic site, except the National Museum
of the Pacific War, San Jacinto Monument, and Port Isabel Lighthouse.
The fee will be based on the location, size, facilities and development
of each individual historic site.
(5) The fee for admission to the National Museum of
the Pacific War, San Jacinto Monument, Port Isabel Lighthouse will
be established by agreement between the Commission and the respective
partner organization as noted in subsection (a)(3) of this section.
(6) The Executive Director may at his discretion waive
any admission fees or conditions thereof established in this section
at any historic site where circumstances adversely affect public enjoyment
of the site. The Executive Director may designate other agency personnel
to discount or waive admission fees.
(7) The Executive Director may discount or waive entrance
or other use fees in order to enhance utilization, promote future
visitation of historic sites or facilitate contribution of volunteer
services. The Executive Director may designate other agency personnel
to discount or waive admission fees.
(8) Upon finding a need for public safety or welfare
or preservation of site resources the Executive Director or his/her
designee may impose restrictions on public activity and conduct and
may limit the use of any area or facility in any historic site or
portion thereof. It is an offense for an unauthorized person to enter
or remain in an area or participate in any activity so restricted
by the Executive Director.
(9) Commission employees and emergency personnel are
exempt from this chapter when this chapter conflicts with the discharge
of their official duties to the extent of that conflict.
(10) The Executive Director may establish an annual
admission fee for certain historic sites. The annual permit will admit
its holder unlimited admission to a specific property during the calendar
year beginning at the date of purchase.
(11) The historic sites may accept cash, credit cards,
or checks for payment of fees depending on the capability of each
site.
(12) The Executive Director will establish use fees
for historic sites with overnight camping facilities, overnight room
rental or additional recreational facilities, including but not limited
to RV hook ups, boat launches, and equipment rental.
(13) Hours and days of operation of each historic site
will be determined by the Executive Director or his/her designee and
advertised in a prominent way for each historic site.
(b) Activity and Facility Use Fees.
(1) Use of the Commission's historic sites by groups
for personal or organizational purposes, such as picnics, reunions,
receptions, etc. is encouraged as a way to engage a wider audience
for the historic sites and increase communities' enjoyment and understanding
of the sites and their mission. A reasonable fee may be charged for
such use to help offset the Commission's costs and to generate revenue
to support a site's primary mission.
(2) Facility use may not conflict with the commission's
primary mission to preserve and interpret a historic site including:
(A) The routine operation of a site for public enjoyment;
(B) The ability of visitors to have an enjoyable and
educational experience;
(C) The safety of staff, visitors, and users; and
(D) The availability of site staff to coordinate and
oversee these events.
(3) The Executive Director or his/her designee will
establish guidelines governing circumstances when rentals are appropriate,
the times and activities allowed, and special conditions related to
preservation and use of a site. This chapter must be consistent with
the mission stated in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(4) The Executive Director may establish reasonable
use fees for individual historic site activities of facilities. Fees
may be established on an hourly, daily, overnight, weekly, monthly,
seasonal or annual basis. The Executive Director or his/her designee
may waive or reduce the fees where it is in the best interests of
the historic site or program.
(c) Reservations.
(1) Reservations for historic site facilities may be
accepted for sites with facilities available for public use. The Executive
Director or his/her designee is authorized to prescribe such procedures
and conditions for reservations, deposits and partial or full refunds
as needed.
(2) A written facility use application must be signed
and submitted by the requestor describing the purpose of the event
or activity, the facilities requested, the number of people anticipated
to participate, all activities that are part of the event, schedule
of the activity, and duration of the event including time for set
up and take-down.
(3) The Executive Director or his/her designee will
establish site specific requirements and guidelines, in addition to
the rules stated in this stated in this section for participants in
facility use activities.
(d) Routine or Low Impact Events.
(1) Routine events including picnics, use of pavilions,
shelters or designated areas for social gatherings involving fewer
that 50 people and commercial still photography that involves only
hand-held equipment, no props and no more than 5 people, including
the photographer will be approved by the site manager where the following
conditions are met:
(A) No significant staff time is needed to set up or
take down the area;
(B) Applicant agrees to leave the premises in the condition
it was found, free of trash and debris;
(C) No electrical or other hookups are required;
(D) The activity will not interfere with the normal
operation of the site or access to the site by visitors during normal
open hours; and
(E) No alcohol will be consumed.
(2) A fee will be charged based on a site's approved
facility use fee program.
(3) General liability insurance coverage by the applicant
with Commission named as an additional insured may be required if
deemed necessary by the Site Manager.
(4) The site manager will approve or deny a use application
for routine/low impact events.
(e) Major or High Impact Events.
(1) A Facility Use will be considered a major event
if it includes any of the following:
(A) Commercial photography involving 6 or more people
including the photographer, large props, or any stationary equipment,
or motion picture filming for sale or profit;
(B) Events involving more than 50 people;
(C) Use of site staff to set up or take down furniture,
tents, equipment, etc.;
(D) Historic Site owned tents, furniture, equipment,
or utility connections;
(E) Serving alcohol; or
(F) Interfering with the normal operation of the site
or disrupting visitor services.
(2) Sponsors/applicants for use of a Commission historic
site for a major event must sign a written agreement with the Commission
to be approved by the Executive Director or his/her designee. The
sponsor must be provided a copy of the site's Facility Use Rules.
(3) The sponsor must provide general liability insurance
coverage in an amount determined by the Executive Director or his/her
designee naming the Commission as an additional insured. If alcohol
will be served, the sponsor or caterer must provide liquor liability
insurance with a minimum limit of $1 million per occurrence. A certificate
of insurance coverage must be included in the written agreement for
facility use.
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