San Jose city regulations allow parents to reserve park space for the inflatables at no charge. But those free reservations may give way to paid permits.

Parks and recreation commission members are considering a proposal that would require San Jose residents to pay $30 for a permit to have an air jumper set up by a rental company. Non-residents would be charged $60. The proposal calls for limiting bounce house users to 29 parks throughout the city where air jumpers are allowed, approximately three per council district. It would also be limited to approved vendors, who have the necessary liability insurance so the city is protected.

The fees the city collects would pay for part-time staff to monitor the parks in the summer, making sure bounce house renters are in compliance and set up in approved parks. In District 6, the approved areas are Santana and Lincoln Glen parks.

Steve Roemer, a parks manager, called the current system of reserving space "a free-for-all."

The city has slowly introduced the idea to the public this year, requiring users to complete a written application to set up the air jumpers. A list of parks was developed last summer as part of the introductory process, but right now, "we're not holding anybody to that," Roemer said.

However, neighbors' complaints of noise from generators and multiple air jumpers set up simultaneously, as well as vendor and public abuse of the system have caused problems. There have also been complaints about damage to irrigation equipment and turf from park staff that prompted the city to look into a fee system.

"We're trying to get a handle on the usage," Roemer said.

The city looked at parks that are five acres or larger when it developed its park list. The criteria included adequate restrooms and parking spaces and limited activity at the parks, such as Little League or soccer. In addition the city crossed off the list any parks with a history of complaints.

Each park would have designated areas for the air jumpers. The city calculates that there would be 88 sites at the 29 parks. Roemer expects to see a drop-off in reservation requests during the first summer, as residents become familiar with the guidelines.

"It's not going to be popular, when all of a sudden you have to pay for a fee," he said. "But in all honesty, it's a reasonable fee based on what other agencies charge."

San Jose polled the parks departments in Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto and 11 other cities and counties in California and other states and found that the fees range from $20 to $50.

The city has already seen a drop in requests due to its new guideline requirements. In 2005, the first year a written permit was required, the city received 231 requests for reservations, down from the previous year's 365.

"Most people don't want to go through the hassle," Roemer said.

During a Dec. 7 San Jose Parks and Recreation Commission public hearing, Roemer and Helen Chapman, parks and recreation commission chairwoman, agreed that residents will need to be educated on the new process.

Chapman said she was concerned that there might be a backlash from residents who are used to renting bounce houses that they had installed in their community parks.

"They'll be upset," she said.

One vendor at the public hearing thought the new guidelines were a good idea.

Barnie Race, who owns Bay Area Jump, said the current process has been unfair for those who carry the appropriate liability insurance, because there are other vendors who do not.

"I recommend the permit," he said. "If you have a permit, you know the air jumper company is approved and has insurance."

Commission members are expected to vote on the proposal in February. The city hopes to have the guidelines in place by spring.

Roemer said there may be bumps along the way during the first season, and there will be room for adjustment.

"It may not be as convenient, and if we're wrong, we're wrong," he said.