Title
Review and Recommend the Recreation and Parks Department 2021 Annual User Fee Schedule.
dy
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend the Recreation and Parks Department 2021 Annual User Fee Schedule.
BACKGROUND
On January 22, 1992, the City Council adopted Resolution Number 12191, codifying all fees for services into a Citywide fee schedule (Fee Schedule). This Fee Schedule is updated each year, via resolution, to reflect changes in the cost of providing services as well as in the Consumer Price Index for the San Francisco Bay Area.
The proposed Recreation and Park User Fees (Exhibit 1) are reviewed annually by the City’s Recreation and Park Commission with its recommendation brought forward to the City Council. The ARPD reviewed the current fees and recommended adjustments based on its budget in combination with fee comparisons with other local jurisdictions including San Leandro, Emeryville, Piedmont, Fremont, Union City, and San Ramon, in addition to comparisons for local gym rentals and large rental venues in Alameda.
The Fee Schedule is updated annually as part of the City budget process, which begins July 1. Due to the timing of summer recreation programs, the ARPD User Fee Schedule is adopted earlier, with an implementation date of January 1. However, the school-year fees are noted separately with a start date of August to coincide with the start of the school year. Due to COVID-19, all facility rentals have been either refunded or credited and staff is not recommending any increases to rental facilities for equity so that if people booked in 2020 and want to use their credit once the rental facilities are open, then they will be paying the same rates.
DISCUSSION
Fees represent direct costs for program staff time, facility maintenance and utilities, plus indirect costs for administrative staff time and supplies. Fees are intended to recover costs as a whole system while balancing the benefits for the community and individuals. For example, programs that are available to a broad section of the community as well as at-risk populations, such as the free Parks and Playgrounds Program, free Summer Park Baseball, and Mastick Senior Center activities have a lower cost recovery rate than programs with specific group or individual benefit, such as facility rentals, summer camps, or adult sports leagues with a higher cost recovery rate to offset and balance the total budget and help fund administrative costs.
As described below, some fees were added or adjusted to better recover actual costs expended, to restructure programs for efficiency, and to create opportunities for new programming. The overall market and cost comparison relative to programs in other cities and in Alameda were also considered.
The following fees were adjusted for 2021:
|
PROPOSED CHANGES TO EXISTING FEES |
|
|
|
FEE TYPE |
PROPOSED 2021 FEES |
CURRENT 2020 FEES |
|
|
|
Athletic Field Youth League - Non-Profits |
$7 / Hour |
$6 / Hour |
|
This fee is being incrementally increased each year by $1 to improve cost recovery of field maintenance and supplies such as fertilizer, infield dirt, equipment maintenance and water costs. |
|
|
|
Field Light Use |
$30 / Hour |
$25 / Hour |
|
This adjustment is to recover increasing electricity costs for field light usage. |
|
|
|
Alameda Point Gym |
Alameda youth /school Practice: $37 / hr Game/Tournament: $40 / hr |
Alameda youth /school Practice: $35 / hr Game/Tournament: $38 / hr |
|
During the adoption of the 2020 User Fee Schedule, City Council gave direction on an incremental fee increase spread out over three years. This is the second year of that fee adjustment. |
|
|
|
Swim Lessons |
Group Lessons all ages (30 min) Resident $10 / lesson Non-Res $12 / lesson Semi-Private all ages (30 min) Resident $25 / lesson Non-Res $30 / lesson Private Swim Lessons 3-15 yr old (30 min) Resident $30 / lesson Non-Res $35 / lesson |
Group Lessons 6-15 yr old (45 min) Resident $13.50 / lesson Non-Res $15.75 / lesson Group Lessons 3-5 yr old (30 min) Resident $9 / lesson Non-Res $11 / lesson Private Swim Lessons 3-15 yr old (30 min) Resident $26.67 / lesson Non-Res $30.39 / lesson |
|
All swim lessons will now conform to 30 minutes and the rates for group lessons were adjusted accordingly. Semi-private fees were added and will be utilized on request or as needed. All swim fees increased incrementally to cover increasing staff and facility costs. |
|
|
|
Open Gym Fee |
Resident $8 / session 10 visit pass for $72 Non-Res $9 / session 10 visit pass for $81 |
$8 / session |
|
This is an adjustment to slightly increase the fee for non-resident players but also provide an incentive for people to purchase a 10 visit pass which to create more consistency in attendance. |
|
|
|
|
|
Youth Programs |
2% increase: • Recreational After School Program (RAP) • World of Wonder (WOW) and Day Camp • Teen Camp |
|
This increase is slightly below the Customer Price Index increase for the Bay Area. It will offset the increase in minimum wage as well as other rising costs for supplies and facilities. |
|
|
|
|
|
NEW PROPOSED FEES |
|
|
|
FEE TYPE |
PROPOSED 2021 FEES |
|
|
|
|
Field Clean-Up Fee |
$25 / hour |
|
|
This is to recover costs if there is excessive trash or damage after a league’s use of a field. It is only charged if staff or contractor time is required for clean up or to repair damages. |
|
|
|
Gym Clean-Up Fee |
$25 / hour |
|
|
This is to recover costs if there is excessive trash or damage after a league’s use of the gym. It is only charged if staff or contractor time is required for clean up or to repair damages. |
|
|
|
Pool Rental - Non-Alameda Non-Profit |
$90 / hour |
|
|
The Facility Allocation Policy prioritizes scheduling of Alameda youth leagues and residents over non-Alameda organizations and non-resident but there are times when space is available. These organizations should pay a higher rate than local leagues and groups and this establishes a fee for this category of users. |
|
|
|
Lifeguard Fee |
$18 / hour Resident $20 / hour Non-Resident |
|
|
ARPD now requires that all users have a lifeguard on deck, including aquatic teams such as water polo and swimming. This is for the safety of all users and reduces liability for the City. This fee simply covers the City’s cost for the part-time lifeguards. |
|
|
|
Veteran’s Building Rental |
Resident - Main Room $95 / hr Resident - Room 120 $95 / hr Resident - Entire Building $125 / hr Non-Res - Main Room $120 / hr Non-Res - Room 120 $120 /hr Non-Res - Entire Building $165 / hr |
|
|
The Veteran’s Building to date has been primarily used for ARPD, other city programs and veteran’s groups. ARPD did not previously have any specific outside rental fees and ARPD is planning to increase marketing and opportunities for use of the Veteran’s Building. The Veteran’s groups will continue to meet at no cost in their half of the facility. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adult Sports Tournaments |
Actual costs + 20% |
|
|
ARPD is working to add adult sports tournaments, such as softball, flag football and others. This fee will cover all direct and administrative costs. |
|
|
|
Per Hour for Other Youth Programs |
$5 / hour |
|
|
This is to provide flexibility in offering programs quickly, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this fee, ARPD can provide single day or adjusted schedule programming as the need arises. This fee is applied only for programs outside of those listed in the User Fee Schedule. |
The overarching goal of the ARPD User Fee Schedule is to provide effective cost recovery with a balanced model of community benefit. The ARPD continues to seek and secure additional program and facility funding through partnerships, grants, donations and fundraising events.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Fee Schedule changes are intended to offset expenses as described above per the approved Fiscal Year 2019-21 Budget.
RECOMMENDATION
Discuss and make a recommendation to the City Council on the Recreation and Parks Department 2021 Annual User Fee Schedule.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Draft Recreation and Parks Department 2021 User Fee Schedule