Title
Public Hearing to Consider Adoption of Resolution Amending Master Fee Resolution No. 12191 to Add and Revise Recreation and Park Fees for Calendar Year 2023. (Recreation 10051400)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Alameda (City) Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) annually recommends updates for ARPD fees for implementation on January 1 of the following year. The proposed 2023 fee schedule was reviewed and recommended for approval by the Recreation and Parks Commission on October 13, 2022. Proposed fee adjustment is generally a five percent (5%) increase for all programs, with some exceptions described below, and no increases for facility and picnic rentals since those are already at market rate.
BACKGROUND
On January 22, 1992, the City Council adopted Resolution Number 12191, placing 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 percentage changes 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 Recreation and Park Commission with its recommendation brought forward to the City Council. Staff reviewed the current fees and recommended adjustments based on budget, as well as fee comparisons with other local jurisdictions including San Leandro, Emeryville, Fremont, Union City, and San Ramon, in addition to comparing fees for private Alameda recreation providers, where appropriate.
The Fee Schedule generally is updated annually as part of the City budget process and goes into effect on July 1. Due to the timing of summer recreation programs, however, the ARPD User Fee Schedule is adopted earlier, with an implementation date of January 1. The school-year fees are noted separately with a start date of August to coincide with the start of the school year.
The Recreation and Parks Commission unanimously recommended approval of the 2022 User Fee Schedule on October 13, 2022.
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 mobile recreation 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. This creates a framework to offset and balance the total budget and help fund administrative costs.
As described below, fees were added or adjusted for the proposed 2023 Recreation and Park User Fee Schedule to address rising staff, facility and supply costs and to create opportunities for new programming and rentals. The overall market and cost comparison relative to programs in other cities and in Alameda were also analyzed (Exhibit 2). Given that staff, supply and utility costs increase affect all programs and activities, the proposed fee schedule includes a five percent (5%) fee increase across most programs with the exceptions as noted below and no increases for facility and picnic rentals. The following fees are proposed for 2023:
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PROPOSED CHANGES TO EXISTING FEES |
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FEE TYPE |
PROPOSED 2023 FEE |
CURRENT 2022 FEE |
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Athletic Field Youth League - Non-Profits |
$8 / Hour |
$7 / Hour |
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This fee is being incrementally increased each year by $1 to improve cost recovery of field maintenance and supplies such as fertilizer, infield dirt, and equipment maintenance. |
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All other Athletic Field fees |
5% increase for Private Resident, Non-Resident and Synthetic Turf Field |
See Exhibit 1. |
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Field Light Use |
$36 / Hour |
$30 / Hour |
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This adjustment is to recover increasing electricity costs for field light usage. Has not been increased in over ten years. The fee was developed based on a detailed analysis of current electrical costs. |
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Alameda Point Gym - Organizations |
Alameda Youth Org / Schools Practice $38 / hr Game/Tournament $45 / hr |
Alameda Youth Org / Schools Practice $37 / hr Game/Tournament $40 / hr |
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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 third step of that fee adjustment because no fees were increased in 2021. The Alameda Point Gym fees for Residents, Non-Residents, Non-Alameda Non-Profits are increasing 5%. |
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Pool Rental |
5% increase for all rental categories |
See Exhibit 1. |
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5% fee proposed for all uses including Resident, Non-Resident, Commercial Use, Youth and Adult Teams as well as the Lifeguard fee. |
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O’Club Security Deposit |
$1,500 with alcohol permit |
$1,000 with alcohol permit |
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ARPD is experiencing increased facility damage issues from large O’Club events and subsequently staff recommends increasing the refundable security deposit. |
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O’Club Event Setup/Cleaup |
$250 per event |
$150 per event |
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ARPD contracts a company to handle this service and that cost has increased this past year. This fee is an average cost to recover the fees paid to the company. |
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Swim Lessons |
5% increase for all swim lessons - Group, Semi-Private and Private for Residents and Non-Residents |
See Exhibit 1. |
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This fee continues to be lower than other private swim lessons in Alameda and covers increasing staff and facility costs. Swim lessons are in high demand and consistently have dozens of children on the wait list. Public Swim, Lap Swim/Water Walking, and Aqua Fitness Classes were not increased. |
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Adult Sports |
5% increase for all Adult Sports including Leagues with 1 Official, Leagues with 2 Officials |
See Exhibit 1. |
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5% fee increase for all Adult Sports to offset staffing and contracts (coordination, umpires, refs and scorekeepers) and field lighting costs. |
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Tennis Lessons |
10% increase for all Tennis Lessons including Group, Private and Semi-Private for Resident and Non-Resident |
See Exhibit 1. |
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The hourly rate paid for ARPD Tennis Instructors was determined as significantly lower than comparable Tennis Instructors in Alameda. Their hourly rates were justifiably increased and this 10% increase is to offset that cost. The tennis lesson rates continue to be much lower than comparable lessons in Alameda. |
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Youth Programs |
5% increase for camps (WOW and Day Camp), RAP After School Program, Tiny Tots and Per Hour Charge for Other Youth Programs |
See Exhibit 1. |
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All youth programs are increased by 5% to account for increased staff, facility and program costs. Part-time staff costs increased approximately 5% last fiscal year and an additional estimated 5% this coming fiscal year based on the City’s minimum wage ordinance. Drop-in programs such as Wee Play were not increased. |
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Club Underground Transportation |
$4 / youth / one-way trip |
$2 / youth / one-way trip |
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ARPD staff drives a city van to pick up youth from local middle schools. Given the significant increase in gas costs, this increased fee is to recover those gas cost and is based on a fiscal analysis. |
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Breakfast with Santa |
Res Adult $21 and Child $11 Non-Res Adult $24 and Child $13 |
Res Adult $19 and Child $10 |
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Fees increased 5% with the addition of a Non-Resident rate. |
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Food Truck Fee |
$350 / event |
15% Gross Revenue During Event |
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It is administratively challenging to manage fees based on gross revenues received during the event. This revised fee is simpler to manage. |
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NEW PROPOSED FEES |
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FEE TYPE |
PROPOSED 2023 FEES |
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Athletic Field - Camp/Tournament |
Alameda Non-Profit $32 / hour Non-Alameda Non-Profit $42 / hour Synthetic Turf Alameda Non-Profit $53 / hour Synthetic Turf Non-Alameda Non-Profit $69 hour |
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This fee is for non-profit organizations that host for-profit camps and tournaments. Similar to the Game/Tournament fee for Alameda Point Gym. |
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Mastick Senior Center Classroom Facility Rental |
Alameda Non-Profit $50 / hour Non-Alameda Non-Profit $60 / hour Resident Non-Res Room A $75/hr $90/hr DR 1 or 2 $95/hr $114/hr Room D $95/hr $114/hr |
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These rooms have not previously been included in the facility rental program. There is increased interest from community members to rent these rooms for evening and weekend programs and creating this fee structure provides additional opportunity to utilize Mastick Senior Center while recovering costs for impacts on the facility and custodians required during the rentals. |
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Mastick Senior Center Facility Rental - Refundable Security Deposit |
Social Hall Deposit $500 Classroom Deposit $250 |
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This is an addition of a refundable security deposit which is necessary as Mastick Senior Center facility rentals are increasing. |
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.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve the 2023 ARPD User Fee Schedule as presented.
• Adjust any of the new and updated fees. If all, or a majority of fees, are not increased then the ARPD budget will require additional funding from the General Fund to maintain a balanced budget as the anticipated revenues from this proposed User Fee Schedule were included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 Budget.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The Fee Schedule changes are intended to offset expenses as described above based on the approved FY 2022-23 Budget. If the proposed ARPD User Fee Schedule is not approved for calendar year 2023, then additional General Fund support of approximately $75,000 to $100,000 would be required in FY 2022-23 to cover program costs. Additional General Fund support would also be required in FY 2023-24 in order to maintain service levels, subject to future City Council appropriations.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15378 (b)(4) of the CEQA Guidelines, because it involves governmental fiscal activities (revising recreation and park fees), which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public meeting and adopt a resolution amending Master Fee Resolution No. 12191 to revise existing, and add new, Recreation and Park Fees for calendar year 2023.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. Proposed 2023 Recreation and Parks Department User Fee Schedule
2. Comparison Study
cc: Erin Smith, City Manager