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Council approves annual fee schedule, raises nonresident zoo admission and adopts new membership tiers
Summary
Council approved an annual 2.96% CPI adjustment to most city service fees, added or clarified several fees, and approved revised Charles Paddock Zoo admission and membership pricing designed to align with comparable zoos and support the zoo's business plan.
Atascadero City Council approved updates to the city’s annual fee schedule, including a 2.96% Consumer Price Index adjustment to most user fees and a handful of targeted updates. Assistant staff reported that some fees remain at $0 to support council strategic initiatives, while fee changes are designed to reflect cost recovery for services such as planning, building permits and recreation programs.
The Charles Paddock Zoo presented revised admission and membership pricing to support a business plan and revenue goals. The zoo recommended keeping the resident general-admission price at $13 while raising the nonresident rate for ages 13 and up to $15. Zoo staff and the Friends of the Zoo also restructured membership tiers to reduce unused tiers and add benefits (additional guest access, discounts on camps and events, and reciprocal or participating AZA zoo benefits). "We have a couple of slides for the zoo tonight to show the mission pricing," the zoo presenter told council; staff said the membership changes are already in effect.
Council voted unanimously to adopt the fee updates. The fee schedule will become effective 60 days after adoption. Staff said some fees are set by state law and did not change, while other fees were added (for example, ministerial subdivisions and certain planning surcharges) to better reflect staff time and cost recovery.
Ending: Staff will implement the new schedule in 60 days and continue to provide updates to council about fee compliance and revenues.
