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Nonprofits and residents urge affordable park and event fees as council begins fee study
Summary
City staff briefed council on a formal fee‑study update; nonprofits urged continued low‑cost or waived rental fees for community events including a revived May Festival, and council members asked staff and the consultant to consider bundled multi‑day rates and revised deposit practices.
City staff presented a review of Fillmore’s current facility and special‑event fee schedule on Jan. 28 and said the city is conducting a comprehensive new fee study; nonprofits, event organizers and residents urged the council to preserve low‑cost access to city properties for community groups and to consider bundled rates.
Erica (staff) told the council the city’s fees are set through a third‑party fee study (WellDone Financial Services) and that the city plans to return later this year with updated recommendations. She said comparisons to nearby Moorpark and Santa Paula show differences driven in part by the dates of the other cities’ studies and local policy choices.
Why it mattered: local nonprofit groups said affordable access to parks and facilities is essential to fundraising and community events. Several speakers asked the council to keep waivers or low fees for organizations that provide demonstrable public benefit and to consider a return of the city’s May Festival.
Speakers representing local nonprofits and event organizers described the budget pressure that higher rental fees create. Sophia Alvarado, speaking for local nonprofit groups, asked that the city ‘‘continue evaluating waivers on a case‑by‑case basis to ensure that non profits with a demonstrated community benefit are not hindered by the financial constraints’’ and said affordable access is critical to reviving the May Festival.
Jose Martinez, an event organizer, urged the council to consider bundled pricing for multi‑day events and said private entertainment groups lack resources to carry multi‑day rental costs alone. Resident speakers described practical comparisons with neighboring cities (an attendee noted Moorpark uses different hourly bands by park size) and suggested a setup‑day or multi‑day bundle to reduce duplicate charges.
City staff described practical and legal limits on fee waivers: Erica said outright waivers may risk being deemed a prohibited or improper gift of public funds — especially if an event generates revenue — and emphasized the city aims to balance fiscal stewardship with public access. Staff also agreed to ask the consultant to evaluate multi‑day bundles and reduced fees for setup days, and to review deposit and hold options with finance staff to reduce the burden on community groups while preserving protections for city assets.
Council direction and follow‑up: councilmembers asked staff and the consultant to consider (1) bundle pricing for multi‑day events, (2) a reduced or staged deposit schedule (for example paying a deposit closer to the event date rather than many months in advance), and (3) clearer definitions of ‘‘small’’ versus ‘‘large’’ special events. Staff said the completed fee study will return later this year for council consideration.
No formal city action was taken at the meeting; the item was informational and will be part of the consultant’s study and later council discussion.
