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Commission reviews RCS fee study and five-tier cost-recovery model for recreation, parks and facilities
Summary
Staff and consultant presented a full fee study that applies a five-tier 'triangle' model to classify programs by community vs. individual benefit and set target cost-recovery percentages; commissioners were asked to provide classification guidance before staff returns with recommendations.
The Recreation and Parks Commission reviewed a consultant report and staff recommendations on Jan. 14 aimed at updating program and facility fees to better reflect cost of service.
Staff said fees and program charges have not been significantly restructured in more than a decade and that many programs recover a small share of their full cost. The department engaged RCS to inventory programs, estimate direct annual costs and recommend a five-tier triangle model that classifies services by level of community benefit versus individual benefit and suggests target cost-recovery percentages for each tier.
Examples from the report presented at the meeting included adult sports with an estimated total cost of about $736,000 and $176,000 in revenue (about a 24% cost recovery), and youth sports showing a total cost of about $333,000 with roughly $21,000 in revenue (about a 6.48% recovery). Staff said they are not proposing to immediately push all programs to full cost recovery but want commissioner input on where each program should fall on the triangle (community benefit versus individual benefit) so staff can recommend appropriate target recovery rates.
The report notes the director has authority to raise fees based on the Consumer Price Index up to 5% annually. Commissioners asked for additional detail and expressed interest in convening a working meeting to classify programs before staff develops final recommendations for council consideration. Staff indicated revenue collected from current fees is recorded to the general fund and would continue to be treated as department revenue; no specific new fee schedule was adopted in the Jan. 14 meeting.
Staff and the consultant recommended that commission members review the workbook pages prior to a future working session; staff will return with recommended classifications, proposed fee changes phased over time and equity/inclusion options to preserve access for low-income residents.
