Board approves higher, hourly rental rates at Robert J. Cabral AgCenter, adds two‑hour minimum and raises kitchen fee

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 23 adopted revised facility-use fees and policy changes for the Robert J. Cabral Agricultural Center, moving from four‑hour block pricing to hourly rates, increasing deposit requirements and prioritizing agriculture‑related and government uses.

Agriculture Commissioner Kamaljeet Bagri told the board the AgCenter’s fee schedule had not kept pace with maintenance and replacement needs; she said the current trust fund that holds rental revenue generates about $70,000 annually but does not cover projected upkeep. Bagri proposed a switch to hourly pricing, higher rates for commercial and catering kitchen use and limits on which nonprofit events can rent the facility.

The board held a public hearing; commissioners and county staff discussed comparisons to similar venues and concerns from the agricultural community that non‑agricultural users had crowded out the center. Supervisor Dean successfully offered a friendly amendment to impose a two‑hour minimum rental period; supervisors also asked staff to correct the kitchen rate to $250 per hour for the relevant user group. The resolution as amended passed 5–0.

Why it matters: County staff said rising cleaning and maintenance costs and repeated after‑hours events that left the facility in poor condition required a fee schedule that better covered upkeep. Supervisors emphasized preserving priority access for agriculture‑related meetings and county departments that occupy space in the AgCenter.

Key changes: Fees were converted to an hourly structure for most user groups; classroom rates and catering kitchen charges were increased, and deposit requirements were raised to discourage last‑minute cancellations. Staff said revenue from the facility use trust fund will continue to be used for furnishings, equipment replacement and maintenance for the rentable portion of the building.

Board action: The board adopted the resolution as amended, instructing staff to implement an hourly fee schedule, change the kitchen rate to $250 an hour for the identified group, and require a two‑hour minimum. The board also directed staff to protect priority scheduling for agriculture and county government events.

Ending: County staff said the changes will take effect Jan. 1 and bookings already on the calendar will not be affected. Supervisors asked staff to monitor utilization and whether moving to hourly rates reduces or increases net revenue over the coming year.