Skagit County holds hearing on parks picnic shelter fees; department to pass credit-card transaction fees

Skagit County Parks and Recreation staff presented a proposed revision to the department’s picnic shelter fee structure during a Sept. 2, 2025 public hearing and said the county will begin passing credit-card transaction fees to customers instead of absorbing them.

Bridal Adams, identified in the meeting as director of Skagit County Parks and Recreation, introduced the item alongside Marie, the department’s administrative and projects manager. Adams described the hearing as the county’s review of the existing fee schedule for park picnic-shelter rentals and told commissioners the department intends to pass transaction fees associated with credit-card payments to renters rather than carry those costs on the department’s budget.

No members of the public spoke in the hearing either in the room or via Zoom. A commissioner moved to close the hearing; the motion was seconded and carried. Commissioners directed that the proposed fee changes proceed through the next steps of the county’s adoption process as set out in staff materials.

The department said the change is part of a broader fee-review process; staff did not provide a precise effective date for implementing the credit-card fee pass-through during the public hearing. Written materials and the consent-agenda packet attached to the meeting record are expected to list the specific rates and effective dates when they are finalized.

County staff said administrative support for the fee change will be handled by Parks and Recreation and the county finance office.