Council tables major increases to indoor facility rental fees after public concern; outdoor pavilion fees cut

The Folsom City Council on Tuesday opened a public hearing and debated a staff recommendation to adopt a new community facility rental fee schedule (Resolution No. 11387). The proposed schedule would update the city’s rates for indoor spaces (Community Center ballroom, RG Smith room, Rotary Clubhouse) and formalize hourly rates, resident discounts and nonprofit discounts; staff also proposed lower rates for park picnic pavilions and a new multi-day/special-event fee.

Tom Hellman, recreation and community services manager, presented occupancy data showing high weekday and weekend usage at indoor spaces and argued the updated list rates would move Folsom’s fees closer to regional averages; staff proposed a 25% resident discount and a 45% nonprofit discount off a new list rate and annual CPI adjustments not to exceed the consumer price index.

Public commenters and several council members raised concerns about the magnitude of proposed indoor increases and the lack of direct outreach to longtime nonprofit users. Several nonprofit and event organizers warned that large overnight increases could push regular groups and regional event promoters to seek private venues outside Folsom. One promoter said some events deliver notable economic impact but use limited city services; another asked the council to weigh the cost of discouraging promoters that bring hotel stays and retail spending.

Council members questioned occupancy calculations and whether hourly assumptions overstated cost recovery. Vice Mayor Raffel and others noted that many indoor bookings use short blocks of hours and that current booking patterns (including weekday nonprofit use) would be affected.

After debate and a substitute motion to cap increases failed for lack of a second, the council voted 4–1 to table the fee schedule and asked staff to do targeted outreach to regular users and nonprofits and to return the item at the next meeting with refined options. The roll call on the tabling motion was Leary (yes), Raffel (yes), Rorvaugh (yes), Kozlowski (no), Aquino (yes).

While indoor fees were the focus of contention, staff’s analysis recommends lowering park pavilion hourly rates (proposed $20/hour for small pavilions, $25/hour for large pavilions) and adding three pavilions to the online reservation system to increase accessibility. Council members who supported tabling said they favored the pavilion reductions and online booking improvements but wanted more notice and consultation on indoor rate changes.

No new fee schedule was adopted at the meeting. Staff will return with the refined fee proposals after targeted outreach and additional cost-recovery analysis.