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Council signals support for modest recreation fee increases, asks staff to draft MOUs for Little League and park users
Summary
Council asked staff to pursue modest increases to some recreation fees, consider resident versus nonresident pricing, and develop memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with long‑term user groups (for example, Little League and travel soccer) rather than immediate across‑the‑board full cost recovery.
Redding City Council members discussed revising recreation and facility rental policies and fees as part of the broader budget conversation. Staff described an existing council policy (Council policy 806) that limits recovery for recreation programs so youth programs are subsidized for affordability. Under current practice, youth programs recoup about 90% of direct costs, adult programs recover roughly 95% of direct costs with a small overhead add‑on, and select programs and facilities (for example specialty events and some community programs) are free by policy.
Staff presented options ranging from modest, targeted increases (for example, a 10% registration increase across certain programs) to full overhead recovery (which staff estimated could raise up to $500,000 but would substantially raise prices for users). Council members repeatedly emphasized protecting affordability for youth programs and summer camp while asking staff to consider resident/nonresident pricing and modest increases targeted to administrative recovery.
Parks and organized youth sports: council members asked staff to finish and return proposed MOUs for Little League and other long‑term users that currently receive reduced or zero fees. Staff said those MOUs would clarify maintenance, scheduling priority and cost responsibilities. Council members signaled they would accept modest fees for group field reservations and asked staff to quantify the likely effect on registration fees; staff estimated that making Little League pay for field use could generate material revenue (noted a combined $101,000 of uncollected revenue tied to current discounts for two leagues) but that the per‑child impact could be small if spread across registrations (staff cited past examples where facility charges added only a modest per‑child cost).
Why it matters: recreation and facility fees affect affordability for youth and community programs and are used to offset general‑fund costs. Council prioritized protecting youth access while seeking modest revenue offsets that would not price families out of programs.
Ending and next steps: staff will return draft council policy language and MOUs and will present a proposed fee schedule; council emphasized that any large increases should be phased and that policy changes should be in place before widely raising fees.
