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City warns school‑district rental fee proposal could drastically cut summer recreation services
Summary
Parks & Recreation director warned a proposed Imperial School District fee schedule would sharply raise facility rental costs, shorten the season and hours, and could reduce summer camps that serve about 1,000 children and employ approximately 27 part‑time staff; council discussed a possible joint meeting with the district.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department told the council Tuesday that a proposed Imperial School District fee schedule for facility rentals could sharply increase the cost of the summer recreation program, shorten program weeks and hours, and threaten affordable childcare and summer employment for youth.
Parks and Recreation Director Tony Lopez said the city’s summer program typically runs seven weeks (about June 8 through Aug. 8) and serves roughly 1,000 children. "Our current facility rental fees are about $6,700," Lopez said, adding the department’s 2025 revenue for summer programming was roughly $56,000 with about $13,000 in grant and sponsorship funding.
Lopez said the district’s proposed changes would cut the city’s season to five weeks, shorten hours (from roughly 6 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and multiply facility rental charges. In the presentation, he projected facility rental costs could rise to about $21,300 for the same level of service. Lopez said those changes would force program reductions, raise net losses for the city or require raising registration fees.
Council members expressed concern about the impact on working families. Council member Burnworth and others stressed the program provides affordable childcare and work experience: the city employs about 27 part‑time staff for the summer and provides lifeguard and instructor training. One council member calculated that the rental increase described in the presentation would be a 317 percent rise compared with the city’s current expense, a point Lopez said reflected differing calculation methods; Lopez earlier called the figure "near 70 percent" in his slide narrative, and council debate noted both characterizations.
City Manager Robert Merida and Parks staff said some short‑term mitigations are possible, such as reducing reserved but unused facility time and looking for other community partners (church gyms or nonprofit facilities). Lopez said he would produce a revised schedule and cost projection by November and recommended a joint public meeting with the school board so parents can hear the potential changes and ask questions.
Council members urged negotiations with the district and suggested a joint meeting in council chambers with livestream so the public can participate. No formal council action was taken Tuesday; staff were directed to finish the cost projection and return with options and a proposed public meeting date.
