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Recreation staff propose five-year fee schedule; council wary of large nonresident surcharges
Summary
Parks & Recreation presented a proposed 2026–2030 fee schedule and reviewed resident-discount options. Staff recommended keeping a 10% resident discount rather than a 20% across-the-board nonresident surcharge to avoid pricing Mountlake Terrace programs out of the regional market; childcare rates were flagged as sensitive.
Recreation and Parks staff presented a proposed five-year fee schedule for 2026–2030 and a one-year adjustment for 2026, reviewing program-by-program recommendations and regional comparisons.
Director Jeff Betts and his supervisors explained the process used to set fees — demand, cost per unit, market comparisons and the city’s cost-recovery goals — and said staff tested a 20% nonresident premium scenario against the current 10% resident discount. Staff recommended keeping the resident discount at 10% because a 20% across-the-board nonresident premium would make Mountlake Terrace rates less competitive in the region and could drive nonresidents to neighboring facilities. Staff also highlighted that Mountlake Terrace users are predominantly nonresidents for many programs (staff cited roughly 72% nonresident pool users) and that higher nonresident prices could undermine overall cost recovery.
Key program notes included removing a variable family rate for pool drop-in to streamline admission, adding an over-the-counter permit-like approach to evening and weekend rentals, adding a SilverSneakers rate for the cardio room, and adding new rental items (Ballenger Park half-day/full-day) to the schedule. Recreation staff also added a new popular program, "Parents Night Out," to the fee schedule and proposed modest increases for certain party and rental rates to better reflect staffing costs.
Council members stressed protecting resident access to subsidized services, particularly childcare, and suggested targeted, capacity-aware approaches rather than blanket increases. Several council members supported exploring market-driven pricing for nonresident users in select programs (especially where demand exceeds supply) while preserving resident discounts and scholarship support. Staff noted an existing scholarship program for residents and a separate donation-based scholarship tied to Edmonds School District students.
Staff recommended the council consider the fee schedule next week for adoption and to continue analyzing targeted options for nonresident pricing and capacity management.
