San Clemente Council Adopts Updated Parks and Recreation Fee Policy, Adds Annual-Cap Guidance

San Clemente — The City Council voted to adopt an updated beaches, parks and recreation cost‑recovery policy and fee schedule on a package that staff said is the first comprehensive update since 2009.

The council adopted staff’s resolution after public testimony from swim teams, water‑polo clubs and other community groups who warned that large immediate increases could threaten nonprofit sports programs. Council members added guidance for a 5% annual cap on future routine fee increases and instructed staff to return with final language; they also bifurcated water‑polo‑specific changes for separate consideration and removed a newly proposed $5 per‑participant line item across youth sports to preserve parity.

Why it matters: Parks and aquatics programs are heavily subsidized by the general fund. Parks director Samantha Wiley told the council the aquatics program has an estimated annual operating cost of “about $2,000,000 and an annual revenue of just about $690,000,” and staff framed the fee update as a gradual, data‑driven step toward greater cost recovery while preserving subsidies for youth, seniors and adaptive programs.

What the package does: The cost‑of‑service study by Matrix Consulting that underpins the proposal recommends modest increases (staff signaled a 10% lane‑rental increase for partners with an adjusted resident swim‑pass correction to $83), toolkit policy changes to distinguish tiered community partners, and a path to higher cost recovery over multiple years. Staff said the package would increase annual aquatics revenue by an estimated $150,000–$200,000 and move the department closer to reserve and coverage targets.

Public reaction: Dozens of residents and representatives from San Clemente Aquatics, San Clemente Water Polo Club and other groups urged the council for protections: caps on annual increases, a correction for water‑polo lane‑count multipliers, and longer transition periods to avoid membership loss. “If it goes higher and higher and higher every year, it will put our program at significant risk,” said Amanda Pawanka, president of San Clemente Aquatics.

Council action and next steps: Councilmembers approved the fee package with the 5% annual cap as guidance, clarified the resident pass correction and bifurcated water‑polo adjustments for separate action. The council also directed staff to advertise the changes and return with any necessary implementing language. Several council members asked staff to continue exploring scholarship and SilverSneakers options for lower‑income seniors and to report back on capital project credits tied to facility fundraising.

What remains uncertain: The council did not finalize every detail for water‑polo rate treatment and asked staff to work with community partners on caps and possible credit mechanisms tied to fundraising. Staff also emphasized that upcoming capital costs (for example, a pump‑room remodel estimated near $1,000,000) are not included in the cost study and will require separate budget actions.

The council’s vote leaves the fee policy in place with the direction to return with implementation details and any adjustments requested by partners; the water‑polo item will return for targeted consideration.