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Soledad adopts modest parks fee increases to keep programs running
Summary
The Soledad City Council unanimously adopted an updated Parks & Recreation fee schedule (Resolution 63‑16) to help the department cover rising operating and labor costs while keeping youth access and scholarship programs intact.
The Soledad City Council voted unanimously on Dec. 17 to adopt an updated Parks and Recreation fee schedule for fiscal year 2025–26.
Parks and Recreation Director Jessica Potts told the council the department has operated with largely unchanged fees since it opened in June 2021, but rising operating costs — notably seasonal and minimum wages — have widened a gap between program revenue and expenses. “We did a modest increase to help bridge a widening gap between costs and revenue,” Potts said, adding the department will continue to prioritize youth programming and maintain scholarship options the council approved in 2022.
Council members pressed staff on specifics. Councilmember Ben Caldera said the increases were overdue and thanked staff for the work. Councilmember Rintondo Sanchez asked about facility‑rental rules, confirming weekend block rates and hourly meeting rates, and Potts clarified that Friday–Sunday blocks are treated as six‑hour block rates while weekday meetings are hourly. On security, Potts explained the city books security guards for rentals and pass‑throughs the renter pays; the fee shown is $40 per hour.
The schedule also formalizes differential pricing for nonprofits versus for‑profits and resident versus nonresident users, and retains a scholarship program mainly used for break camps. Council raised several administrative clarifications — including an insurance footnote related to bounce houses and a token system used to operate park lights — and Potts said staff would refine the footnotes and return any technical edits before final publication of the fee table.
Mayor Ana Velasquez made the motion to adopt Resolution 63‑16; the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. Staff said the new fees will help sustain programming while staff continues to monitor participation and affordability for residents.
The council directed staff to return with corrected footnotes and clarified language so the adopted schedule posted on the city website is consistent and accessible.
