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Lafayette outlines parks and recreation fee philosophy after community engagement
Summary
City staff and consultant MGT reported on a fee-study that surveyed 625 residents and held focus groups; staff proposed a cost-of-service model to guide differentiated pricing, maintain resident discounts, preserve affordability, and phase implementation with attention to depreciation and reduced-rate programs.
Lafayette staff and consultant MGT presented the Parks, Recreation and Golf fee philosophy update on Nov. 18, summarizing community engagement, benchmarking and a proposed cost-of-service model.
Staff said the online survey collected 625 responses (English and Spanish) and that MGT conducted virtual focus groups with residents plus interviews with internal staff. Findings included broad support for fees reflecting perceived value, interest in nonresident premium pricing, mixed views on age-based discounts, and concern that higher fees should be tied to visible facility improvements. The public perceived the Indian Peaks Golf Course as higher-end and generally appropriately priced, while some residents said other facilities felt underfunded.
Deputy Director Justin Perdue explained that staff is developing a cost-of-service accounting model to classify services on a continuum from open-access community benefits to personal enterprise operations; the policy will preserve a 20–25% resident rate advantage and look at depreciation and deferred-maintenance planning. Staff recommended phased implementation, staff training, and a refined reduced-rate program to maintain equitable access.
Councilors asked about including asset replacement costs in fee models; Perdue said depreciation, deferred maintenance and benchmarking are part of the analysis. The next steps include finalizing policy language and using the model in future fee-setting.
