Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Consultant finds Riverbank parks recover about 16% of costs; recommends cost‑recovery policy and scholarship program
Summary
A consultant presented a parks and recreation financial sustainability study showing an overall cost‑recovery rate of about 16% (28% excluding open‑access parks). Recommendations include a formal cost‑recovery policy, need‑based assistance/scholarship, rental‑fee evaluation, and 24–36 month monitoring of progress.
Riverbank — A consultant hired by the city presented a financial sustainability study for the Parks and Recreation Department, concluding the department recovers roughly 16% of its costs overall and about 28% when open‑access park operations are excluded.
Farrell, the consultant with 110%, told council the study used a three‑leg process — service categories, beneficiary‑of‑service ranking and cost‑of‑service analysis — to set realistic cost‑recovery goals by program type. "When we talk about money in government and specifically in parks and recreation, we know there are a lot of factors that are at play," the consultant said, noting the aim is to be good stewards of taxpayer resources while maintaining access.
Key recommendations included creation of a formal cost‑recovery policy for adoption by council in 2026, a need‑based assistance (scholarship) program for residents who cannot pay full fees, evaluation of rental fees and processes, reduction of duplicated offerings, and establishment of success metrics. The consultant recommended staff and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board continue tracking performance and revisit progress in 24–36 months.
Council asked clarifying questions about how the service categories work and how cost‑recovery goals were set. Staff said the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board participated in ranking programs by community benefit and that the tool is meant as an operational decision‑making aid rather than a prescriptive price list.
Next steps: staff will draft policy language, evaluate scholarship design and report back to council for further direction and potential adoption of a cost‑recovery policy.
