Foster City staff seek council direction on community center fees and nonprofit discounts

Parks and Recreation staff presented proposed updates to Foster City’s master fee schedule and asked the City Council for policy direction on pricing for the new Foster City Community Center, including the Lagoon Event Hall and a range of nonprofit discounts.

The proposal, presented by Derek Schweigert, director of parks and recreation, would standardize rate categories across the system (resident, nonresident, nonprofit, commercial), introduce weekend package and a la carte options for the Lagoon Event Hall, and separate nonprofit rates into resident and nonresident tiers. "So tonight staff is going to be ... presenting to the council the proposed changes for the master fee schedules," Schweigert said as he opened the study session.

Why it matters: the council's direction will set how the new community center balances affordability for residents and community groups with the city’s goal of recovering a larger share of operating costs. Staff said the changes aim to keep the city competitive with nearby agencies while maintaining community access.

Key proposals and details

- Lagoon Event Hall pricing: Staff proposed two weekend options — a bundled package covering up to 10 consecutive hours for…