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 large events (weddings, banquets) and an a la carte option with a five-hour minimum for smaller events; weekday rentals would be hourly to support meetings and community programming. Staff explained weekend demand and staffing needs informed both structures.

- Nonresident and nonprofit treatment: Nonresident rates would generally be about 25% higher than resident rates, consistent with current city practice. Staff recommended splitting nonprofit rates by resident and nonresident status to improve consistency across facilities.

- Special nonprofit and legacy groups: Staff described three nonprofit groupings: standard nonprofits, special local groups (Group B: Foster City–based youth and community organizations such as youth sports and community theater), and Group C (San Mateo County agencies and county-based support groups). Staff noted three "legacy" organizations that historically received deeper discounts and asked whether the council wants to continue legacy treatment, allow limited discounted usage (for example, one weekday event per year at 50% off), or formalize exceptions in policy. Staff said the current packet lists the legacy organizations in its materials.

- Example rates and cost recovery: Staff said some long-standing annex rates have been heavily subsidized. As examples from the packet, Group B was noted as paying $11 per hour now (proposed to move to $18/hour for nonpeak annex use), and Group C figures were discussed in the $21–$25/hour range; staff said a standard nonprofit rate example in the materials was in the high $30s (packet text referenced amounts around $37–$40). Staff cautioned those nonprofit levels generally cover most direct staffing costs but not all overhead.

Council questions and staff responses

Council members pressed staff on implementation details and the pro forma staffing model. Council member Patrick Sullivan asked, "Is this with a rental manager that the city would hire?" Schweigert said a rental coordinator position is included in the pro forma but that staff would return with fuller information about staffing and the pro forma after finishing the fee presentation.

Members also asked how schools and joint-use agreements would be treated. Staff said schools have historically been charged nonprofit rates and that the city is negotiating a joint-use agreement with the school district; staff invited council guidance on whether school-related events that principally serve Foster City should receive resident-equivalent discounts.

Operational and capacity notes

Staff described facility scale and capacities: the new Lagoon Event Hall was described as roughly 7,200+ square feet, with a seated capacity in the 380–400 range for the full hall; smaller Vista and meeting rooms will support routine weekday uses. Security requirements for larger events (industry-standard outside security for events serving alcohol or above certain attendance thresholds) were reiterated; staff said those security costs are borne by renters (proof of coverage required).

Next steps

Staff asked the council whether it supports maintaining an approximate 25% nonresident surcharge, the proposed resident/nonresident nonprofit tiering and discount levels, guidance on how to treat nonprofit fundraising events, and using the weekend package/hourly structure for the Lagoon Event Hall. Schweigert said staff will incorporate council feedback, refine the fee matrix, engage affected groups, and return to the council in May with a final master fee schedule for adoption.

The study session ended with staff thanking the council and an adjournment. No formal votes or motions were taken at the meeting.