Monterey parks commissioners back 10% fee increase and phased maintenance contribution to address rising costs

The Monterey Parks & Recreation Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve a 10% increase to most parks and recreation fees effective July 1, 2026, and to phase up the contribution of fees to a facility maintenance and improvement fund from 5% to 6% this year, increasing by 1 percentage point annually until it reaches 10% in fiscal 2031.

Shannon, a parks and recreation staff member presenting the proposal, said the department did not raise fees last year and is asking for a moderate, market‑aware increase now. "Those fees are going up by about 10%," she said, adding the department expects roughly $643,000 in additional revenue under the proposal, with approximately $386,000 directed to the facility maintenance fund at the 6% level.

The staff presentation framed the increases as a response to multiple cost pressures: utility costs for recreation and the sports center of about $1.6 million — a roughly 31% increase since the department's FY19 benchmark — rising labor costs tied to minimum wage increases (current minimum cited as $16.90 per hour, with a projected $17.30 on Jan. 1, 2027), and the department's reliance on about 400 part‑time employees. Staff and commission members also referenced a citywide structural budget shortfall (staff cited an anticipated $10 million gap for the coming fiscal year) as context for pursuing revenue actions that preserve services.

Commissioners pressed staff on the distribution of costs between participant fees and the general fund, how the 10% figure was determined, and whether targeted relief for low‑income families would be available. Staff said resident discounts are available through the registration software that ties accounts to GIS-based residency, but the department is not proposing a new individualized sliding-scale program because manual administration would be resource-intensive. Staff said they would continue to consider smaller incremental increases in future years if needed.

During discussion commissioners emphasized that the department is already lean: staff said roughly eight full‑time recreation employees, about eight full‑time at the sports center and about 27 parks positions (with several vacancies) support a wide portfolio of programs and roughly 800 acres of parks. Commissioner concerns focused on balancing affordability with service continuity; one commissioner said the proposed increase is substantial for some households but argued it is modest relative to multi-year cost growth for the department.

The commission moved, seconded and took a voice vote recommending that city council adopt the fee changes and the phased facility fund increase; the motion passed with no opposition recorded on the meeting audio. Staff said the commission's recommendation will go to City Council in May and that the council typically adopts the budget in June for changes effective July 1.

The department also highlighted existing financial assistance programs — "playships and camperships" — to help residents who need aid to attend camps or obtain memberships. Staff noted the department is hiring for summer positions and expects robust program demand; several summer camp sessions were already full at the time of the meeting.

What happens next: The commission will forward its recommendation to City Council, which will consider the master fee schedule and the citywide fee proposals during its budget process. If council approves the fee schedule and budget on the usual timeline, the fee changes would take effect July 1, 2026.