Capitola updates fee schedule for new community center rentals, sets EV charging price; council asks for further rate review

The Capitola City Council on May 14 adopted changes to the current fiscal‑year fee schedule that add rental rates for rooms at the newly completed community center and set a retail EV charging rate for chargers at the facility.

Staff explained the need to establish rates before the facility opens: room rental options (hourly and day rates for individual rooms and combinations) were proposed and a corrected full‑day rate for renting the entire center was noted. The city also proposed a community‑center EV charging rate of $0.45 per kilowatt‑hour, slightly above the city’s procurement cost, intended to recover electricity and maintenance expenses. Parking lot chargers in the upper lot will remain at the existing $1 per hour parking/charging rate until new chargers are installed and configured.

Councilmembers asked staff to re‑examine several comparables and recommended raising a few of the lower hourly rates (notably the patio and kitchen combinations) to better reflect market comparables and to maximize revenue from the new facility. Staff said the kitchen line item is intended to be used in combination with adjoining room rentals and that detailed rental terms (minimum hours, compound fees, staffing and cleanup policies) will be captured in the rental package that staff will prepare and publish.

Council voted to approve the fee schedule amendment for the current fiscal year and directed staff to return with a refined rental package and adjusted room rates at the June 11 meeting. Staff said various fees will be subject to routine CPI adjustments in future years.

The changes are administrative and do not authorize any construction; they prepare the city for the community center’s opening and for revenue recovery from EV charging.