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Commission backs staff recommendation for Monarch Rec Center fee schedule, urges council review of subsidy
Summary
The commission voted to forward staff’s recommended fee schedule for the 129,000-square-foot Monarch Recreation Center to city council, supporting a target of 60–70% cost recovery in early years with a proposed year‑one 4B subsidy of $2.1 million; staff projected adult resident membership at $67/month as a baseline to meet operating targets.
The Parks & Recreation Commission voted to forward staff’s recommended fee schedule and subsidy approach for the new Monarch Recreation Center to city council.
Staff reviewed the center’s planning history, saying a 2020 feasibility study and the 2020 bond authorized rec‑center funding but post‑COVID construction costs required rethinking scale and funding. Staff presented the proposed facility program: roughly 129,000 square feet (129,000 ft² rec center; 140,000 ft² including attached retail), four gyms configurable for pickleball/basketball/volleyball, an indoor pool with slides, more than 130 strength and fitness stations, a turf area and a 300-person rentable event space with catering kitchen.
Staff outlined timeline and operations: projected substantial completion near the end of November, pre-sale beginning Oct. 1, soft opening and tours in January, a mid‑February grand opening, 13 full‑time and roughly 200 part‑time staff anticipated, and proposed hours ranging from early morning to evening. The proposed operating budget cited by staff was about $7.1 million annually.
On revenue and pricing, staff explained an operating model that targets roughly 60–70% cost recovery from membership and programs while using a 4B sales-tax subsidy to cover near-term gaps. Staff said city council has approved a year‑one 4B subsidy recommendation of $2.1 million. The staff-presented fee schedule used as the commission recommendation included example rates such as adult resident $67/month and nonresident $94/month; youth $40/month and nonresident $56/month; family categories and initiation‑fee approaches were discussed. Staff said the model assumes conservative early membership growth (3,000 current members retained plus adding members to reach a 4,500-member year-one target to meet 60% of operating revenue needs).
Commissioners questioned affordability, couple-and-family tiers, scholarship options, high-volume rental scenarios and the trade-offs of a higher cost‑recovery mandate versus broader public access. Staff said the proposed model is conservative and that council could increase the subsidy, add scholarships funded through other sources (CDBG, 4B or philanthropic contributions), or authorize more flexible fee levers if the commission or council prefers.
After discussion, a commissioner moved to accept staff's recommendation to forward the schedule and subsidy approach to council; a second was given and the commission voted in favor. Staff will present the recommendation to council on July 14 and seek council direction on fees and subsidy levels. If council reduces or increases the proposed subsidy, staff said the membership and program assumptions and the fee schedule would be adjusted accordingly.
