Parks and Recreation Commission approves three rental fee waivers, including full waiver for Parkinson’s program

The Mill Valley Parks and Recreation Commission voted April 6 to approve three separate rental fee waivers for community uses, including a unanimous 100% waiver for the Mill Valley Historical Society’s membership potluck and a 100% waiver for PD Connect, an evidence-based Parkinson’s exercise program.

Deputy Director Jay Ingram told the commission that Wonderworld applied as a Group 2 (commercial) partnership for programming at Old Mill Park this fall and that staff recommended a 25% waiver on a listed full rental cost of $22.05. Ingram said the city “verbally committed…$50,000” to a separate sports-field effort and that Wonderworld’s organizers “are trying to raise a $100,000,” citing the applicants’ fundraising plans and event pricing when explaining the staff recommendation. The commission approved the staff-recommended 25% waiver for Wonderworld by voice vote.

For the Mill Valley Historical Society, staff recommended and the commission approved a 100% fee waiver for the society’s Oct. 22, 2026 membership potluck; the historical society will still be responsible for a $600 refundable security deposit. The staff report noted the society received a 100% waiver in 2025 and sought the same arrangement for 2026.

PD Connect requested use of the Cascade Room on Mondays from May 4 through Dec. 28 for a no-cost Parkinson’s education and exercise program. Staff recommended a 75% waiver (estimated participant-facing cost of roughly $2,800 net to the organization); several commissioners urged a larger subsidy. Commissioner Andrew Smith moved to grant the full 100% waiver “as requested by the organization,” the motion received a second, and Chair Naomi Gray called the motion passed with one abstention. After the vote, Chair Gray said, “I’m crying, guys,” an emotional response noted in the record.

Commission discussion touched on program accessibility and staff capacity: commissioners asked whether organizations would offer discounted or scholarship tickets and whether recurring programming imposes additional setup and cleanup burdens on staff. Deputy Director Ingram acknowledged modest staff time for setup and breakdown but said the department considered public benefit and room utilization when framing recommendations.

Moving forward, the approved waivers will be reflected in departmental scheduling; commissioners asked staff to monitor facility impacts and the fiscal-year waiver cap that governs larger subsidy levels.