DATE: April 20, 2026
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City/District Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City/District Manager
FROM: Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT MASTER FEE AND SERVICE CHARGES
SCHEDULE FOR FY 2026- 2027 AND FY 2027-2028
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council/EMID Board of Directors review and provide policy direction regarding proposed changes to the Master Fee and Service Charges Schedule (MFS) for the Parks and Recreation Department for FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Parks and Recreation Department periodically reviews and updates its Master Fee Schedule to ensure alignment with operating costs, market conditions, and City Council policy related to cost recovery and equitable access to public facilities. The proposed updates for Fiscal Years 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 reflect a comprehensive approach to modernizing fee structures across the system, with a particular focus on the opening of the new Foster City Community Center.
The proposed updates include:
I. NEW FOSTER CITY COMMUNITY CENTER FEES
The Foster City Community Center (FCCC) is scheduled to be completed in July 2026, with facility rentals anticipated to begin in October 2026. Proposed room rental rates were informed by the FCCC Business Operations Plan that the City Council approved at the regular City Council meeting on February 17, 2026, and designed to support both cost recovery and efficient facility use. Rates were benchmarked against comparable municipal recreation centers, including Burlingame, Millbrae, and Los Altos, to ensure they are competitive and appropriately positioned within the regional market.
The new FCCC offers approximately 14–15 rentable spaces designed to accommodate a wide range of meetings, programs, and events. The facility’s primary event venue, the Lagoon Event Hall, consists of four configurable rooms, a large waterfront patio, and two commercial kitchens. Additional rentable spaces throughout the facility include small and mid-size meeting rooms, fitness studios, and the Senior Lounge event space, providing flexible options for both community programs and private rentals.
To support a range of user needs while promoting operational efficiency, the pricing structure includes standard, non-profit, and commercial rate categories, along with a consistent non-resident differential, where non-resident rates are set at approximately 25% higher than resident rates. This approach prioritizes access for Foster City residents while supporting cost recovery. For the Lagoon Event Hall, staff have developed both bundled event packages and a la carte hourly rental options to balance flexibility with revenue stability and encourage booking patterns that align with typical event use.
II. FEE UPDATES FOR EXISTING FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
The proposed updates include modest adjustments to facility rental rates, clarification of operational policies, and incremental increases to select park and recreation fees. These changes are intended to maintain competitiveness with neighboring agencies, support cost recovery, and ensure consistency across facilities.
Several updates establish standardized practices systemwide, including a non- resident surcharge of approximately 25% and revised thresholds for when custodial services are required. These adjustments reflect regional norms and reinforce the City’s policy to prioritize resident access while maintaining financial sustainability. Most fee changes will take effect in FY 2026–2027, with limited additional adjustments in FY 2027–2028.
Staff are seeking input on the following:
Overall approach to Community Center pricing and cost recovery strategy Balance between bundled packages and a la carte rental options for the Lagoon Event Hall
Continuation and structure of special non-profit group discounts Confirmation of key pricing policies, including the non-resident fee differential (~25%)
Any additional policy considerations prior to formal adoption
BACKGROUND
The City’s Master Fee Schedule (MFS) serves as the primary tool for establishing pricing and cost recovery across Parks and Recreation programs, services, and facilities. As part of the City’s regular review process, staff evaluate fees to ensure they remain aligned with operational costs, market conditions, and community access goals.
This year’s update is largely driven by the upcoming opening of the Foster City Community Center, which introduces a new set of rental opportunities and requires a comprehensive and intentional pricing framework.
The Special Recreation Fund accounts for expenses and revenue across a wide range of Parks and Recreation programs and services, including:
• Facility Operations (including rentals for facilities, parks, and sports fields) • Adult Sports
• Youth Camps
• Adult and Youth Contract Classes
• Special Events (such as Summer Concerts, Fourth of July, and Summer Days) • Advertising
• Seniors/Volunteers
• Teen Programs
Fees and charges play a vital role in the cost recovery of services within both the General Fund (Parks) and the Special Recreation Fund (Recreation). The Department regularly reviews programs and fees to ensure they remain financially sustainable and competitive with neighboring agencies.
The new Community Center represents a significant City investment and will serve as a central hub for community programming, events, and rentals. Rental rates were developed in alignment with the Community Center Business Operations Plan, approved by the City Council on February 17, 2026, which outlines key operational strategies such as minimum rental durations, bundled event packages, and coordinated facility scheduling.
To ensure the proposed rates are competitive, staff benchmarked pricing against comparable municipal facilities, including Burlingame, Millbrae, and Los Altos. These facilities have all been newly constructed over the past 5 years and have a comparable market share. The proposed structure applies a consistent framework across all rentable spaces, standard, non-profit, and commercial, and establishes non-resident rates at approximately 25% above resident rates. This approach prioritizes access for Foster City residents while supporting cost recovery.
ANALYSIS
For Fiscal Years 2026–2027 through 2027–2028, the proposed updates to the MFS reflect both systemwide adjustments and the introduction of a comprehensive pricing structure for the new Foster City Community Center.
I. NEW FOSTER CITY COMMUNITY CENTER RATES
Rental rates for the new FCCC were developed in alignment with the Community Center Business Operations Plan, which establishes operational best practices such as minimum rental durations and bundled rate options to promote efficient facility use and support cost recovery.
Special consideration was given to the Lagoon Event Hall as the facility’s primary event venue and a key driver of rental revenue. To ensure competitive and market-aligned pricing, staff benchmarked the proposed rates against comparable municipal recreation facilities, including Burlingame, Millbrae, and Los Altos. These facilities were selected due to their similarity in age, configuration, and operating model, particularly as newer or recently updated community centers with flexible event spaces.
Agoura Hills was included as a comparison due to its municipally operated event center, which is one of the few facilities with a similarly large, dedicated event space designed for weddings, banquets, and large-scale events. This model is also consistent with examples referenced in the Community Center Business Operations Plan.
While additional nearby facilities, such as those in San Mateo, were considered, staff focused on those that most closely align with the scale, functionality, and intended use of the FCCC. As shown in Table 1, a per-square foot analysis across small, mid-size, and large event spaces indicates that larger venues in the regional market typically range from approximately $0.06 to $0.08 per square foot per hour. This analysis supports the proposed pricing structure as competitive within the regional market and aligned with the intended use of the facility.
LAGOON EVENT HALL
To support efficient facility operations and maximize use of the Lagoon Event Hall, staff developed a pricing structure that includes weekday hourly rates, as well as bundled event packages and a la carte rental options for weekends.
1. Weekend Event Packages
Includes up to 10 consecutive hours of use between 8:00 a.m. and midnight
Designed to accommodate typical large events such as weddings, banquets, and community gatherings
Bundled pricing provides cost savings compared to reserving spaces individually
Residents may reserve up to 12 months in advance; non-residents up to 10 months
Weekend packages provide a full-day rental format that simplifies the booking process and aligns with typical event needs. This structure supports operational efficiency and revenue stability by reducing fragmented bookings and allowing staff to better plan for event support and facility operations.
2. Weekend a la carte options
Allows reservation of select room configurations based on operational feasibility
Not all room combinations are available for individual rental 5-hour minimum rental time required
Residents may book up to 6 months in advance; non-residents up to 4 months
A la carte rentals provide flexibility for smaller or shorter events while maintaining operational efficiency. Hourly rates are applied consistently across all allowable Event Hall configurations, regardless of the number of rooms reserved. This simplified pricing approach supports flexible use, while larger events are typically accommodated through the weekend package option, which provides extended access and overall value.
3. Weekday Rentals
Hourly rentals available for meetings, smaller events, and community programming
Offers more flexible scheduling compared to weekend rentals
Weekday rates are designed to support broader community use of the facility while maintaining consistency with the overall pricing framework and supporting ongoing facility operations.
Table 1: Regional Event Space Rate Comparison Weekday Rate ($/SF/Hour) For large event spaces, the proposed Lagoon Event Hall weekday rates equate to approximately $0.05 to $0.08 per square foot per hour, which is consistent with comparable facilities in the regional market.
The comparison also reflects a common industry pricing pattern in which smaller event spaces have a higher per-square-foot rate than larger venues. This is primarily due to operational factors such as staffing, setup, and administrative costs, which remain relatively consistent regardless of room size, while smaller spaces accommodate fewer users. Larger event spaces benefit from economies of scale, allowing costs to be distributed across greater square footage and attendance levels.
Detailed Lagoon Event Hall rental rates are outlined below, reflecting the package, a la carte, and weekday pricing structures described above.
Lagoon Event Hall (Weekend Full Day Rates)
Weekend (Friday-Sunday) packages include up to 10 consecutive hours of use between 8:00am and Midnight.
Table 2: Lagoon Event Hall Weekend Packages
Lagoon Event Hall a la Carte (Weekend Hourly Rates)
Weekend (Friday-Sunday) A la Carte Rental Rates 5-Hour Minimum Required
Table 3: Lagoon Event Hall A la Carte Rates
Hourly rates apply uniformly across all allowable Event Hall configurations and are not based on individual room size. Allowable configurations include D; C + D; B + C + D; A + B; A + B + C; and Full Hall (A + B + C + D).
Image of FCCC Lagoon Event Hall and First Floor
Lagoon Event Hall (Weekday: Monday-Thursday)
Table 4: Lagoon Event Hall Weekday Rates
COMMUNITY CENTER MEETING & ACTIVITY ROOMS
In addition to the Lagoon Event Hall, the Community Center includes a variety of meeting and activity rooms designed for classes, meetings, programs, and small to mid-sized gatherings
Rental rates scale based on room size, capacity, and function, ensuring a consistent and equitable pricing approach across the facility.
While the Lagoon Event Hall serves as a primary event venue and key revenue generator, these rooms are more community-focused and support ongoing programs and accessible gathering opportunities.
They follow the same overall pricing framework, including standard, non-profit, and commercial rate categories and a consistent non-resident differential, but place greater emphasis on accessibility, with deeper non-profit discounts for community-serving organizations. The Conference Room is also available as a drop-in space for small meetings and is accessible for free to residents.
This approach balances affordability with the City’s broader operational and financial sustainability goals while maintaining a consistent and defensible pricing structure.
Meeting & Activity Rooms
Table 5: FCCC Meeting & Activity Room Rates
While the FCCC represents the most significant update to the Master Fee Schedule, staff has also identified targeted adjustments to existing facilities and programs.
Image of FCCC Second Floor
II. FEE UPDATES FOR EXISTING FACILITIES AND AMENITIES
In addition to the Community Center, staff is proposing targeted updates to existing facility and program fees to reflect increased costs, current operating conditions, improve consistency across the system, and support cost recovery. A full list of proposed rates is included in Attachment 2.
COMMUNITY CENTER ANNEX
Beginning in FY 2026–2027, several adjustments will be implemented for Community Center Annex rentals:
• Modest increases to hourly rental rates
• Implementation of a three-hour minimum for weekend rentals • Standardization of non-resident rates at approximately 25% above resident rates
•Updated custodial fee policy (applies to events with over 50 attendees or those serving alcohol)
Discounted rates for non-profit organizations will continue, including additional tiered discounts for qualifying community-based groups.
Non-profit rates at the Community Center Annex are intentionally set at a deeper discount compared to newer facilities to preserve affordability and support long-standing community-based use of the space. This approach recognizes the Annex’s role as a more accessible, community-oriented facility, while the new Community Center is positioned to support higher cost recovery.
Staff have identified a limited number of legacy rate arrangements that fall outside of the standard non-profit rate structure. These have historically been applied to a small number of long-standing community service organizations and are currently limited to use at the Community Center Annex. These arrangements have, in some cases, included access to larger spaces for designated community or fundraising events. Current rates for these arrangements are reflected in Attachment 2.
As part of this update, staff is seeking Council direction on whether to continue this practice and, if so, whether these types of arrangements should remain limited to the Annex or be extended to the new Community Center.
THE VIBE TEEN CENTER
Several updates and new rental options are proposed for The Vibe Teen Center:
• Inclusion of the patio area with Main Floor rentals, with corresponding rate adjustments
• Introduction of a bundled Vibe Event Package added, combining the main floor, activity room, kitchen, and patio into a single rental package • The dance floor will be available as a standalone rental area • A weekend rate for the Small Activity Room was added
• A five-hour minimum rental requirement will apply to Small Activity and Study Room rentals on weekends
• Updated custodial fee policy for events with more than 50 attendees or those serving alcohol
• Addition of video game console rentals as a new rentable amenity
SCHOOL MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM FEES
Beginning in FY 2027–2028:
• Approximately 5% increase to resident school facility rental rates • Standardization of non-resident rates at approximately 25% above resident rates
$10 increase to the resident hourly rate for the Brewer Island School Gymnasium, with non-resident rates set at 25% above resident rates
PARK RENTAL FEES
Beginning in FY 2026–2027:
• Implementation of a new levee use fee for run, walk, and bicycle events requiring IDEC approval
• Approximately 3% annual increase to Leo J. Ryan Park rental spaces Beginning in FY 2027–2028:
• Approximately 3% annual increase to Leo J. Ryan Park reservation fees • Approximately 5% increase to park reservation fees (excluding Leo J. Ryan Park rental spaces)
SPORTS FIELD RENTAL FEES
Beginning in FY 2026–2027:
•Increase softball/baseball field hourly rates for Tiers 4-5 (Resident and Foster City Based Non-Profits and Businesses)
Beginning in FY 2027–2028:
• Increase field hourly rates for Tiers 2-3b (Foster City Based Youth Sports Organizations) and increase in Field Lights Hourly Rate.
COURT RENTAL FEES
Beginning in FY 2027–2028:
• Bocce, tennis, and pickleball group rental rates will increase by $2 per hour.
PICKLEBALL/TENNIS CLUB MEMBERSHIP FEES
Beginning in FY 2027–2028:
• Tennis Club and Pickleball Club court fees will increase from $5 per hour to $6 per hour per court
California Environmental Quality Act
Not Applicable
FISCAL IMPACT
The new Community Center is anticipated to operate for approximately nine months in FY 2026–2027, with projected revenue of $427,815. For comparison, the former Recreation Center total facility revenue rental for FY 2023-2024 was $182,865, its last full year of operation. Revenue is expected to increase as programming expands, rental activity grows, and community awareness of the facility builds, with more typical utilization anticipated in FY 2027–2028 following the first full year of operations.
For other Parks and Recreation facilities, the proposed fee adjustments are expected to maintain or generate modest improvements in cost recovery for facility operations and services. The proposed increases are incremental and are intended to maintain affordability for residents while helping offset rising operational and maintenance costs
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Public Safety and Social Equity
Staff Empowerment and Operational Excellence
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Foster City Community Center Proposed Fee Schedule Attachment 2 - Revised Parks and Recreation Master Fee Schedule