M E M O R A N D U M
Parks and Recreation Department
To: Mayor and Members of the City Council
Via: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
From: Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
Date: May 18, 2026
Subject: Proposed Updates to the Parks and Recreation Master Fee Schedule for Fiscal Years 2026–2027 and 2027–2028
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing and adopt the proposed updates to the Parks and Recreation Master Fee Schedule for Fiscal Years 2026–2027 and 2027–2028.
BACKGROUND
The Parks and Recreation Department regularly reviews fees and charges to ensure they remain aligned with operational costs, market conditions, and community access goals.
Fees support cost recovery for programs, services, and facility operations within both the General Fund and the Special Recreation Fund. The proposed fee updates are intended to balance affordability, community access, and long-term financial sustainability while maintaining competitive pricing within the regional market.
The proposed updates are primarily driven by the upcoming opening of the new Foster City Community Center, which introduces new rental opportunities and requires the establishment of a comprehensive pricing structure. Additional targeted updates are proposed for existing facilities, parks, sports fields, and recreation amenities.
These updates were reviewed and discussed by the City Council at their Study Session on April 20, 2026. Council direction via Minute Order No. 2071 included:
Reduce the number of proposed rental rate tiers
Continue to charge the standard nonprofit rates for nonprofit fundraising events Legacy service clubs/groups (Foster City Rotary Club, Foster City Lions Club, and Bair Island Cyber Lions Club) will have the opportunity to schedule one (1) weekday event per year at a reduced rate of 50% at the Community Center Annex or VIBE buildings.
Maintain a 25% non-resident differential across facilities
DISCUSSION
New Foster City Community Center Rates
The proposed Community Center rental rates were developed in alignment with the Community Center Business Operations Plan approved by City Council on February 17, 2026. The pricing structure incorporates operational best practices, including minimum rental durations, bundled event packages, and coordinated facility scheduling. The proposed rates are introductory to allow the City to evaluate operational performance, community demand, and usage patterns following the facility opening.
Staff benchmarked rates against comparable municipal facilities, including Burlingame, Millbrae, Los Altos, and Agoura Hills, to ensure the proposed pricing remains competitive and market aligned.
Key components of the proposed Community Center fee structure include:
Weekend event packages for the Lagoon Event Hall designed for weddings, banquets, and large gatherings
Weekend a la carte rental options with minimum rental requirements Weekday hourly rental options for meetings, programs, and community use Meeting and activity room pricing based on room size, function, and capacity Standardized non-resident rates generally set at approximately 25% above resident rates
Discounted non-profit rental categories to support community-serving organizations
The proposed pricing structure is intended to support efficient operations, maximize facility use, and provide a consistent framework across all rentable spaces. These updates reflect rising operational and maintenance costs while maintaining reasonable and competitive pricing for residents and community organizations.
Existing Facility and Program Fee Updates
In addition to the new Community Center rates, staff are proposing targeted adjustments to existing Parks and Recreation fees, including:
Modest rental rate increases and updated rental policies for the Community Center Annex
New bundled rental options and amenity rentals at The Vibe Teen Center Adjustments to school facility rental fees
Incremental increases to park reservation fees
Sports field rental fee adjustments by user tier
Minor increases to court rental and club membership fees beginning in FY 2027– 2028
Based on City Council direction provided during the April 20, 2026, Study Session and reflected in Minute Order No. 2071, staff made the following updates to the proposed fee schedule. Staff also refined portions of the fee structure to simplify administration and improve consistency across facilities:
Reduced the proposed rental rate tier structure. Rental categories now consist of standard resident, non-resident, non-profit and commercial tiers. Additional nonprofit subcategories were removed.
Adjusted Community Center Annex pricing to the lower end of comparable market rates in recognition of its continued use for community and non-profit meetings. Established reduced-rate accommodation for legacy non-profit service clubs/groups (Foster City Lions Club, Foster City Rotary Club, and Bair Island Cyber Lions Club), allowing one (1) weekday event per year at 50% off the standard rental rate at the Community Center Annex or Vibe buildings. After further consideration, staff is also recommending providing the legacy groups / service clubs an additional, once-a-year discount of 50% to use at the new Foster City Community Center.
25% non-resident differential applied across facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT
The new Community Center is anticipated to generate approximately $427,815 in rental revenue during its first nine months of operation in FY 2026–2027. By comparison, the former Recreation Center generated approximately $182,865 in facility rental revenue during its last full year of operation in FY 2023–2024.
The proposed fee adjustments for other Parks and Recreation facilities are expected to maintain or modestly improve cost recovery while preserving affordability and community access.
The proposed fee structure supports the operational goals identified in the Community Center Business Operations Plan while balancing community access and long-term financial sustainability.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Minute Order No. 2071
MINUTE ORDER
No. 2071
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA
Date: April 21, 2026
Attention: City Council/EMID Board
Stefan Chatwin, City/District Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City/District Manager
Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
City Council/EMID Board of Directors Meeting Date: April 20, 2026
Subject: Changes to the Parks and Recreation Department Master Fee and Service Charges Schedule for FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028
By Consensus of the City Council/EMID Board of Directors, confirming the following assumptions and providing policy direction regarding the proposed changes to the Parks and Recreation Department Master Fee and Service Charges Schedule for FY 2026-2027 and FY 2027-2028:
1. Review the 5-hour minimum a la carte weekend rental pricing strategy and re- evaluate after 6 months of implementation;
2. Continue to provide special non-profit rates to legacy groups at a reduced rate of 50% for one weekday event per year;
3. Maintain a 25% non-resident differential across facilities;
4. Reduce the number of proposed rental tier levels, and define the criteria for each tier level;
5. Explore how other cities engage with their local service organizations for their facility rental fee structures;
Minute Order No. 2071
6. Continue to charge the standard nonprofit rates for nonprofit fundraising events;
7. Proceed with the use of both bundled (package) and hourly pricing for the Lagoon Event Hall; and
8. Proceed with the overall pricing strategy for the new Community Center and Community Center Annex.
CITY CLERK/DISTRICT SECRETARY