Item 234/2026
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: Patricia Song
Dept:
City Manager Dept: Finance
Date: 6/9/2026
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution amending User Fees for Tree Removals and Aquatic Pool Rentals. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
For the City Council to conduct a public hearing to consider the adoption of the attached resolution amending certain user fees.
BACKGROUND
State law grants cities the authority to establish and implement fees, rates, and charges for municipal services, provided they do not exceed the estimated reasonable cost of delivering those services. This framework ensures that the City can recover the direct and indirect costs associated with providing specific services to the community, without placing an undue burden on the general taxpayer.
Over the years, the City Council has approved various fees and charges to support a wide range of City services – such as planning fees, building permits, water services, and facility uses – based on this cost -recovery principle. To enhance transparency and streamline the management of these fees, the City Council adopted a Master Fee Schedule in 1994. This consolidated document brought together all approved fees and charges across departments into a single, comprehensive reference. The Master Fee Schedule continues to serve as the City’s central source for service-related fee information and is periodically updated to reflect changes in service delivery costs, regulatory requirements, and community needs.
DISCUSSION
User fees and charges are payments made for voluntarily requested, publicly provided services that benefit specific individuals rather than the general public. In accordance with sound financial management practices, these fees should aim to fully recover the costs of providing such services to protect the broader public interest. Since fees are to be based on actual service costs, periodic reviews are essential to ensure they remain aligned with current cost structures.
Item 234/2026
During a recent review, staff identified the need to update certain fees to accurately reflect current labor and contractual costs, thereby ensuring fairness and cost recovery.
Aquatics, Park Pool Rental Fees
In 2023, the Community Services Department completed a comprehensive fee study and restructured the entire Community Services fee schedule. As part of that effort, facility classifications were standardized across City facilities. However, a separate fee category was not established for park pool rentals. Historically, aquatics-related charges were incorporated into program fees associated with aquatic activities.
To maintain consistency with other facility rental practices, the Community S ervices Department is proposing the creation of a new Aquatics – Park Pool Rental fee category utilizing the same classification structure currently applied throughout the fee schedule. The proposed fees would apply to the City’s three pool facilities loca ted at Magnolia Park, Gary Hall, and the newly renovated Woodbury Park.
The proposed fees are intended to recover costs associated with lifeguard staffing, pool maintenance, and other operational expenses necessary to maintain the facilities and provide continued recreational opportunities for the community.
The proposed fee structure consists of two components: facility cost and staffing cost.
For the facility component, and to remain consistent with current charges incorporated within aquatic programs, pool rental fees are proposed to be calculated at a rate of $0.015 per square foot.
The staffing component includes the cost of two lifeguards, along with prorated Pool Manager and Maintenance Worker support costs, resulting in an hourly staffing charge of $50. A minimum of two lifeguards will be required and on duty during all rental periods.
The proposed fees for each facility are presented below. Consistent with the existing facility rental fee structure, no charge is proposed for Class I users. The fees presented below reflect Class II rates. Proposed fees for Classes III through V are provided in Exhibit A – Proposed Aquatics, Park Pool Rental Fees.
Staff also conducted a survey of neighboring cities to ensure the proposed fees remain fair and reasonable for City residents. Due to the unique characteristics of each facility, direct Facility Cost Staffing Cost1 Proposed Fee2
Facility Pool Sq. Ft. Pool Capacity ($0.015/sq. ft.) (2 Lifeguards) Total Cost (Minimum) Magnolia 720 50 10.80$ 50.00$ 60.80$ 60.00$ Gary Hall 2,400 100 36.00$ 50.00$ 86.00$ 85.00$ Woodbury 3,150 150 47.25$ 50.00$ 97.25$ 95.00$ 1 Current Lifeguard hourly rate is $20. Staffing Costs include prorated Pool Manager and Maintenance Worker support. 2 Fees are for Class II. Class III, IV, and V are calculated using incremental increases ranging from $15 to $25. Please refer to the Fee Schedule for detailed amounts.
Item 234/2026
comparisons are challenging. However, based on available data, it is reasonable to conclude that the proposed rates are generally comparable to, and in many cases lower than, pool rental fees currently charged by other cities in Orange County.
City Tree Removal Fees
The Public Works Department recently completed a cost an alysis of City tree removal services. In addition to the costs paid to the City’s contractor, significant staff resources are also required to administer the process. These include time spent processing requests, conducting site inspections, reviewing and processing applications, determining costs, coordinating deposits, and managing contractor scheduling and related administrative functions.
The proposed adjustment to the City Tree Removal fee is intended to better align user fees with the actual cost of providing tree removal services and to restore full cost recovery. These fees are charged only to applicants who directly benefit from the service and are not intended to generate revenue beyond the cost of removing City-owned trees.
The proposed City Tre e Removal fees are based on the City’s actual cost of service, as presented below:
The proposed fee increases are summarized below:
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The proposed fee increases are intended to improve cost recovery for City pool rental and City tree removal services and do not exceed the City’s actual cost of providing these services.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Conduct a public hearing; and
Adopt the attached resolution amending certain user fees.
Description 0-12 DSH 13-18 DSH 19-24 DSH 25-30DSH 31-36 DSH 36+ DSH Contractor Fee1 277.10$ 400.85$ 618.55$ 927.80$ 1,051.45$ 1,237.00$ Staffing Cost2 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 285.00 TOTAL 562.10$ 685.85$ 903.55$ 1,212.80$ 1,336.45$ 1,522.00$ Proposed Fee 560.00$ 685.00$ 900.00$ 1,210.00$ 1,330.00$ 1,520.00$ 1 Rates are based on the current contract with West Coast Arborists. 2 Blended fully burdened hourly rate for the Office Assistant and Tree Foreman positions, with an average of 4 hours per tree removal work order.
Description 0-12 DSH 13-18 DSH 19-24 DSH 25-30DSH 31-36 DSH 36+ DSH Current Fee 261.45$ 378.20$ 583.60$ 875.40$ 992.05$ 1,167.15$ Proposed Fee 560.00 685.00 900.00 1,210.00 1,330.00 1,520.00 Fee Increase 298.55$ 306.80$ 316.40$ 334.60$ 337.95$ 352.85$ Item 234/2026
ATTACHMENT(S)
Resolution amending certain user fees
Schedule A – Proposed Fee Schedule and Cost Documentation Exhibit A – Proposed Aquatics Pool Rental Fee