Life Enrichment Committee
June 9, 2026
AGENDA REPORT
TO:
Elizabeth Lake
Acting City Administrator
FROM: Myka Hammock
Director, OPRYD
SUBJECT: Camps in Common Rental Agreement DATE: May 14, 2026
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing the City Administrator To Negotiate And Execute A Rental Agreement With Camps In Common, Inc., A Nonprofit, In An Amount Not To Exceed One Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars ($197,432) For Art Meets Nature And OPRYD Town Experiences Summer Sessions for Three Hundred Youth and Eighty-Eight Adults From July 29 To August 7, 2026.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Oakland Feather River Camp (OFRC), founded by the City of Oakland in 1924, is Oakland’s longest-running recreation program and has provided generations of youth and families with outdoor educational and recreational experiences in the Plumas National Forest. Operating under a Special Use Permit with the U.S. Forest Service through December 31, 2043, OFRC continues to offer youth camp, family camp, outreach, and group rental opportunities that promote recreation, connection, and personal growth.
The City of Oakland leases OFRC from the U.S. Forest Service and maintains an agreement with Camps in Common, Inc. To operate the facility and administer camp programming. Under the agreement with Camps in Common, Inc., designated camp spaces are reserved annually for Oakland Parks, Recreation & Youth Development (OPRYD) participants and staff to attend overnight camp sessions. For many years, OPRYD has utilized these spaces and additional camp capacity to provide overnight camp opportunities for Oakland youth through programs such as Art Meets Nature and OPRYD Town Experiences (formerly Town Camp). These programs expand equitable access to outdoor recreation, youth development, creative exploration, environmental education, and nature-based learning experiences for youth across the City of Oakland.
The proposed rental agreement with Camps in Common, Inc., is for an amount not to exceed $197,423.00 and will support overnight camp programming from July 29 through August 7, 2026.
Betsy Lake (May 29, 2026 09:33:28 PDT)
May 29, 2026
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Camps in Common Rental Agreement
Date: May 14, 2026 Page 2
Life Enrichment Committee
June 9, 2026
serving approximately 300 youth and 88 OPRYD staff. The agreement includes lodging, food service, transportation, camp nurse services, lifeguard coverage, janitorial services, and specialized programming such as horseback riding and archery.
Pursuant to Oakland Municipal Code Section 2.41.050, the City is authorized to lease real property from another entity. All leases of real property by the City must be authorized by a resolution enacted by the City Council, except the City Administrator is delegated the complete authority to lease any real property if the rent, lease payments, license fees, or other consideration for the lease does not exceed One Hundred Thousand ($100,000) over the term of the lease, including any extension periods authorized under the lease.
Over the years, both participation levels and associated program costs have increased. Due to the total anticipated cost of the 2026 overnight camp programming exceeding One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), OPRYD is requesting City Council authorization to negotiate and execute the agreement and associate payments with Camps in Common, Inc., for the 2026 summer camp season.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Oakland Parks, Recreation, and Youth Development (OPRYD) has provided overnight camp programming at OFRC for over 70 years, creating long-standing opportunities for youth to participate in outdoor recreation, arts enrichment, and nature-based learning experiences.
Over the decades, Oakland’s youth connected through Studio One Art Center have participated in camp experiences through programs such as Jazz Camp and, more recently, Art Meets Nature. Overnight camp opportunities have also continued through Town Camp, now known as OPRYD Town Experiences, which serves youth from recreation centers across the city and helps expand equitable access to outdoor recreation and overnight camp experiences.
The City currently operates OFRC pursuant to a Special Use Permit within the U.S. Forest Service. In 2003, when the City proposed closing the camp amid a budget crisis, a grass-roots group of campers and city staff established the non-profit organization Camps In Common (CIC) to operate OFRC in partnership with the City. Today, youth and adult campers alike spend an average of 95 hours enjoying all that Feather River has to offer. The current license agreement between CIC and the City expired in 2021 and is currently in holdover status. The City Council adopted Ordinance N. 13776 C.M.S on December 19, 2023, authorizing a new license agreement for a five-year term with three five-year options to extend at a rate of One Dollar ($1.00) per year pursuant to Section 2.42.110 of the Oakland Municipal Code, plus any annual Special Use Permit Fees above Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000). The new license agreement is currently being finalized with an initial term ending December 31, 2008, with three 5-year options to extend to no later than December 31, 2043.
Pursuant to Resolution No. 91061 C.M.S. adopted on February 17, 2026, the City Council allocated grant funds to Camps In Common, Inc. To fund its community-related programs
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Camps in Common Rental Agreement
Date: May 14, 2026 Page 3
Life Enrichment Committee
June 9, 2026
and activities. Funds are available for this Agreement pursuant to the Resolution No. 90827 C.M.S., OPRYD Fund 1010, Project 1000012.
Historically, overnight camp services were administered through direct payment arrangements due to lower overall program costs and more limited operational expenses. However, the item is now before the City Council due to changes in both program demand and cost structure.
Following the pandemic, enrollment and interest in outdoor-based youth programming have steadily increased, resulting in expanded participation and greater overall program utilization.
At the same time, Camps in Common, Inc. has reduced the level of subsidy previously applied to programming due to increased operational costs, including supply chain pressures and broader cost-of-living increases affecting camp operations. As a result, the total cost of delivering overnight camp programming, including lodging, meals, transportation, health and safety services, and specialized recreational programming, has increased significantly compared to prior years.
Due to increased enrollment, higher operational costs, reduced subsidy support, and prior scheduling disruptions, the program can no longer be administered within previous direct payment authorization thresholds. Therefore, City Council authorization is requested to negotiate and execute a rental agreement to facilitate OPRYD’s Feather River Camp overnight programming from July 29 through August 7, 2026. in the General Purpose Fund in the Adopted Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2025-27
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
If the Oakland City Council does not approve the agreement and the associated invoice remains unpaid, OPRYD will be unable to send youth participants to the overnight camp experience at Oakland Feather River Camp. As a result, Oakland youth would lose access to a unique outdoor recreation experience that cannot be replicated within the City of Oakland.
In addition, failure to approve the agreement could jeopardize OPRYD’s long-standing partnership and future access to overnight camp programming at Feather River Camp. This may reduce opportunities for Oakland youth to participate in overnight outdoor experiences and could negatively affect program continuity, enrollment growth, and equitable access to nature- based recreation.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action will authorize an agreement and payment to Camps in Common, Inc., associated with OPRYD’s overnight camp programming at Feather River Camp from July 25 to August 7, 2026. Funding for this expense is included within the approved 2025-2027 program budget allocation and does not require additional City funds. Program costs are partially offset by participant registration fees, with approximately 120 participants paying $450 for Art Meets Nature and approximately 160 paying $190 for OPRYD Town Experiences programs. Subsidies are available to qualifying families to help offset registration fees and ensure equitable access to program participation. The remaining program costs are supported through existing budgeted program funds.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Camps in Common Rental Agreement
Date: May 14, 2026 Page 4
Life Enrichment Committee
June 9, 2026
The Feather River Camp invoice will be funded as follows:
Fund
Source
Organization Account Project Program Amount
General
Fund 1010
Feather River
Camp- 503260
Rental: Land and
Building - 53211
1000012 OPRYD $124,076.00
General
Fund 1010
Feather River
Camp- 503260
Services:
Miscellaneous
contract: 54919
1000012 OPRYD $73,356.00
Total
Project:
$197,432.00
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
No outreach was deemed necessary for the proposed policy action beyond the standard City Council agenda-noticing procedures because this is an administrative action. Public outreach is not applicable.
COORDINATION
This report and legislation have been reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney and the Budget Bureau.
PAST PERFORMANCE, EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
Camps in Common, Inc. has sustained and built on the camp’s legacy to ensure that future generations can enjoy its enriching summer camp programs. Today, youth and adult campers alike spend an average of 95 hours immersed in one of the most beautiful natural settings in California – swimming in the Spanish Creek, exploring among towering pines, developing new skills such as archery and horseback riding, building traditions, and strengthening relationships with family and friends.
For the past four years, Camps in Common, Inc., has effectively served the Oakland community. The following data highlights the scope of impact of services provided to Oakland residents.
Total Youth Served 2021-2025 1,130
Family Camp Participants 2021-2025 4,110
Total Served in 2025 1,217
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
OPRYD continues to recognize the value and importance of outdoor recreation, environmental education, and youth development opportunities provided through Feather River Camp. The
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Camps in Common Rental Agreement
Date: May 14, 2026 Page 5
Life Enrichment Committee
June 9, 2026
partnership supports OPRYD’s mission of providing accessible recreational experiences that promote wellness, leadership development, community connection, and lifelong learning for Oakland youth, families, seniors, and community members.
Each year, OPRYD provides approximately 300 Oakland youth with the opportunity to attend Feather River Camp and participate in outdoor recreational and enrichment experiences that many participants may not otherwise have access to. Youth can engage in activities such as swimming, hiking, environmental education, arts and crafts, team-building exercises, and other nature-based recreational programming designed to promote confidence, social development, and healthy lifestyles.
RACE AND EQUITY
Due to the limited timeframe for processing this agreement, staff were unable to complete a formal equity analysis. However, both Art Meets Nature and OPRYD Town Experiences at Feather River Camp (formerly Town Camp at Feather River Camp) were developed with equity and access as foundational priorities, with intentional strategies designed to reduce barriers to participation for Oakland youth and families.
Art Meets Nature is a citywide program that provides youth from across Oakland with equitable access to outdoor recreation, environmental education, arts programming, and cultural experiences. This program is promoted throughout Oakland and is open to any eligible youth citywide, helping ensure broad access regardless of neighborhood or recreation center affiliation. Through citywide outreach and open enrollment opportunities, the program aims to reduce barriers to participation and expand access to outdoor enrichment experiences for youth and families across Oakland.
OPRYD Town Experiences at Feather River Camp (formerly Town Camp at Feather River Camp) was intentionally designed with an equity lens by allocating guaranteed registration spaces evenly to eighteen (18) recreation centers throughout Oakland. This structure helps ensure that youth from historically underserved communities have meaningful access to participate in overnight camp experiences that may otherwise be financially, geographically, or culturally inaccessible. Each participating registration center is provided the same registration timeline and opportunity to conduct community outreach efforts to fill their allocated spaces.
Approximately two weeks prior to the close of registration, any remaining unfilled spaces are redistributed citywide based on active waitlist demand and participant need. This process helps maximize overall program participation while still preserving the program’s initial equitable distribution model and citywide access goals.
Summer 2024 Town Camp at Feather River Camp participation data reflects representation from recreation centers across all Oakland City Council districts, demonstrating the program’s citywide reach and accessibility. Differences in participation percentages among districts reflect the number of participating recreation centers located within each district, as some districts have a greater number of recreation center sites than others. Overall, the data demonstrates the participation opportunities were distributed throughout Oakland and that youth from every district were represented in the program.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Camps in Common Rental Agreement
Date: May 14, 2026 Page 6
Life Enrichment Committee
June 9, 2026
OPRYD remains committed to eliminating financial barriers to participation by offering the program at substantially subsidized rate for all families. In addition, financial assistance opportunities are available to further reduce costs for families with demonstrated need, helping ensure that affordability is not a barrier to participation.
Beyond financial accessibility, OPRYD is committed to reducing the cultural and informational barriers that may limit participation in outdoor and overnight camp experiences. Staff work intentionally to educate youth and families about the availability, safety, and developmental benefits of overnight camp programming, recognizing that overnight camp participation may not traditionally be familiar or culturally common experience within all communities served. Through culturally responsive outreach, relationship-building, and intentional staff support, OPRYD strives to create welcoming and inclusive environments that make outdoor recreation experiences more accessible and comfortable for all Oakland youth and families.
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing the City Administrator To Negotiate And Execute A Rental Agreement With Camps In Common, Inc., A Nonprofit, In An Amount Not To Exceed One Hundred Ninety-Seven Thousand Four Hundred Thirty-Two Dollars ($197,432) For Art Meets Nature And OPRYD Town Experiences Summer Sessions for Three Hundred Youth and Eighty-Eight Adults From July 29 To August 7, 2026.
District Recreation Centers % of
Participation
1 Bushrod & Charles Porter Golden
Gate
12%
2 FM Smith, Franklin & Lincoln 50%
3 Mosswood 9%
4 Dimond 4%
5 Manzanita 7%
6 Arroyo Viejo 10%
7 Ira Jinkins & Tassafaronga 8%
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Camps in Common Rental Agreement
Date: May 14, 2026 Page 7
Life Enrichment Committee
June 9, 2026
For questions regarding this report, please contact Jessica Bustos, Recreation Supervisor, 510-852-5841.
Respectfully submitted,
Myka Hammock Director, OPRYD
Reviewed by:
Naree Chan, Senior Deputy City Attorney
Prepared by:
Jessica Bustos, Recreation Supervisor
OPRYD
Attachments (1)
1. Proposed Summer 2026 Oakland Feather River Camp Rental Agreement
Myka Hammock (May 15, 2026 11:00:20 PDT)