COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Alex Posada, Recreation and Parks Director
DATE: June 17, 2025
Subject: Introduction of an Ordinance Amending the Santa Maria Municipal Code Title 2 “Administration,” Chapter 2 -14 “Recreation and Parks Commission,” Section 2-14.06 “Recommendations to Council: Powers Generally” and Title 10 “Recreation and Parks,” Chapter 10-1 “
Description:
The City Council will consider approving an Ordinance amending Sections 2 -14.06 and Section 10-10-1.02 relating to the Recreation and Parks Commission and authorizing the Commission to approve fees for recreation programs as defined herein.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as de fined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3) no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Waive first reading and introduce an Ordinance amending the Santa Maria Municipal Code Title 2 “Administration,” Chapter 2 -14 “Recreation and Parks Commission,” Section 2-14.06 “Recommendations to Council: Powers Generally” and Title 10 “Recreation and Parks,” Chapter 10-1 “Administration,” Section 10 -
1.02 “Adoption of Regulations”; and
2. Set adoption of said ordinance at the next regular City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND:
Over the years, when the city adjusts the citywide schedule of fees, Recreation and Park Department fees have typically been removed from these general fee adjustments due to the fluid nature of the recreation programs offered. The number of special interest classes and programs that need to be considered by the City Council proved to be disruptive to the public hearing process. There were so many recreation fees, ranging from ballet classes to adult softball, it was decided to handle them separately, however , no formal process to establish these fees was ever set . Over the years, recreation program fees have fallen far behind ideal levels of cost recovery. Now that the City Council has adopted the Recreation and Parks Fee Study and given directions on fee priorities, this is an opportunity to make this recommendation. The purpose of this recommendation is to establish a process where the Recreation and Parks Commission assumes the role of approving recommended fees for recreation programs and services. Recreation program fees have b een found to be a sensitive issue to those residents who participate in 2 recreation programs, providing residents an opportunity to voice their concerns to the Recreation and Parks Commission is in keeping with the Commission’s authority to conduct public hearings and conduct surveys. SMMC Section 2-14.06 provides the City Council with the flexibility to assign the Recreation and Parks Commission with additional authority “as are granted by motion of the City Council”. To grant this authority, section 2-
14.06 of the SMMC would need to be revised as shown in Attachment A. Providing the additional authority to consider and adopt new fees, would allow for a more flexible and responsive process to setting fees for programs and services.
Also proposed are revisions to SMMC Section 10-1.02 Adoption of regulations, shown in Attachment A, provide that new fees are subject to review by the City Council . Any Commission actions on fees would come to the City Council via the consent calendar for review. This change would allow the department to be more responsive to special interest programs that present themselves between the City Council’s citywide fee updates.
DISCUSSION:
As mentioned above, the lack of a formal process to set fees requires the department to go through the City Council agenda process for fees as minor as the addition of a new yoga or karate class. The recommendation could follow a process similar to the following:
Recreation and Parks Department staff would develop new programs and services offered to city residents and calculate the fee recovery level appropriate to the new approved fee structure.
The next step would be to bring the new program and the associated fee to a meeting of the Recreation and Parks Commission for consideration. Set the date for a public hearing to consider the fee(s). Following the public hearing, the Commission may approve, change or deny the fee, program, or service.
If approved, the program or service would be offered by the department and the approved fee would be set and sent to the City Council for review.
Alternative(s)
The City Council can choose not to approve this recommendation and keep the duty to set fees for all recreation programs and services. Direct the Recreation and Park Commission and department to return with other recommendations to address the recreation fee issue.
3 Fiscal Considerations
The recommendation would authorize a more efficient and effective way to keep recreation fees up to date and responsive to the program needs of our residents. Using the new fee schedule as a guide, recreation program fee s will gradually increase the amount of revenue raised to offset General Fund impacts.
Impact to the Community
Allow the department to be more responsive to changes in our community’s recreational interests, provide the agility needed to meet customer nee ds, and reduce the City Council’s investment of time to consider minor fee adjustments.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Ordinance