COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dennis Smitherman, Interim Director of Recreation and Parks
DATE: April 7, 2026
SUBJECT: Adoption of Ordinance No. 2026-01 Amending Ordinance No. 2025-03 Revising Titles 2 and 10 of the Santa Maria Municipal Code to Clarify Final Approval Authority for All Recreation Fees Rests with the City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-01, Amending Ordinance No. 2025 -03, Amending the Santa Maria Municipal Code Title 1 “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”.
BACKGROUND:
On June 3, 2025, the City Council approved a standardized methodology for setting recreation program and facility fees and authorized the Recreation and Parks Commission to conduct public hearings and provide recommendations to the C ity Council.
Ordinance No. 2025 -03 was subsequently adopted to amend Titles 2 and 10 of the Municipal Code. Following adoption, staff and the City Attorney’s Office identified language that could be interpreted as allowing the Recreation and Parks Commiss ion to adopt fees prior to City Council approval, which was not consistent with Council intent.
The amended ordinance corrects this ambiguity and confirms that final approval authority remains with the City Council.
DISCUSSION
No changes have been made to the ordinance since introduction of the first reading.
The amended ordinance:
• Clarifies that all new recreation fees and fee increases require City Council approval by resolution or ordinance prior to taking effect.
• Affirms the Recreation and Parks Commission’s role in conducting public hearings and forwarding recommendations to the City Council.
• Removes language that could be interpreted as delegating fee adoption authority to the Commission.
Public hearings related to recreation fee changes will continue to be conducted by the Recreation and Parks Commission prior to City Council consideration, consistent with Council policy direction.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with adoption of the amended ordinance. The action clarifies governance roles and approval authority only.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt Amended Ordinance No. 2025-03.
2. Decline to adopt the ordinance and retain the existing Municipal Code language.
ATTACHMENT(S):
A. Ordinance No. 2026-01