Damon Sparacino
City Council
August 9, 2022
Recreation Fee Waiver
Program Modification and
Amend Council Policy 7.1.1
2 Fee Waiver Program
9 Background
Program Analysis
Program Modifications
3 Background
4 •From 1981 to 2006 – served all ages
•"Bundle of services" approach
•Since 2007 – youth only
•Amount established and reviewed
administratively
4 Current
Program
4 • $234 per youth with $53K annual budget
• $100K annual budget allocation 2022/23
• Complete application + documents
5 Income Eligibility
2022 Annual Family Income
Eligibility
Minimum Wage Workers Don't Qualify
Family Size Maximum Income
2 $33,874
3 $42,606
4 $51,338
A single parent with one child, working full-time (40
hrs./week), earning minimum wage makes
approximately $35,600/year.
6 Free or Reduced-Price Meals
2021/22
District
FRPM Student
Count
(Ages 5-11)
Elem Schools
FRPM Student
Count
(Ages 11-17)
Mid & High Schools
Fremont Union N/A 477
Sunnyvale 925 384
Santa Clara Unified 210 132
Cupertino Union 261 105
Total: 1,396 1,098
7 Fee Waiver Program Usage
Year Funds Expended
2017/18 $47,305.71
2018/19 $32,787.00
2019/20 $26,910.01
2020/21 $27,760.32
8 Benchmarking
Agency Program Eligibility
City of Campbell Youth & Seniors - $200 max.
Family - $400 max.
City of Cupertino $150 for educational class or $100 for recreational class for youth City of Mountain View Level 1 - 90% subsidy; $500 per child max.
Level 2 - 75% subsidy; $400 per child max.
City of Palo Alto 25%-50% Discount on Registration
Youth, Seniors (60+) & Therapeutic Recreation - $300 max.
Adults - $150 max.
City of Santa Clara $200 per youth; max. of 2 youth per family City of San Jose Residents 0-49 years old and a qualified active adult age 50+ 75% off registration fees
City of San Francisco Available for all SF residents
Level 1 - 50% subsidy
Level 2 - 75% subsidy
Level 3 - 100% subsidy (youth and seniors only)
Maximum 2 programs per season
Unlimited summer day camps access
9 Program Modifications
•2006 Council policy direction (RTC 06-290)
•Council Priority – Equity, Access & Inclusion
•Current program doesn’t meet resident needs
Program Name
Program Eligibility
Subsidy Level
Update Council Policy
10 Program Name
Current:
Recreation Fee Waiver
Program
Proposed:
Recreation Scholarship
Program
11 Program Eligibility
Family
Size
Max. Income
(185% Federal
Poverty Level)
Max. Income
(80% Median)
2 $33,874 $105,400
3 $42,606 $118,600
4 $51,338 $131,750
Proposed:
80% of area median income determined by HUD
Current:
185% of Federal Poverty Level
12 Subsidy Level
Proposed: $500
Current: $234
Activity Fee
Music Together (11 Classes) $248
Gymnastics (16 Classes) $348
Basketball (6 Classes) $189
Musical Theater Camp (1 Week) $400
Program goal:
250-300 participants
13 Update Council Policy 7.1.1
Subsidy Level:
The annual maximum per person scholarship amount will use “a bundle of services” approach, equivalent to four representative activities or one camp per year. The specific amount is reviewed annually and updated administratively by the Director of Library and Recreation Services.
Eligibility Criteria:
Eligibility for the Recreation Scholarship Program will apply to resident youth (17 and under) who are at or below 80% of area median income established by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The criteria for eligibility in this system shall be established by Council policy.
14 Options for Consideration
• Option #1 – Approve modifying the Recreation Fee Waiver Program and amend Council Policy 7.1.1 to reflect the
modifications proposed by staff.
• Option #2 - Take other action as determined by Council Questions?