COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

DATE:

November 25, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 15, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

Request to Amend the Department of Parks Fee Schedule

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution amending the Department of Parks Fee Schedule.

BACKGROUND:

Periodically, Parks Department staff reviews the fees charged for use of the parks, park features and park services and looks at facility usage, operational costs, changes in the cost of living index and market rate comparisons.

DISCUSSION:

RV Camping

The Department of Parks is recommending the creation of Recreational Vehicle (RV) campsites at Coyote Point Recreational Area for overnight camping at $45 per night. This short-term RV camping would be located in an area of parking lot with a view of the San Francisco Bay. If these RV campsites at Coyote Point Recreational Area prove to be popular and successful, there is the potential to create another 10 longer term RV campsites near an existing RV pump station.

Family Camping

At Memorial Park, there are four-person and eight-person tent campsites as well as campsites that accommodate small trailers/RVs (up to 19 feet) and those that accommodate larger trailers/RVs (up to 35 feet). The current fee for these sites is $21 per night, which includes one car per night per site.

The Department is recommending a new fee schedule for the different Family Camping sites for the period between the second Sunday in May through the third Sunday in October every year, which fee would continue to include one car per night per site. The four- person campsites would remain at $21 per night, eight-person campsites would be increased to $25 per night, small trailer/RV sites would be increased to $30 per night and large trailer/RV sites would be increased to $35 per night. The fees for all four different types of campsites would revert to $21 per night including one car per night per site beginning the third Monday in October through the second Saturday in May each year.

Picnic Sites

To encourage increased picnic site usage, the Department is recommending a 50% reduction of picnic site reservation costs at all County Parks during the period between the third Monday of October through the second Saturday in May every year. Picnic sites would revert to their standard fees from the second Sunday in May through the third Sunday in October every year.

Telephone Reservation Fee

To cover incurred costs of the automated reservation system and staff time when reservation specialists make reservations over the phone, the Department is recommending approval of a $10 administrative telephone fee to be applied when park reservations are made on the telephone reservation system. Customers will have the option of making their reservation online for the lower $7 reservation fee.

In accordance with State law, the resulting fees do not exceed the cost of providing services. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the amendments to the Department of Parks Fee Schedule would become effective immediately.

The proposed amendments to the Department of Parks Fee Schedule contribute to the Livable Communities 2025 Shared Vision outcome by maintaining a proper relationship between costs and revenues and by assuring that those who utilize County services pay the cost of providing those services, rather than receiving a subsidy from taxpayers and thereby diverting resources from other needed programs without a source of cost recovery.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved these documents as to content and form.

The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the proposed amendments to the Department of Parks Fee Schedule and recommended approval on December 3, 2009.

FISCAL IMPACT:

If the amended Department of Parks Fee Schedule is approved by the Board, the Department anticipates receiving approximately $100,000 annually in additional park reservation revenue from these fee changes which will help offset the Department’s increasing operational budget.