Brentwood Picnic Rental Fees Increase By 30% For Non-Residents

The cost for reserving a picnic table at a Brentwood park has just increased for both residents and non-residents as the Brentwood City Council voted last night to increase the fees under the explanation that 30% more non-residents reserve picnic spots than residents.

The Brentwood City Council voted round up the current Resident (per hour) fee and to raise the non-resident rate from 10% above the resident rate to 30% above the resident rate. This is matching the current 30% Commercial rate and keeping the Non-profit rate 30% less from the Resident rate.

The moment the fee increase was approved, the fees kicked in starting today.

Here is a look at the staff report and the updated fee schedule.

BACKGROUND

Since City Council’s approval in September 11, 2012 of the 2012/13 Cost Allocation Plan & schedule, staff has continued to review all fees and charges. In reviewing the very popular Group Picnic Rental program for Apple Hill, Balfour Guthrie, Blue Goose, City Park, Oak Meadow, Sunset and Veterans Parks, staff did a two year analysis of 2011 and 2012 group  picnic use. The analysis shows that approximately 30% of group picnic rentals are being made  by non-residents who do not pay the citywide park tax that residents pay. Staff has a concern that the number of non-resident bookings at Blue Goose and Veterans may in fact be limiting resident rental opportunities and do not feel their use should be subsidized less than a commercial use.

Staff is proposing to round up the current Resident (per hour) fee and to raise the non-resident rate from 10% above the resident rate to 30% above the resident rate. This is matching the current 30% Commercial rate and keeping the Non-profit rate 30% less from the Resident rate.

In addition staff is recommending the “per day” rate that is currently factored at a 4 to 4.5 hour use to increase it to a 6 hour “per day” rate. This may encourage people to book 4 hours using  the hourly rate which will allow for two bookings per day.

Categories: Group Picnic Rentals

• Resident – this category is the base price used for group picnic facility rentals and is set  based on the market price for like rentals.
• Non-Resident – the price for non-residents is 30% above the resident rate and is established to recover most if not all costs.
• Commercial – the price for commercial use is 30% above the resident rate and is intended to recover most if not all costs as the event is usually intended to be a profit  making endeavor.
• Non-profit – the price for non-profits is 30% below the resident rate as the purpose is to  allow use by local non-profits who normally use facilities to raise money to go back intothe community.

On June 24, 2013, the Finance Ad-Hoc Subcommittee met to review and discuss the proposed group picnic rental fee changes and staff is recommending the changes below.

This evening, under the consent part of tonight’s agenda, City Council considered a change in  the methodology for the rental of group picnic areas which included the proposed new group  picnic rental categories. The fees associated with the categories are as follows:

Group Picnic Rental Capacity: 1-25 at Blue Goose, City, and Oak Meadow Parks; 1-25 w/BBQ Island at City Park; 25-50 at Apple Hill, Balfour Guthrie and Veterans Parks, and 51-100 at Balfour Guthrie and Sunset Parks.

FISCAL IMPACT
The updates to the fees contained within the Cost Allocation Plan are established to cover costs associated with a particular use and/or service. The facilities revenues and expenditures are included in the adopted 2013/14 Operating Budget.