[00:00:02]
[Roll Call]
2026. THIS MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER AT 1:04 1:03 1:03 P.M.MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL? YES.
THANK YOU. DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT IS ABSENT. DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
HERE. DIRECTOR CHAIR ECHOLS. HERE. THANK YOU.
I GUESS I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. WE'LL JUST GO WITH IT.
[LAUGHTER] OKAY. WE'LL JUST STAY HERE. OKAY. GREAT.
[Approval of Minutes]
SO THE FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE? SO MOVED. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY? THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT. ALL RIGHT. SO THEN WE CAN TAKE UP OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM, WHICH IS THE
[Action Items]
RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE 2027 FEE SCHEDULE.I THINK TIFFANY MARGULICI IS GOING TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
AWESOME. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
I'M TIFFANY MARGULICI. I'M THE ACTING ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER AND ALSO HERE FOR BUSINESS SERVICES.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO PROVIDE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE ITEM.
AND THEN I'LL PASS TO ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST NOAH DORT.
ONE OF THE REASONS THE ONE OF THE REASONS WE ARE HERE TODAY IS THAT THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES STATE THAT THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH AN ANNUAL REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE FEE SCHEDULE.
SO THIS IS THE MAIN TOPIC OF WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY.
A LOT OF BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DETAIL GO INTO PREPARING THE ANNUAL FEE SCHEDULE, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING NOAH SHARE THAT. I WANT TO THANK HIM BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS A BIG UNDERTAKING.
WE'RE JUST FOCUSING ON WHAT THE PROPOSED CHANGES ARE.
ONE OF THEM IS REALLY AROUND WEIGHING THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OF A CERTAIN OF A CERTAIN ACTIVITY.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WE HAVE THE SCALES HERE BETWEEN IS SOMETHING SERVICE MORE OF AN INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT, OR IS IT MORE OF PART OF OUR BROADER, MORE GENERAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT SERVICE? SO THE HIGHER THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT SERVICE, THEN THE LOWER WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE THE FEE AND THE LOWER COST RECOVERY WE WOULD HAVE.
SINCE 2023, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IMPLEMENTATION.
IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE FINDINGS FROM THE FEE STUDY ESPECIALLY THAT TO BE MORE ALIGNED WITH BEST PRACTICES WE WERE RECOMMENDED THAT WE REVIEW AND UPDATE OUR FEES MORE REGULARLY. SO SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR TODAY FROM NOAH, HE'LL BE SAYING, YOU KNOW, THIS FEE HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN 10 YEARS OR 15 YEARS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF CATCH UP WITH SOME FEES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN LOOKED AT IN A WHILE.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR AREAS. AND THEN ALSO JUST REALLY TRYING TO SIMPLIFY AND MAKE OUR FEES EASIER TO COMMUNICATE. WE WANT TO JUST BE ABLE TO REALLY SAY CLEARLY WHEN YOU PAY A FEE, WHAT IT IS.
THEY JUST KIND OF KNOW WHAT THEIR ONE FEE IS.
SO THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A PREVIEW. AND THEN ALSO THERE IS AN EXCITING WHILE THIS IS A VERY PROCEDURAL ITEM ABOUT THE ADOPTION OF THE FEE SCHEDULE, THIS IS ALSO ONE OF OUR FIRST LOOKS AT WHAT A NEW ANNUAL PASS PROGRAM MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SHARE THAT. AND WE I'LL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER SOME MORE QUESTIONS WHEN WE GET TO THAT, WHEN WE GET TO THAT FEE. SO WITH THAT, I WILL HAND IT OVER TO NOAH.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS, NOAH THANK YOU. TIFFANY. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME HERE.
I'M RECOVERING FROM ILLNESS, SO I MIGHT BE PAUSING TO CLEAR MY THROAT OR TAKE A DRINK.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
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AS TIFFANY SAID, MY NAME IS NOAH DORT AND I'M AN ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST IN THE BUSINESS SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.AND OF COURSE, I'M HERE TODAY TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PARK DISTRICT FEE SCHEDULE FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD. AND WE'LL START WITH THAT RECOMMENDATION AND RETURN TO IT AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION. PARK DISTRICT STAFF RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE 2027 FEE SCHEDULE. CHANGES TO THE FEE SCHEDULE THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS GO INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST, 2027. BEFORE WE REVIEW THE PROPOSED CHANGES, HERE'S A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
IT INCLUDES ADMINISTRATIVE FEES SUCH AS ENCROACHMENT PERMITS, PARK USE, FEES SPECIFIC TO EACH PARK OR THAT APPLIED DISTRICT WIDE AND CONCESSION FEES FOR A VARIETY OF CONCESSIONS OPERATED THROUGHOUT THE PARK DISTRICT.
PARK DISTRICT STAFF AND CONCESSIONAIRES MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FEE CHANGES BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS, INCLUDING DEMAND, OPERATING COSTS AND MARKET COMPARISONS OF SIMILAR SERVICES OR FACILITIES OPERATED BY OTHER AGENCIES AND BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.
THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE REVIEWS THE PROPOSED FEE CHANGES ANNUALLY IN THE FALL. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY AND RECOMMENDS THE UPDATED FEE SCHEDULE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL. AS MENTIONED BEFORE, CHANGES APPROVED BY THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST.
ALL RIGHT. FOR THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE REVIEW THIS YEAR, THERE ARE PROPOSED CHANGES TO TWO CATEGORIES OF MISCELLANEOUS FEES AND SEVEN CATEGORIES OF PARK USE FEES. WE ALSO RECEIVED PROPOSALS FOR FEE CHANGES AT 13 OF THE 20 CONCESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARK DISTRICT.
THESE FEES WERE LAST CHANGED IN 2007. UPDATES INCLUDE AN OUT OF DISTRICT SURCHARGE OF 20% THAT WOULD APPLY TO THOSE FROM OUTSIDE ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES, THE TWO DISTRICT COUNTIES. THE RECOMMENDATION ALSO INCLUDES AN INCREASE TO THE ANNUAL PERMIT FOR INDIVIDUAL PHOTOGRAPHY, AS WELL AS THE ADDITION OF A PER DAY PERMIT OPTION.
THESE PERMITS WOULD ONLY BE AVAILABLE VIA ONLINE REQUEST AND ADDITIONAL FEES SPECIFICALLY SET SPECIFICALLY FOR SET CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AND ANIMALS WOULD BE REMOVED. LASTLY, THE MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY STAFF RECOMMENDS AN INCREASE TO THE DISTRICT'S METAL DETECTOR PERMIT.
PERMITS LAST FOR TWO YEARS AND THIS FEE WAS LAST UPDATED IN 2009.
NOW LOOK AT THE PARK. EXCUSE ME. THE PROPOSALS FOR PARK USE FEES.
THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES WOULD ELIMINATE THE AGE BASED INDIVIDUAL ENTRANCE FEE IN FAVOR OF ONE FEE FOR ALL AGES FOUR AND UP, WHILE CHILDREN AGE THREE AND UNDER WOULD CONTINUE TO BE FREE.
STAFF IS, EXCUSE ME, FURTHER RECOMMENDING THAT SCHOOL OR GROUP PROGRAMS CHANGE FROM A PER PERSON AGE-BASED FEE STRUCTURE TO A FLAT PER PROGRAM FEE, WITH A LIMIT OF ONE CLASSROOM OR GROUP SIZE OF 25 PERSONS.
ALL RIGHT. AND NOW, AS TIFFANY PREVIEWED HERE STAFF IS PROPOSING TO ADD SEVERAL ANNUAL PASS OPTIONS, EACH FOR $45 PER YEAR AND A PARK YOUR WAY.
THIS ANNUAL PARKING PASS WOULD NOT. IT WOULD NOT COVER THE TRAILERED VEHICLE PARKING FEE.
THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL $5 PER DAY OR THE OVERFLOW PARKING FEE FOR CAMPING.
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THAT'S CURRENTLY $8 PER NIGHT, BUT PROPOSED TO BE $10 PER NIGHT.THAT'S ALSO $5 PER DAY. THE DISTRICT. EXCUSE ME.
THE DISTRICT FISHING PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE AGE 16 AND OLDER FOR ALL PARKS EXCEPT BIG BREAK, ANTIOCH, OAKLEY, PIER, LAKE ANZA, DON CASTRO, JORDAN POND AND ALL PEERS.
REVENUES ARE USED TO STOCK GAME FISH IN PARK DISTRICT LAKES.
THIS ANNUAL FISHING PASS WOULD NOT. IT WOULD NOT INCLUDE A CALIFORNIA STATE FISHING LICENSE.
JUST A SO I'M LOOKING AT THE ANNUAL PARKING PASS AND THE UNIT IT SAYS PERSON PER YEAR.
CORRECT. SO IT'S NOT BY VEHICLE. IT IS NOT. THESE WOULD BE THESE.
WE'RE STILL DEVELOPING THE PLANS. TIFFANY MIGHT HAVE MORE DETAILS YOU WOULD PREFER SURE. SO OUR GOAL WITH THE ANNUAL PASS PROGRAM, WHICH WE'RE TENTATIVELY THINKING OF BRANDING YOUR PASS YOUR WAY.
YOUR PARK, YOUR WAY. IS THAT THE, THE PARKING ELEMENT WOULD BE PRETTY FLEXIBLE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE NECESSARILY ENFORCED TO A NAMED INDIVIDUAL OR TO A VEHICLE.
SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF PUTTING IT HERE AS A PLACEHOLDER THAT IT'S FOR A PERSON, BUT IF THE PERSON WANTS TO SHARE IT WITH THEIR FAMILY OR CHANGE IT FROM CAR TO CAR, WE WOULDN'T BE DOING ANY KIND OF ENFORCEMENT AROUND THAT.
BUT THIS IS JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE INCREMENT FOR THE FEE.
SO BASICALLY IT'S THE PERSON WHO BUYS IT IS THE PERSON.
AND THEY CAN DO ANYTHING. SO IT'S LIKE A, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT IT AS LIKE A REAR VIEW MIRROR HANGER, YOU KNOW, OR SOMETHING OR A CARD. AND IT'S LIKE THEY CAN PUT ON THEIR CAR IF THEY WANT TO GO WITH A FRIEND AND GO IN THE FRIEND'S CAR, THEY CAN PUT IT ON THAT CAR. RIGHT. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT LIKE REALLY EASY FOR PEOPLE AND, AND REALLY EASY FOR OUR TEAM. SO IT'S NOT TOO RESTRICTIVE.
THE OTHER THING I'D JUST ADD IS THAT $45. SO THE WAY THAT THIS PASS FUNCTIONED AS, WHICH WAS A BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP FOR THE FOUNDATION, WAS THERE WAS A HIGHER PRICE POINT FOR THE PASS AND IT WAS TO AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON.
AND, AND THEN IF YOU QUALIFIED FOR A FEE REDUCTION, LIKE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR SENIORS OR OTHER SORT OF CATEGORIES, THERE WAS A LOWER DOLLAR AMOUNT AND THIS $45 MATCHES THE LOWER DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SO BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT IT, IMPLEMENTING LIKE THESE DIFFERENT FEE WAIVERS WAS, WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE BURDEN ON OUR TEAM. AND INSTEAD OF DOING THAT, WE JUST BROUGHT EVERYBODY TO THAT LOWER LEVEL TO MAKE IT CHEAPER FOR EVERYONE.
YEAH. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS ON PARKING. I'M SORRY, WHERE WAS I? DID THEY TALK ABOUT FISHING? FISHING. YES I DID, I TALKED ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA STATE REQUIREMENTS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON TO BOATING. THE ANNUAL BOATING PASS WOULD COVER THE COST OF BOAT LAUNCH.
CURRENTLY, THAT'S A $5 LAUNCH FEE FOR MOTORIZED BOATS, A $3 LAUNCH FEE FOR NON-MOTORIZED BOATS.
THE ANNUAL BOATING PASS WOULD NOT. IT WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF MANDATORY BOAT INSPECTION WHERE REQUIRED TO PREVENT THE INTRODUCTION OF INVASIVE MUSSELS INTO LOCAL LAKES AND RESERVOIRS. AND LASTLY, IN THIS ANNUAL PASS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE IS SWIMMING.
ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON FROM THE PROPOSED ANNUAL PASSES? OKAY. OH. DID YOU? OKAY. JUST TO CLARIFY, THESE ARE ALL SEPARATE PASSES, RIGHT? CORRECT. ALL THESE THINGS, IT WOULD BE 45 CORRECT, CORRECT. AND THAT'S THE IDEA BEHIND THAT. YOUR PARK, YOUR WAY IS TO SORT OF BE ABLE TO PICK AND CHOOSE AS OPPOSED TO THE BUNDLE OF OPTIONS.
AND ALL AGAIN, I THINK THAT IT'S STILL WE'RE STILL LIKE, EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THE CASE.
IT'S STILL THE LEAST. LESS EXPENSIVE THAN IT WAS BEFORE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE SYSTEM AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE AND MAKE SURE THAT IT WASN'T MAKING ANYTHING MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WHAT THE REDUCED RATE WAS FOR ANY OF THESE CATEGORIES.
RIGHT. OKAY. YEAH. AND THEN I JUST SAY FOR THE SWIM PASS, IT'S.
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ALLOWS EVEN MORE ACCESS THAN THE CURRENT SWIM PASS ALLOWS.THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT STAFF IS PROPOSING SEVERAL CHANGES TO PICNIC AND CAMPING RESERVATIONS. EXCUSE ME. THE CURRENT SEPARATE BEER AND WINE PERMIT FEE WOULD BE REMOVED AND INSTEAD AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED IN ALL APPLICABLE PICNIC AND GROUP CAMPING RESERVATIONS.
THE OVERFLOW PARKING FEE I MENTIONED BEFORE WOULD INCREASE FROM $8 TO $10 PER VEHICLE PER NIGHT.
OVERFLOW PARKING SPACE IS LIMITED AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF AVAILABILITY.
THIS FEE WAS INTRODUCED IN 2021. THE DEVELOPED SITE GROUP CAMPING FEE.
FEE RANGE WOULD BE SET AT A FLAT $150 PER NIGHT.
THE PRIMITIVE SITE GROUP CAMPING FEE WOULD BE INCREASED BY $25 PER NIGHT FOR ALL BUT THE 300 PERSON CAPACITY SITES, WHICH WOULD SEE A MUCH LARGER INCREASE. THESE FEES HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 2012.
THESE INCREASES REPRESENT ABOUT A 1 TO 2% INCREASE EACH YEAR, EXCEPT FOR THE 300 PERSON SITE.
OKAY. AND PICNIC RESERVATIONS WOULD BE INCREASED BY $10 PER DAY FOR IN-DISTRICT RESIDENTS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES AND INCREASED BY $14 PER DAY FOR OUT OF DISTRICT RESIDENTS.
THE 35 PERSON AND 50 PERSON CAPACITY PICNIC SITE FEES WERE LAST INCREASED IN 2013, WHILE THE REMAINING LARGER CAPACITY PICNIC SITE FEES WERE LAST INCREASED IN 2007. ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY, PICNIC RESERVATIONS.
THESE PICNIC SITES ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS.
NEXT, STAFF IS PROPOSING AN INCREASE TO FACILITY RENTAL RATES FOR THE SHORELINE CENTER AND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. REGIONAL SHORELINE. THE SHORELINE CENTER HAS COMPLETED OR IS NEARING COMPLETION ON A VARIETY OF IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING NEW EXTERIOR DECKING, INTERIOR FLOORING, HVAC, PAINT, CHAIRS AND AV EQUIPMENT.
FEES FOR THE SHORELINE CENTER WERE LAST CHANGE IN 2021, AND THE INCREASE IS PROPOSED FOR 2027.
STILL PLACE THIS FACILITY WELL BELOW COMPARABLE RENTAL FACILITIES.
TO BE CLEAR, THIS PROGRAM IS NOT GOING AWAY. JUST THE FEE AND THE FEE SCHEDULE.
THE PARKS EXPRESS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM PROMOTES EQUITABLE PARK ACCESS BY REDUCING TRANSPORTATION COST BARRIERS FOR ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AND PUBLIC AGENCIES IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES.
THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION AND ITS MEMBERS COVERING THE COST OF THE CHARTER BUS, THIS FEE WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE FEE SCHEDULE.
IT IS HOPED THAT THIS WILL FURTHER INCREASE ACCESS TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
THANK YOU REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION. ALL RIGHT.
WE'RE NOW ABOUT HALFWAY [LAUGHTER] ONLY HALFWAY THROUGH THE SLIDES.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THEY WANT TO LOOK BACK ON ALREADY? NO PRESSURE.
SO YOU CAN DO AN ANNUAL PASS AND YOU CAN HAVE SIX PEOPLE SWIM FOR $45, WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD DEAL.
AND DO WE STILL HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL PAY, YOU KNOW, PAY ON ENTRY FOR A DAY AS WELL? THAT'S CORRECT. YES. OKAY. SO THAT AND THAT'S NOT GOING UP OR? NO. THERE ARE NO PROPOSALS TO INCREASE SWIM FEES AT THIS TIME.
OKAY THANK YOU I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD THAT. YEAH. SO THERE'S GOT TO BE RESTRICTIONS THERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE? I MEAN WHAT DO WE TELL. SO WE GOT I THINK THE REASON WE WANT TO HAVE A PERMIT IS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A METHOD OF TELLING FOLKS WHAT THEY'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO DIG UP AND TAKE WITH THEM AND THAT SORT OF THING. WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE RESOURCES.
[00:20:06]
BUT WE DO HAVE FOLKS THAT GET THAT EVERY YEAR.SO THAT IS, THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THAT, THAT PERMIT.
AND SOME PEOPLE REALLY ENJOY IT. DO WE DO WE HAVE ANY OFF LIMITS LOCATIONS WHERE WE TELL THEM, HERE'S A PERMIT, BUT YOU CAN'T GO TO BLACK DIAMOND MINE AND DO ANYTHING THERE? I'D BE HAPPY TO GET BACK TO YOU WITH THE FULL SCOOP OF THE OF THE PERMITS.
METAL DETECTOR. AND I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANTIQUITIES ACT.
ABSOLUTELY. THOSE ARE DEFINITELY THE KIND OF GUIDELINES THAT ARE PART OF THE.
YEAH. ISSUING THE PERMIT. YEAH, I GUESS I GUESS REALLY, IF YOU COULD JUST PROVIDE WHAT'S THE PERMIT, WHAT'S IN THE PERMIT, THAT'D BE GREAT. WILL DO. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. AND THEN LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE.
JUST A GENERAL QUESTION OF HOW THE, HOW THE PROPOSED FEES WERE DEVELOPED? WELL IT DEPENDS ON EACH CASE. SO EVERY YEAR WE, WE BASICALLY ASK EVERYBODY TO REVIEW THE FEE SCHEDULE AND MAKE ANY PROPOSALS.
MAKE THEIR PROPOSALS. THE SAME THING INTERNALLY.
SO IT'S JUST A, IT'S A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS AND HOPEFULLY THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. AND DOES IT, DOES IT INCLUDE A MARKET? KIND OF MARKET LIKE, LIKE WHAT ARE THEY DOING AT MID-PEN? WHAT ARE THEY DOING AT SANTA CLARA? ABSOLUTELY.
I CAN TO COMPARE IT WITHIN THE MARKET. YOU KNOW, OFTEN THESE ARE NOT APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISONS, BUT I TRY TO DO THE BEST I CAN. I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY A SPECIFIC FEE THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, I'D BE HAPPY.
YOU KNOW, I WAS EXPECTING THAT YOU PROBABLY DID IT THAT WAY.
YEAH NO, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. AND GENERALLY SPEAKING, EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED IS WELL WITHIN REASON AT THE MARKET RATE, MOST OF THEM COME IN AT THE LOWER END OF THE MARKET.
OKAY. THANK YOU. YEAH. MY PLEASURE. ALL RIGHT.
ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE I? SO I'LL ASK YOU NOW. SO IN TERMS OF MESSAGING, THESE INCREASES, THEY'RE NOT SIGNIFICANT INCREASES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK ABOUT 2012 TO PRESENT.
SO HOW WILL YOU LET OUR PARK USERS KNOW AND HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE ANY METHOD TO SORT OF DESCRIBE HOW LONG IT'S BEEN.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE SORT OF RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE CHANGE THAT MIGHT BE OVER THE DECADE PLUS THAT IT'S BEEN CHANGED, HASN'T BEEN CHANGED. WHAT WE DO, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT WE DO DO IS WE DO TRY TO GET ALL SIGNAGE.
EVERYTHING GOES INTO. I'M SORRY. GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1ST. SO WE DO ASK THEM TO POST THAT BY THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER IF POSSIBLE, BUT WE DON'T. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE DON'T DO ANY EXTRA MESSAGING BEYOND ALSO PART OF OUR PROCESS IS TO WORK WITH OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS TEAM ONCE THE FEE SCHEDULE IS FULLY ADOPTED.
SO IF IT'S RECOMMENDED FROM COMMITTEE TODAY, THIS ITEM WOULD GO TO THE FULL BOARD.
ONE OF THE NOVEMBER MEETINGS. AND THEN USUALLY AFTER THAT WE DO SOME SORT OF PRESS RELEASE THAT'S GENERATED THROUGH EXTERNAL AFFAIRS THAT KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS THE CHANGES, WHAT TO EXPECT. AND THEN IN ADDITION, IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE HAVE REGULAR SUBSCRIBERS, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, MAYBE THE METAL DETECTOR PERMIT.
WE JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT STARTING IN THE NEW YEAR, THIS WOULD BE THE FEE.
SO WE DO TRY TO REALLY CHANGE MANAGE IT WITH OUR PUBLIC.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL. I SEE THAT WITH A LOT OF STORES NOW, ESPECIALLY RESTAURANTS AND THINGS ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, OH, WE'RE SORRY, BUT OUR COSTS ARE GOING UP.
SO THE PRICES ARE GOING UP. I MEAN, AND OUR COSTS ARE GOING UP.
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SO PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE, WHY IS THE PARK DISTRICT DOING THIS TO ME? I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY AS IT IS, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S, IT'S YEAH, SO DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE THAT.NOW THEY'RE RAISING THE PRICE SO [LAUGHTER]. YEAH.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF ADD VALUE WHILE DOING SOME MODEST INCREASES IF APPROPRIATE.
SO THE METAL DETECTOR PERMIT IS LIMITED TO BEACH AREAS, LAWNS AND OTHER DEVELOPED PARK AREAS.
SO WE'LL STILL PROVIDE THE FOLLOW UP. BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT GENERAL FRAMEWORK.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS HOPING, HOPING TO HEAR.
AND IT ALL MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THOSE AREN'T NATURAL AREAS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DEVELOPED PLACES. SO THAT'S FINE.
THAT'S FINE. GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU THANK YOU TIFFANY. I APPRECIATE THE DETAIL AND MY APOLOGIES TO THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR NOT INCLUDING THEIR PUBLIC NOTICE THERE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE CONCESSIONAIRE SECTION? ALL RIGHT.
ONE MOMENT HERE. ALMOST THERE.
OKAY. EXCUSE ME. OUR FINAL SECTION TODAY IS LOOKS AT THE 13 CONCESSION FEE CHANGE PROPOSALS GROUPED TOGETHER BY TYPE. WHEN GIVING REASONS FOR PROPOSED FEE INCREASES, CONCESSIONAIRES CITED THE RISE IN THE COST OF LABOR, INSURANCE, GOODS AND SUPPLIES, FUEL AND OTHER SERVICES.
I ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE COMMITTEE THAT WHILE CONCESSION AGREEMENTS REQUIRE THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE PARK DISTRICT BEFORE INCREASING FEES OR INSTITUTING ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICES OR CHARGES, THE AGREEMENTS FURTHER STATE THAT CONSENT SHALL NOT BE UNREASONABLY WITHHELD, AND THAT THE PARK DISTRICT AGREES TO APPROVE ANY PRICE CHANGES THAT ARE BELOW IMMEDIATE COMPETITOR PRICES.
ALL OF THE CHANGE PROPOSALS ARE REASONABLE RELATIVE TO THE MARKET OF COMPARISON PROVIDERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN CONSIDERING THAT THESE COMPARISONS ARE LAGGING, WHICH MEANS THE PROPOSED 2027 FEES ARE COMPARED WITH CURRENT 2026 MARKET FEES.
COMPARISON PROVIDERS FEES MAY SIMILARLY BE INCREASED NEXT YEAR.
I WILL BRIEFLY MENTION THE BASICS OF EACH PROPOSAL.
IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE HOLD QUESTIONS UNTIL THE END OF THE CONCESSION FEE PROPOSAL SECTION.
OKAY, WE START WITH THE AMUSEMENT GROUP. EXCUSE ME.
THE AMUSEMENT RIDES GROUP AND THE TILDEN MERRY GO ROUND IN TILDEN REGIONAL PARK.
THE PROPOSAL INCREASES BOTH THE ONE-RIDE TICKET PRICE AND THE SEVEN-RIDE TICKET BOOK PRICE.
NEXT UP IS CAMP ARROYO. EXCUSE ME. FIRST, I SHOULD NOTE THAT IF A CONCESSION REGULARLY ACCEPTS RESERVATIONS OR CONTRACTS MANY MONTHS IN ADVANCE, THE PARK DISTRICT ALLOWS THEM TO PROPOSE FEE CHANGES FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR.
IF THEY DO NOT PROPOSE SUCH CHANGES FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR, THEY MUST MAINTAIN THE CURRENT BOARD APPROVED FEES UNTIL ANY NEW PROPOSED FEES ARE APPROVED THROUGH THE REGULAR ANNUAL PROCESS AND GO INTO EFFECT THE FOLLOWING JANUARY 1ST.
AGAIN, THE CURRENT FEES AND CHANGE PERCENTAGES IN THIS CHART ARE BASED ON THE FEES FOR 2027 THAT WERE ALREADY APPROVED BY THE BOARD THROUGH THIS PROCESS LAST YEAR. TO BE CLEAR, NO CHANGES ARE PROPOSED FOR OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FEES FOR 2027 ONLY 2028.
THE CONCESSIONAIRE IS ALSO PROPOSING AN INCREASE TO THE CONFERENCE RATES FOR 2028.
[00:30:05]
CONFERENCE RENTAL. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PICTURES HERE.PRICES VARY BY DOG SIZE AND THE ADDITIONAL WASH SERVICES.
THEY ARE ALSO PROPOSING AN INCREASE TO THE STANDALONE NAIL TRIM SERVICE.
AND CANADA. THAT'S PETSMART. EXCUSE ME. MOVING ON TO OUR EQUESTRIAN CONCESSIONS.
FIRST UP IS THE ANTHONY CHABOT EQUESTRIAN CENTER, WHERE THE CONCESSIONAIRE IS PROPOSING INCREASES TO BOTH BOARDING FEES AND LESSON FEES, ASSUMING FEE CHANGE APPROVAL, THE ANTHONY CHABOT EQUESTRIAN CENTER WOULD BE AMONG THE LOWER COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR BOARDING AND THE MIDDLE COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR LESSONS.
THE SAME CONCESSIONAIRE OPERATES LAS TRAMPAS STABLES AND HAVE PROPOSED SIMILAR INCREASES TO LESSON FEES, BUT NOT BOARDING FEES AT THIS LOCATION. AGAIN, ASSUMING FEE CHANGE APPROVAL, LAS TRAMPAS STABLES WOULD BE AMONG THE MIDDLE COST RANGE OF OPTION FOR LESSONS. THE SKYLINE RANCH EQUESTRIAN CENTER CONCESSIONAIRE IS ALSO PROPOSING INCREASES TO BOTH BOARDING AND LESSON FEES, ASSUMING FEE CHANGE APPROVAL.
SKYLINE RANCH EQUESTRIAN CENTER WOULD BE AMONG THE LOWER COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR BOARDING AND THE MIDDLE COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR LESSONS. YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME SAY THE SAME THING AGAIN, BECAUSE THE SAME CONCESSIONAIRE OPERATES PIEDMONT STABLES AND HAVE PROPOSED THE SAME INCREASES TO BOTH BOARDING FEES AND LESSON FEES.
NEXT, IN EVENT VENUES WE HAVE THE RANCH AT LITTLE HILLS AND LAS TRAMPAS REGIONAL PRESERVE, WHERE THE CONCESSIONAIRE IS PROPOSING INCREASES TO THE FEE RANGE FOR PICNIC SITE RENTAL, AS WELL AS AN INCREASE TO THE LOWER END OF CATERING PACKAGES FOR BOTH WEDDINGS AND PICNIC SITE RENTALS. PICNIC SITE RENTALS WERE LAST CHANGED IN 2018.
THAT WOULD BE A NEW OPTION. COMPARISONS WERE VERY CHALLENGING.
STILL, CONSIDERING THE COMPARISON CHALLENGES AND ASSUMING FEE CHANGE APPROVAL, THE RANCH AT LITTLE HILLS WOULD BE AMONG LOWER COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR OUTDOOR WEDDINGS AND EVENTS. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO GOLF IN THE DISTRICT.
BOTH COURSES USE A DYNAMIC PRICING MODEL, WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO ADJUST PRICES BASED ON A RANGE OF FACTORS INCLUDING TIME OF DAY, DAY OF THE WEEK AND GOLFER DEMAND. MANY OTHER GOLF COURSES HAVE A SIMILAR DYNAMIC PRICING MODEL.
ASSUMING FEE CHANGE APPROVAL REDWOOD CANYON GOLF COURSE WOULD BE AMONG THE LOWER COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR PUBLICLY OWNED, PRIVATELY OPERATED GOLF COURSES. FOR THE TILDEN GOLF COURSE, THE CONCESSIONAIRE IS PROPOSING INCREASES TO GREENS FEES.
SENIOR AND JUNIOR GREENS FEES WOULD ALSO CHANGE FROM A FIXED PRICE TO THE DYNAMIC PRICING MODEL.
AND THE REASON YOU'RE SEEING DIFFERENCES HERE IS THAT ONE CONCESSIONAIRE ORGANIZATION OPERATES BOTH.
BUT EACH GOLF COURSE HAS DIFFERENT GENERAL MANAGER FOR THAT GOLF COURSE.
SO THEY'RE PROPOSING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FEES.
FEE STRUCTURES AS WELL. AT TILDEN, THEY'RE ALSO PROPOSING INCREASES TO CART RENTAL FEES, ASSUMING FEE CHANGE APPROVAL. THE TILDEN GOLF COURSE WOULD BE AMONG THE LOWER COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR PUBLICLY OWNED, PRIVATELY OPERATED GOLF COURSES.
AND FINALLY, MOVING ON TO OUR LAST CONCESSION GROUP TODAY, WATERCRAFT.
THE BOARD SPORTS CONCESSION AT CROWN MEMORIAL STATE BEACH IS PROPOSING INCREASES TO FEES FOR KITING LESSONS, WINDSURF LESSONS AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL WING. W-I-N-G WING SURFING LESSONS AND STAND-UP PADDLEBOARD RENTAL.
[00:35:01]
RENTALS. NEXT UP IN WATERCRAFT IS OUTBACK ADVENTURES IN DEL VALLE REGIONAL PARK.THE CONCESSIONAIRE IS PROPOSING INCREASES TO THE RENTAL FEES FOR KAYAKS AND STAND-UP PADDLE BOARDS.
MOST OF THESE FEES WERE LAST CHANGED IN 2023 OR 2024, ASSUMING FEE CHANGE APPROVAL.
OUTBACK ADVENTURES WOULD BE AMONG THE LOWER COST RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR THESE KINDS OF RENTALS. AND OUR FINAL FEE CHANGE PROPOSAL TODAY IS FROM ROCKY MOUNTAIN RECREATION COMPANY, ALSO AT DEL VALLE REGIONAL PARK.
SPECIFIC TOUR BOAT FEES WERE LAST LISTED IN 2005 AT $4.25 FOR ADULTS AND $2.75 FOR CHILDREN AND SENIORS, AND THEN LISTED AS PRICE VARIES THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
THE CHANGE PERCENTAGE COLUMN IS RELATIVE. EXCUSE ME RELATIVE IS RELATIVE TO THOSE MOST RECENT FEES. EXCUSE ME.
THE CONCESSIONAIRE IS ALSO PROPOSING TO ADD A SPECIAL EVENT OPTION FOR THE CAPTAINED TOUR BOAT, WITH A MAXIMUM OF 20 PERSONS AND THREE HOURS.
ALL RIGHT. AND FINALLY, RETURNING THE RECOMMENDATION TO WRAP UP THE PRESENTATION, PARK DISTRICT STAFF RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE 2027 FEE SCHEDULE, CHANGES TO THE FEE SCHEDULE THAT ARE APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS GO INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1ST, 2027. ANY QUESTIONS? DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS DIRECTOR MERCURIO? SO I, I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE SAID THIS, BUT I THINK I MISSED IT.
AND WILL IT BE LIKE A ROTATING THING WHERE WE DO SOME OF THEM THIS YEAR, SOME OF THEM THE NEXT YEAR? HOW'S. HOW ARE THE INCREASES GOING FORWARD GOING TO WORK? BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE WE LOST. WE TOOK OUR EYE OFF THE BALL HERE FOR TOO MANY YEARS, AND I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING THIS NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME BUDGETARY PROBLEMS [LAUGHTER] OF OUR OWN THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S I THINK WE'RE JUST TRYING TO KEEP IT FAIR.
SO WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR? I BELIEVE THAT'S IN DISCUSSION.
SO WE DON'T WE DON'T TEND TO HAVE MUCH OF A HAND IN THOSE.
DOING A FEW SECTIONS MAYBE EACH YEAR, ROTATING THOSE THROUGH EACH YEAR.
YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S GOOD. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT AND HOW THOROUGH AND HOW EFFICIENTLY YOU PRESENTED IT.
SO THANK YOU. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU. I JUST HAVE A COMMENT.
I REALLY LIKE THE, THE DIFFERENCE SOME OF THESE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A RESIDENT AND NOT A RESIDENT, I LIKE THE FACT THAT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BECAUSE [LAUGHTER] SOME OF THESE CITY RECREATION THINGS, IT'S LIKE IT'S $20. 25 IF YOU DON'T, IT'S LIKE THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE REALLY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE YOU FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE IN THAT CITY, YOU'RE GOING, HOW COME WE'RE NOT GETTING THOSE, THOSE OTHER FOLKS THAT AREN'T REALLY HELPING TO PAY FOR THIS THROUGH THEIR TAXES OR WHATEVER.
I AGREE NOT THAT IT'S YOU'RE TRYING TO GOUGE ANYBODY, BUT I THINK IT'S ALL FAIR.
YEAH. YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO MOVED. THANK YOU. I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU. AND NOW WE HAVE OUR
[Informational Items]
INFORMATIONAL ITEM ON THE RESERVATION SYSTEM AND FEE COLLECTION MODERNIZATION PROJECT UPDATE.[00:40:06]
THE PREVIOUS ITEM WAS REALLY ABOUT WHAT RATES THE FEES ARE CHARGED AT, AND THIS ITEM IS MORE ABOUT HOW WE COLLECT THEM AND WHAT OUR WHOLE PROCESS IS. AND SO WE'LL BE PROVIDING UPDATES ON THAT AS WE HAVE BEEN.I WAS MOST RECENTLY HERE IN TO THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, BUT WE WANTED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES AS WE ARE NOW THROUGH OUR SUMMER FOCUS TIME PERIOD. SO I'LL BE PROVIDING SOME INFORMATION, A REMINDER ABOUT WHAT OUR PROJECT GOALS ARE FOR THESE TWO PROJECTS, BOTH FEE COLLECTION AND RESERVATION SYSTEM. AND THEN JUST TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEXT STEPS AND ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT IMPROVING THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE, MAKING OUR PARKS VERY WELCOMING, ACCESSIBLE, MAKING IT, MAKING SURE THAT THE FEES, WHAT THE FEES ARE IS CLEAR.
AND THEN ALSO THE METHOD BY WHICH YOU CAN PAY IS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN AS PART OF THAT, ALSO LOOKING ON HOW TO STREAMLINE OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES FROM START TO FINISH FROM, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THE POINT OF FEE COLLECTION, WHICH MIGHT BE A BOOTH LIKE SHOWN HERE, ALL THE WAY TO GETTING THE MONEY TO THE BANK.
BUT SINCE WE HAD JUST KIND OF DONE THAT FOR MY PREVIOUS PRESENTATION IN MARCH, I JUST WANTED TO RECAP HERE WHAT OUR FEE COLLECTION MODERNIZATION STRATEGIES ARE TO KIND OF BUNDLE TOGETHER AND PROVIDE SOME THEMES TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, AS I MENTIONED, WE'RE ALSO DOING IN THE FEE SCHEDULE IS JUST SIMPLIFY, ELIMINATE OUR BUNDLE FEES. SO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'VE ELIMINATED DOG FEES.
SO WE ELIMINATED THAT. THE COMMITTEE JUST VOTED TO RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD RESTRUCTURING THE ARDENWOOD ENTRY FEES, THE BEER AND WINE PERMIT FEES. WE ALSO LOOKED AT SOME SPECIFIC SITES LIKE LAKE TEMESCAL.
WE DIDN'T CHARGE FOR SWIMMING THERE. IT JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE BASED ON THE VISITATION.
SO ALL OF THESE THINGS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL PASS LAUNCH THAT WILL BE GEARING UP FOR ARE REALLY WITH THE STRATEGY OF JUST TRYING TO REALLY SIMPLIFY, ELIMINATE OR BUNDLE. ANOTHER PAIN POINT AND CHALLENGE THAT YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT AT THIS COMMITTEE AND AT THE FULL BOARD IS JUST THAT THE PARK ENTRY LOCATIONS CAN BECOME BOTTLENECKS AND CAUSE TRAFFIC AND BACKUP.
AND IT'S NOT A GREAT USER EXPERIENCE FOR THE VISITORS COMING.
AND IT'S NOT A GREAT USER EXPERIENCE SOMETIMES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN TRAFFIC OR NEIGHBORS.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MOVE THE FEE COLLECTION POINT INTO THE PARK.
SO WE DID THAT THIS SUMMER AT NORTH TEMESCAL.
IT'S THE STATION. THE FEE STATION IS SHOWN HERE IN THE PHOTO.
AND INSTEAD OF HAVING IT RIGHT THERE ON BROADWAY AT THE ENTRANCE, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE RESTROOM.
THEIR FEE PAYMENT, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT MORE LEISURELY.
SO THAT'S BEEN GOING REALLY WELL. AND THEN THANK YOU TO THE BOARD WHO VOTED TO AUTHORIZE A CONTRACT WITH VENTEC, WHO'S OUR SYSTEM PROVIDER FOR FEE MACHINES TO ADD THIS TYPE OF SETUP AT DEL VALLE SOMETIME EARLY, EARLY NEXT YEAR. ANOTHER STRATEGY THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON IS EXPANDING AND ENHANCING SELF-SERVICE OR JUST FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS. SO THE LOWER PICTURE IS OUR IRON RANGER, WHICH WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO GET RID OF THOSE.
WE'RE ALMOST DONE PHASING THOSE OUT. THEY'RE SUPER OLD SCHOOL, KIND OF FUNKY PEOPLE PUTTING CASH IN AN ENVELOPE AND HAVE LOTS OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. SO WE LAUNCHED WITH RESERVATIONS LEADING THIS, THEY LAUNCHED FISHING ACCESS PERMITS CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE IN ADVANCE.
AND THEN ALSO IF THEY'RE IN THE PARK AND THERE'S PARKS THAT HAVE CELL PHONE, THEY CAN JUST SCAN A QR CODE AND DO THAT PURCHASE ON THEIR PHONE AND THEN SHOW THE PURCHASE TO ANY PUBLIC SAFETY WHO MIGHT BE DOING ENFORCEMENT.
ALSO THE MEMBERSHIP PURCHASE AND DONATION BY QR CODE.
[00:45:04]
PEOPLE DO LOVE THEM. THEY LOVE TO PUT SOME CASH IN A, IN A BOX, A DONATION BOX.SO WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE DO LIKE THAT EXPERIENCE OR HAVING THE KIDS, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DONATION PROCESS, BUT THEN ALSO EXPERIMENTING WITH HOW DONATION BY QR CODE AND MEMBERSHIP BY QR CODE IS GOING. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DOING AT THE COYOTE HILLS VISITOR CENTER.
I THINK ALSO SUNOL VISITOR CENTER HAS THAT LAUNCH, AND WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION TO COME UP WITH THE APPROPRIATE SIGNS AND QR CODE FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THOSE PURCHASES.
AND CAN I JUST ASK A QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THAT WHILE YOU'RE THERE? SO FOR THOSE SITES WHERE YOU'VE INTRODUCED THE DONATIONS BY QR CODE, DID THEY ALREADY HAVE CASH BOXES OR IS IT NEW, A NEW DONATION REQUEST ALTOGETHER? I THINK IT'S A. IT'S A MIX.
SO WE'RE JUST, WE'RE STILL IN THE EXPERIMENTING PHASE.
SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A WORK IN PROGRESS. OKAY.
WE HAVE NOT. SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE VERY POPULAR.
I THINK THERE'S A SPECIFIC ONE AT CROWN BEACH THAT PEOPLE LOVE.
THAT IS VERY BELOVED AND IS KIND OF A RITUAL FOR SOME PARK VISITORS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO KIND OF INTRODUCE NEW WAYS, SEE HOW THEY GO.
AND THEN WE CAN LOOK AT YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE ABLE TO PHASE OUT OR MAYBE IT JUST BECOMES SOMETHING THAT'S A SUPPLEMENT AND IT'S NOT AS MUCH OF A BURDEN ON STAFF TO HAVE TO TRY TO GET THOSE CASH DONATIONS. PERSONALLY, I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE IT AS A SUPPLEMENT SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE QR CODE AND PEOPLE CAN MAKE THEIR DONATIONS THAT WAY.
BUT THEN FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO LIKE TO, WHO ARE INSPIRED BECAUSE THERE'S A CASH BOX AND THEY'RE JUST LIKE, AND IT'S, YEAH, IT'S FUN FOR KIDS OR WHATEVER TO, TO PUT THE MONEY IN THEIR PELICAN EVEN BETTER, YOU KNOW, THAT. [LAUGHTER]. I WOULD ENCOURAGE KEEPING THOSE AROUND AND HOPEFULLY THE MONEY WOULDN'T BE AS MUCH SINCE OTHER PEOPLE WOULD BE DONATING.
SO IT WOULD HELP WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES. THAT'S RIGHT.
LAUREN BERNSTEIN FROM THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT BECAUSE IT'S. STATE YOUR NAME I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S NOT BINARY WHERE IT'S EITHER CASH BOX OR QR CODE.
SO LIKE, WE REALLY GOT TO THINK BIG AND THINK EXCITING ON THAT.
YEAH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. I LIKE WHEN FEE COLLECTION CAN GET EXCITING.
SO WE CONTINUE TO EXPAND TAP TO PAY. WE'RE PHASING OUT THE IRON RANGERS AND WE'RE JUST, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO AS MANY OF THESE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES AS WE CAN AS WE CONTINUE TO ROLL OUT OUR FEE CHANGES AND THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN REALLY POSITIVE. DON CASTRO CULL CANYON.
THOSE WERE SOME NEW SITES THAT WERE USING THE MORE MODERN TECHNOLOGY THIS YEAR.
AND THEY JUST, THEY HAD REALLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK ABOUT HOW IT MADE THEIR STAFF PROCESS EASIER FOR THEM TO HAVE LESS CASH ON HAND, BUT ALSO TO HELP PEOPLE MOVE THROUGH THE LINE AND BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE PARKS.
SO I THINK BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE RESERVATION SYSTEM, WERE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON FEE COLLECTION? OKAY. SO THEN JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESERVATION SYSTEM MODERNIZATION.
AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE TWO RESERVATION SYSTEMS RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE HAD THEM SINCE THE EARLY 2000S. THEY ARE ACTIVENET AND RESERVE AMERICA.
WE BOTH, WE HAVE POSITIVE EXPERIENCE WITH BOTH SYSTEMS IN DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT WE HAVE HAD THEM FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND WE WANTED TO GO OUT TO MARKET AND SEE WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE. STARTING IN MARCH 2025, WE CONDUCTED A NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
[00:50:07]
INTERNALLY WITH ALL OF THE RESERVATION SYSTEM USERS.CURRENTLY, THE RESERVATION SYSTEM HAVE INCLUDED THE POINT OF SALE THROUGH ACTIVENET, WHICH IS ONE OF THE WAYS THE RESERVATION SYSTEM AND FEE COLLECTION ARE REALLY TIED TOGETHER. SO FROM THAT NEEDS ASSESSMENT, WE FOUND A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT.
ONE IS THAT THE POINT OF SALE THROUGH ACTIVENET HAS BEEN REALLY CHALLENGING FOR US.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT WE HAVE MORE REMOTE LOCATIONS.
OUR INTERNET AND CONNECTIVITY IS A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL COMPARED TO WHAT ACTIVENET'S USUAL CUSTOMERS ARE WHO MIGHT BE IN A MORE STABLE CITY COMMUNITY CENTER ENVIRONMENT WITH HIGH SPEED INTERNET.
SO WE'VE HAD THESE SYSTEMS FOR A LONG TIME. WE USE THEM KIND OF IN THE WAY THAT WE USE THEM, BUT THEY BOTH HAVE POTENTIAL TO BE USED EVEN BETTER AND DIFFERENTLY.
SO WHERE WE ARE GOING NEXT? IN EARLY 2027, AS PART OF THE CANOPY PROJECT, WE ARE MOVING TO A DIFFERENT POINT OF SALE PROVIDER CALLED TELLER. AND ONE OF THE KEY DRIVERS OF THIS IS THAT THE THAT PROVIDER AND THAT WITH THEIR MERCHANT SERVICES, PROVIDES A 24/7 CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR THE KIOSK STAFF.
SO USUALLY IF SOMETHING'S GOING TO GO WRONG WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD READER OR YOUR RECEIPT PRINTER.
OF COURSE, IT HAPPENS ON A HOT, BUSY WEEKEND WHEN THERE'S A LONG LINE OF CARS, AND THAT'S USUALLY WHEN BUSINESS SERVICES OR IT ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, NOT IN OUR OFFICES. SO BY SELECTING A VENDOR THAT PROVIDES THAT ABILITY FOR CASHIERS, KIOSK STAFF TO CALL DIRECTLY, GET WEEKEND CUSTOMER SUPPORT.
WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. AND ALSO THE PROVIDER IS FAMILIAR AND AWARE OF WHAT OUR UNUSUAL OR UNIQUE MORE REMOTE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE AND ARE READY TO SUPPORT US WITH THAT HARDWARE.
SO WE'RE REALLY FOCUSING ON THAT RIGHT NOW RELATED TO THE RESERVATION SYSTEM.
WE DID DO A FULL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS WHICH WERE BOTH VERY INTERESTING.
WE HAD BEEN THINKING THAT THOSE FUNCTIONS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE BUNDLED WHEN WE INITIALLY STARTED THE RESERVATION SYSTEM PROJECT, AND NOW WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO BUNDLE POINT OF SALE WITH TELLER AND THE WORKDAY CANOPY PROJECT.
SO NOW THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THAT AND THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BUNDLED, WE ARE GOING TO RE-ISSUE OUR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT MORE WE CAN GET A BROADER RESPONSE FROM THE SOFTWARE MARKET.
SO INITIALLY WHEN WE HAD OUR INFORMATION MEETINGS FOR THE RFP, WE HAD AROUND 10 TO 12 VENDORS WHO SEEMED REALLY INTERESTED IN PROVIDING RESERVATION SERVICES TO US. AND ONCE WE HAD BEEN SAYING SOME, SOME OF THEM DROPPED OUT, LET US KNOW THAT THEY DROPPED OUT BECAUSE OF THE POINT OF SALE REQUIREMENTS. SO NOW THAT THAT'S NOT A REQUIREMENT, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AGAIN.
AND SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON REISSUING THAT WITH ALL THE LESSONS THAT WE'VE LEARNED AND GETTING HOPEFULLY A WHOLE BUNCH OF AWESOME PROPOSALS TO CONSIDER THAT WE CAN BRING BACK TO YOU FOR THE FUTURE.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU. DIRECTOR MERCURIO DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF TELLING US ABOUT IT AND HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING DOWN THIS ROAD, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER AND I CAN PLUS BETTER FOR THE PUBLIC. SO THANK YOU. JUST ADD ONE THING.
I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE TIFFANY AND THE WHOLE TEAM FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS.
IT JUST HELPS THEM FOCUS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.
AND WHAT THIS DOES IS, IS ALLOW SOME OF THAT WORK TO THAT IS MAYBE THE LEAST IMPACTFUL TO GET
[00:55:06]
YOU KNOW, AUTOMATED THROUGH TECHNOLOGY. AND THEN THERE'S SO MUCH REALLY IMPACTFUL WORK THAT THEY CAN BE DOING.SO YEAH, WE STILL REALLY VALUE OUR TEAM. YES.
AND WELL SAID. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE [LAUGHTER] HERE IN THE PARKS.
AND SO THERE'S NEVER A SHORTAGE OF SOMETHING TO DO.
SO I SEE THAT AS A AS A GOOD THING. AND I REALLY APPRECIATED THE REPORT.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS? THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY, GREAT. SO AND THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM.
[Announcements]
SO THEN ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? THERE ARE JUST TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.I WOULD JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR UNIT MANAGER PROMOTIONS SO.
AND SO HE'S GOING TO BE COVERING ALL OF UNIT 4, WHICH IS OUR SHORELINE.
AND SO HE WILL BE DOING THE MAJORITY OF EAST COUNTY PARKS.
GREAT ALL RIGHT. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? AND IN THAT CASE, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 02:00. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.