REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Review of Park Use Policies and Related User Fees (Study Issue)
Report
BACKGROUND
The Parks and Recreation Commission sponsored, and Council ranked, the Review of Park Use Policies and Related User Fees Study Issue for 2014 (Attachment 1). The Study Issue includes a review of the following:
1. To determine if current policy sufficiently addresses the increasing demand for City of Sunnyvale parks.
2. To determine if established priorities for issuing use permits and agreements to groups and organizations are effective.
3. A comparison of user fees and policies from other municipalities.
4. A comparison of best practice information from professional organizations and associations.
Staff subsequently completed the following:
? Extensive review and analysis of City policy to determine how well existing practices support those policies and where there are gaps in policy.
? Extensive benchmarking of neighboring jurisdictions and best practices, including fee structures and rates.
? Review and revisions of administrative policy guidelines.
? Analysis of existing practices with respect to equity of access to facilities.
? Analysis of how different fees or administrative practices would impact existing users.
? Analysis of Special Use Agreements and outreach to Special Agreement groups regarding their priorities.
? Community outreach on the adequacy and effectiveness of existing facility use policies.
The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed this report at their February 11, 2015 meeting and unanimously voted to recommend that Council approve the staff recommendation of Alternatives 1 and 2. (Attachment 2)
EXISTING POLICY
Sunnyvale Municipal Code
Chapter 9.62 Public Parks (Attachment 3)
General Plan - Land Use and Transportation - Adequate and Balanced Open Space: GOAL LT-8, Policy-8.1 (Attachment 4)
General Plan - Community Character - Wide Range of Recreation Programming
GOAL CC-11, Policy...
Click here for full text