City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

## Meeting Overview The Bellingham Parks and Recreation Board convened via Zoom on December 10, 2025, at 7:32 PM for their monthly meeting. Present were Chair Scott Pratchner, Vice Chair-elect Jed Holmes, board members Holly McCamish, Steve Moe, Ray DeLacarre, and ASAP representative from Whatcom County. Staff included Parks Director Nicole Oliver, Parks Operations Manager Steve Hansen, Park Planner Peter Gill, and Parks Communications Coordinator Bri Crockett. The meeting featured significant business items including golf course fee increases requiring board recommendation, the first comprehensive draft of the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan, and the annual election of officers. The session concluded with an extensive director's report on multiple major capital projects reaching completion phases. ## Golf Course Fee Increases at Lake Padden The board considered a staff recommendation for a 5% cumulative increase in greens fees at Lake Padden Golf Course, presented by Parks Operations Manager Steve Hansen. The increase is required because it exceeds the 3% threshold that requires Parks Board and City Council approval. Hansen displayed the golf course's enterprise fund balance chart, emphasizing that "the golf course does not operate on any taxes or Greenways funds or any other kind of funds other than the revenue we generate." The fund balance has shown some decline due to ongoing repair costs, planned improvement projects, and increased expenses including labor and utilities. Hansen noted they've also seen "a decrease in golfers that are coming to Lake Padden from BC," which represents about 15-20% of total rounds according to General Manager Phil Gujero. The proposed rate structure maintains Lake Padden's position as the fifth-ranked course in the region for pricing, sitting between North Bellingham and Raspberry Ridge. "We are the only municipal course," Hansen explained. "The rest of the courses you see here are all private." Even with the increase and water conservation surcharge, Lake Padden would charge $54, compared to North Bellingham's rate, keeping the course competitively priced while remaining affordable as a public facility. Golf rounds are projected to reach 44,000 in 2025, "which is the highest they've ever been while we've been collecting these records," Hansen reported. This represents a strong recovery after a dip in 2024, though still below Canadian participation levels from previous years. The presentation highligh…