Real Briefings
Parks and Recreation Committee
The Parks and Recreation Committee unanimously approved a resolution establishing updated facility use fees for city parks and recreation facilities, including significant increases for Woodstock Farm, aquatic center rates, and golf course green fees. The 15-minute meeting focused on a comprehensive fee restructure aimed at covering rising operational costs and maintaining facility quality across the parks system. The most substantial change involves Woodstock Farm, where hourly rates will increase from $200/hour to $4,000/day for all-day events with mandatory staff presence. Golf course fees will see a cumulative 6.84% increase to keep pace with inflation while maintaining Lake Padden's position as the sixth most affordable course in the region. The committee also made an amendment to change "citizens" to "residents and visitors" in the resolution's language to be more inclusive.
**AB 24374 - Parks & Recreation Facility Use Fees Resolution:** APPROVED 3-0 (as amended) - Staff recommendation: Approve with fee increases across multiple facilities - Council action: Approved with language amendment - Key changes: Woodstock Farm ($200/hour → $4,000/day), Aquatic Center increases, golf fee incre…
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The fee restructure represents the first comprehensive update since 2018 for aquatic facilities and addresses mounting operational costs. Parks Director Nicole Oliver explained the rationale behind each increase, emphasizing that staff wages have continued rising while fees remained static during the pandemic.
For Woodstock Farm, the dramatic increase from $200/hour to $4,000/day reflects the reality of event management costs and the decision to require staff presence at all events. The facility will only offer all-day reservations on select weekends, acknowledging the substantial resources required to operate the venue properly.
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**Nicole Oliver (Parks & Recreation Director):** Advocated for fee increases as necessary to cover rising operational costs, particularly staff wages and facility maintenance. Emphasized that fees haven't been updated since 2018 for aquatic facilities and that the increases maintain Lake Padden's competitive positioning.
**Council Member Stone (Ward 1):** Raised equity concerns about access barriers, particularly the Woodstock Farm all-day requirement potentially excluding smaller community gr…
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**Nicole Oliver, on Woodstock Farm changes:**
"It takes a lot to run events out there, and we do plan on staffing them when we reopen Woodstock Farm."
**Nicole Oliver, on previous fee policies:**
"Differentiating a commercial use from a nonprofit was really problematic. And so we stopped that some time ago."
**Council Member Stone, on inclusivity:**
"I always think of citizen as a legal term. And I know that members of our community who are not US citizens... when you see the wor…
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- Resolution forwarded to evening City Council meeting for final approval - Implementation of new fee structure for 2025 - Neighborhood association stipend increase proposal to be developed for 202…
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After this meeting, Parks and Recreation facility fees will increase significantly across multiple venues for the first time since 2018. The Woodstock Farm pricing model shifted from hourly to all-day rates with mandatory staffing. The city adopted more inclusive langua…
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# Meeting Overview
The City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Committee convened on December 16, 2024, for a brief but meaningful session focused entirely on updating facility use fees across the city's recreational infrastructure. Committee Chair Edwin "Skip" Williams presided over the meeting, joined by committee members Hollie Huthman and Jace Cotton, with the session beginning at 1:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting, lasting only 15 minutes, addressed a single but comprehensive agenda item that would affect the pricing structure for numerous city recreational facilities, from swimming pools to golf courses to event pavilions.
What made this meeting particularly notable was not just the scope of fee increases being proposed, but the underlying story of how the city's recreational facilities have evolved and succeeded in recent years. Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Oliver painted a picture of a department managing growing popularity and success, particularly at Lake Padden Golf Course, while balancing the practical realities of increased operational costs and the need to maintain aging infrastructure.
The committee also wrestled with questions of equity and inclusivity, leading to an important amendment that reflects the city's commitment to serving all residents and visitors, not just citizens. The discussion revealed the ongoing challenge of balancing the needs of specific neighborhoods with citywide equity, as well as the practical difficulties of managing popular recreational facilities in an era of rising costs and increased demand.
# Facility Fee Increases: Balancing Cost Recovery with Community Access
Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Oliver's presentation revealed the breadth of fee increases being proposed across the city's recreational infrastructure. The most dramatic change involves Woodstock Farm, where the city is moving from an hourly rate of $200 to a full-day rate of $4,000 — a significant increase that reflects both the facility's popularity and the operational challenges of managing events there.
"We are making a pretty significant increase to Woodstock Farm to account for the fact that it takes a lot to run events out there, and we do plan on staffing them when we reopen Woodstock Farm," Oliver explained. The new model will limit reservations to all-day events only, with city staff required to be present throughout. The change reflects lessons learned about the true costs of facility management, where the city prev…
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### Meeting Overview
On December 16, 2024, the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Committee met to consider resolution to update facility use fees across the city's parks and recreation system. The committee reviewed proposed increases designed to streamline fee structures and account for rising maintenance and operational costs at facilities including the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, Lake Padden Golf Course, and various park pavilions.
### Key Terms and Concepts
**Facility Use Fees:** Charges imposed by the city for reserving or using specific parks and recreation facilities like pavilions, pools, golf courses, and event spaces.
**Stipend:** Annual financial allocation from the city to neighborhood associations ($750 currently, proposed increase to $1,000) to help offset facility rental costs for meetings and community events.
**Green Fees:** Golf course charges for playing rounds, typically differentiated between weekday/weekend rates, adult/senior/junior pricing, and 9-hole/18-hole options.
**Commercial vs. Nonprofit Use:** Previously the city had different fee structures for commercial versus nonprofit facility users, but eliminated this distinction 4-5 years ago due to enforcement difficulties.
**Cleaning Fee:** New $50/hour charge for facilities that require cleaning beyond normal protocols when event organizers leave excessive mess or debris.
**Woodstock Farm:** Historic farm facility requiring all-day rentals ($4,000 per day) rather than hourly rates due to high staffing and maintenance requirements.
**Dynamic Pricing:** Pricing strategy that adjusts rates based on demand, time of year, or other market factors - used at Lake Padden Golf Course.
### Key People at This Meeting
| Name | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Edwin "Skip" Williams | Committee Chair, Fourth Ward Council Member |
| Hollie Huthman | Committee Member, Second Ward Council Member |
| Jace Cotton | Committee Member, At-Large Council Me…
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