TITLE
Recommendation to receive supporting documentation into the record, conclude the public hearing, and adopt resolution amending the Master Fees and Charges Schedule to add two Modified Summer Camp Programming Fees. (District 3)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to amend the Master Fees and Charges Schedule to add two Modified Summer Camp Programming Fees for those camps within the Tidelands area. The current fees for camps in the Tidelands area are $165 per child, per week, for Aquatic Camp (9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 35 hours per week), and $28 per child, per week for each extended care option (7 a.m. - 9 a.m., and 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.). The new structure that the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (Department) is proposing for the Master Fees and Charges Schedule is as follows:
• Modified Summer Camp Programming Fee (base hours only from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.): $30-$114 child/week
• Modified Summer Camp Programming Fee (includes before and after care from 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.): $50-$149 child/week
Per Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC) 2.51.005, the Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) has the authority to approve fees within the General Fund. On March 17, 2022, the Commission approved the same rates as proposed herein for the Tidelands area. The fees will help recover costs associated with providing the service to individuals and organizations for activities that are consistent with the department’s mission and vision. The department’s cost of services study evaluated Modified Summer Camp Programming Fees and recommended rates set to comparable market rates. Fees will be regularly assessed by the Department and set according to program offerings while also considering market rates of comparable agencies. The proposed fee range is aligned with the market rates currently offered by various agencies in the greater Long Beach area such as Lakewood, Cerritos, Los Alamitos, and YMCA.
The proposed fee range for Modified Summer Camp Programming Fees will allow the flexibility to adjust day camp fees for a phased-in approach to increasing fees as the programming returns to pre-pandemic levels. The proposed range will also allow for fee reductions in the event there is another catastrophic event that triggers the need to drastically reduce the fees. The effective rates for Modified Summer Camp Programming Fees will be made public before Modified Summer Camp Programming registration opens and will not change for the duration of the registered day camp program.
For Summer of 2022, Modified Summer Camp Programming Fees are proposed at $100 for camp only and $125 for camp with extended hours, citywide. These 2022 rates for Modified Summer Camp within the Tidelands area result in a reduction of $65 per child, per week for base hours, and $96 per child, per week for base plus extended hours. For Modified Summer Camp within the General Fund, the reductions are $15 and $25 for base camp and base camp plus extended hours, respectively. Modified Summer Camp Programming offers in-person day camps for youth ages 5 to 12 in accordance with health orders in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pre-pandemic, youth summer programming included fee-based day camps provided at nine sites as well as free drop-in youth programs. Drop-in youth programs, such as Summer Fun Days, were offered at no cost with no pre-registration. Due to the pandemic, day camp programming was temporarily restructured to a modified summer programming model. The revised programming model converted all free drop-in youth programs to day camps. This allowed the department to better manage the number of participants enrolled in its programs and comply with the pandemic-related health orders and safety protocols such as social distancing. With this change, the number of day camps increased from 9 to 23. The associated per child, per week, day camp fees were then reduced from pre-pandemic fee levels to $30 for day camp only and $50 for day camp including before and after care. The temporary rate reduction across all day camps was intended to mitigate the impact of converting previously free drop-in programming to fee-based day camps and provide lower cost options for all Long Beach families to participate in safe and structured recreational activities for youth.
As health orders continue to change and more in-person programming becomes available, the department is preparing to offer day camps during Summer of 2022 at 13 sites; however, day camps will continue at a modified structure. Free drop-in youth programs known as Summer Fun Days will again be offered along with other free programs such as Virtual Recreation and Mobile Recess.
In future years, as COVID-19 recovery continues, the Department will transition from these Modified Summer Camp programs to Themed Day Camps which have been the traditional camp model. Fees for Themed Day Camps are already established in the Master Fees and Charges Schedule.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on March 15, 2022 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on March 25, 2022.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on April 12, 2022, to ensure timely implementation of the proposed fees in time for Summer of 2022 day camp registration.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed Modified Summer Camp Programming Fees will offset the cost of services including staff, materials, and supplies required to provide day camp programming. The fee ranges allow for the department to phase-in fee increases as the programming returns to pre-pandemic levels. The fee ranges will also allow for the department to implement fee reductions if it is required. For Summer of 2022, the effective rates are proposed at $100 for camp only and $125 for camp with extended hours.
Fee revenue generated will be deposited to the Tidelands Operating Fund Group in the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department. The estimated annual revenue change associated with the proposed fees are currently unknown and will be based on the number of registered participants. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER