REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
PREPARED BY: Molly Uemura, Community & Library Services Manager
Subject:
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Adopt Resolution No. 2025-31 amending Resolution No. 2024-31 of the Citywide Master Fee and Charges Schedule relating to Community & Library Services facility rental rates and parking rates in the South Beach Attended Lots during permitted event days as selected by the Director of Community & Library Services
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Statement of Issue:
The City Council is requested to adopt Resolution No. 2025-31 amending Resolution No. 2024-31 of the Citywide Master Fee and Charges Schedule to increase rental rates for Community & Library Services facilities, including Community Centers, the Senior Center in Central Park, the Central Library, and various clubhouses. Additionally, the City Council is asked to approve new parking rates in the South Beach Attended Lots during permitted special event days as selected by the Director of Community & Library Services.
Financial Impact:
The increases and restructured room rental rates for the City’s clubhouses, Senior Center in Central Park, Community Centers, and Central Library are anticipated to generate approximately $73,100 in additional General Fund revenue annually.
The proposed parking rates in the South Beach Attended Lots during permitted special event days as selected by the Director of Community & Library Services are anticipated to generate approximately $162,000 in new General Fund revenue annually.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-31, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Amending Resolution No. 2024-31 Which Updated the Citywide Master Fee and Charges Schedule” for increased facility rental rates and south beach parking rates during permitted special events.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Facility Rentals:
The City of Huntington Beach operates three Community Centers, four Clubhouses, the Senior Center in Central Park, and various facilities inside of the Central Library, all of which are rented by local residents, organizations, and businesses for events such as meetings, weddings, parties, and other gatherings. These facilities are rented consistently, including several locations with recurring weekly church rentals. The Senior Center in Central Park’s Parkview Room is host to many special occasions, including an abundance of non-profit fundraisers to support local organizations in the Huntington Beach community. The Newland Barn, one of the City’s Clubhouse rental facilities with unique historic charm and an expansive outdoor lawn, is an increasingly popular wedding venue and is booked to capacity most weekends.
In 2024, rental rates at most Community & Library Services facilities were raised by $15 per hour. A 2025 review of rental fees for similar facilities in surrounding cities indicates that our current rates are slightly below the regional average. The review also revealed that several local cities charge a primetime rate for their most popular rental facilities on Saturdays, which is a consistent practice at wedding venues as well. The proposed rental fee increases would align the City’s fees with those of comparable municipalities while ensuring the continued financial viability of the City’s public facilities.
Staff proposes raising rental rates by $5 per hour at Lake Park Clubhouse, Harbour View Clubhouse, and Memorial Hall. Rates at the City Gym & Pool, Edison Community Center, Murdy Community Center, and the Senior Center at Central Park are proposed to be increased by $5 per hour for residents and non-profit groups and $10 per hour for non-residents and commercial businesses. Fee increases of $10 per hour are suggested for the Talbert Room and the Library Theater at the Central Library across all categories. The proposed increases are consistent with the rates charged by other comparable jurisdictions for comparable facilities.
At the Newland Barn, more significant structural modifications are recommended, including an additional $45 per hour premium charge for reservations on Saturdays. The introduction of a Saturday premium is suggested at the Newland Barn to better align the facility charges with the venue’s primary use as a wedding venue. Staff also anticipates that the additional $45 per hour premium charge will provide an incentive for patrons to hold their event on other days, thereby increasing overall revenue potential at this extremely popular venue.
The proposed increase to hourly rental rates at the Community Centers and the Senior Center at Central Park is expected to generate an additional $11,750 in annual General Fund (GF) revenue. Similarly, rate increases for the Talbert Room and the Theater at the Central Library will contribute an additional $9,350. Modification of rates at the clubhouses, including the revised fee structure at Newland Barn, are projected to boost annual revenue by $52,000. In total, the amendments, as proposed, will result in an estimated additional $73,100 in revenue each year.
Parking Rates:
Staff recommends introducing a new parking rate for the South Beach Attended Lots. This new rate would be charged when authorized by the Director of Community & Library Services during large-scale special events permitted by the City. The fee would also be charged when the State hosts large-scale permitted events on their beaches that impact our parking lots.
Historically, when the City has hosted large-scale permitted events such as the Pacific Airshow, Darker Waves Music Festival, and the US Open of Surfing, the State has raised parking rates in their beach lots located between Beach Boulevard and Brookhurst Street. Likewise, in a reciprocal manner, the proposed new parking rate structure will allow the City to raise rates at the South Beach Attended Lots during large-scale permitted events on the State Beach, allowing the City to maximize its revenue potential. This is particularly advantageous given that for some of the State events, the City lots are closer to the event site than the State parking lots, making them more desirable to attendees.
Fees are proposed to include a range from $20 to $50 per day. Depending on the time of year, the event, and the day of the week, the Director of Community & Library Services would have the flexibility to set the rate within the range. Projected revenue, using $30 as the target price, is estimated at $162,000 annually. Annual beach permit holders will not be affected by these increased rates as typically these events begin later in the day when most permit holders have left the beach. However, blackout dates for Independence Day and the Pacific Airshow would still apply, as previously approved by City Council.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 2 - Fiscal Stability, Strategy A - Consider new revenue sources and opportunities to support the City's priority initiatives and projects.
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution 2025-31 “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach amending Resolution No. 2024-31 which updated the Citywide master fee and charges schedule.”
2. Resolution 2024-31