Look Who Will Be Paying More in Fees

Does your child play on a local youth sports team? Have you rented park picnic shelters for birthdays or other events? Swim in any of the community pools? Use any of the fitness centers?

Well, if so, the council is considering approval of fee changes – mostly increases – to continue and/or restore certain services.

Let’s start out with the good news! 

If you have a Fitness Center membership at Otay or Salt Creek Rec Centers, your fees will be reduced from $8-16. If you have rented Recreation Facility Space (i.e. Gym, Soccer Arena, Tennis Courts, etc.), rental fees will also decrease from $2-40. The City anticipates the lower fees will increase membership and revenue.

All-righty then, are we good?

Now the fee increases.

Aquatics: Fees will increase minimally (think $1-2). 

But the City is looking at offering a NEW Twenty-Swim Pass that will cost you $16-24. This is new revenue for the city.

Ball Field Rentals: Okay, listen up all you Pop Warner and Little League Groups and City Adult League participants!

• Unlighted fields will cost $10/hourly, an increase of $10.
• Lighted fields will cost $25/hourly, an increase of $10.

In addition, the City is proposing to create new ball field rental fees for tournament uses. This fee will only apply to the fields at San Miguel Park, but they will be $100/hour for daytime use and $145/hour for night/lighted use.

Picnic Shelter Fees: I imagine this one will be the most far-reaching, but I could be wrong. 

• Large Shelters (200 group size) will increase 75% from $120 to $210.
• Medium Shelters (100 group size) will increase 72% from $90 to $155.
• Small/Picnic (50 group size) will increase 100% from $30 to $60.

These increases will move Chula Vista from offering the lowest picnic shelter fees to the fourth lowest, and will be used to restore a minimal Park Ranger Program.

Parking Citations: If you get a parking ticket in the city, you may also see an increase in the fee from $1.50-3.  The City is charged similar amounts by the County/State for processing tickets, but now will not be absorbing the cost – You will.

Nobody likes higher fees – but consider this. 

The proposed fee increases is anticipated to increase city revenue by $571,000 – over half a million dollars!   

Much needed money these days.