City Council Special Meeting April 20, 2026

The City of Foster City held a special City Council meeting on April 20, 2026, focusing primarily on proposed changes to the Parks and Recreation Department's master fee and service charge schedules for fiscal years 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. The discussion centered on establishing new fee structures for the recently opened Foster City Community Center, including rental rates for various spaces such as the Lagoon Event Hall and other meeting rooms. Staff presented a pricing approach that balances affordability for residents and nonprofits with cost recovery, benchmarking against regional facilities. Key policy considerations included differentiated rates for residents, nonresidents, nonprofits, and legacy groups, as well as the introduction of a rental manager position to oversee operations. Council members debated the extent of discounts for special nonprofit and legacy groups, the impact of increased security costs, and the need for clear, standardized, and transparent fee policies. The council provided preliminary support for maintaining a 25% nonresident rate differential and the use of bundled and hourly pricing options for event spaces, with plans to finalize the fee schedule in a subsequent meeting in May 2026.