Ross council approves rate changes for facility rentals

The town is raising prices for non-residents and businesses to rent playing fields and other municipal sites.

Ross is set to charge higher fees for field space and special events.

The decision brings the town in line with other cities and towns that rent out fields and picnic areas to residents, visitors and businesses.

After analyzing the rate structures of nearby communities, town staff recommended a rate structure that differs for residents and non-residents.

The Town Council unanimously approved the plan at its meeting on July 11. Councilmember Mathew Salter was absent.

“Recommendations are based on the industry standard throughout Marin County and will lead to a slight reduction in rental fees for residents without sacrificing services for residents,” said Maureen Borthwick, the town’s recreation manager.

Previously, it cost Ross residents, non-residents and commercial renters $40 per hour to rent sports fields like the T-ball fields and the Ross Common field. While residents will still only pay $40 per hour, non-residents will have to pay $56 per hour and commercial renters will pay $78 per hour.

For other rental spaces, such as the Three Bear Hut and surrounding picnic area, the $55 per hour rate for all applicants will now only apply to residents. Anyone from outside of Ross will have to pay $66 per hour, and businesses will pay $80 per hour.

The new rates include a 20% discount for nonprofits that serve the town or the Ross School District.

Since July 2023, the town has rented out fields 11 times and approved three special event requests. Last year’s revenue from field rental and special event fees totaled over $9,000; the Ross Valley Little League and Ross Valley Lacrosse Club contributed 80% of that revenue. The total revenue for Ross’ recreation services is around $830,000, Borthwick said.

“I tried to do the math and this $9,000 would be less than 1%,” said Julie McMillan, mayor pro tempore.

The fee for local sports leagues will remain $3,800 per season. The fees cover staff time and field maintenance, Borthwick said.

“Even with the proposed community-centric fee adjustments, staff do not anticipate major increases in special event requests and applications and therefore do not anticipate major changes in overall income,” a staff report states.

Of the other jurisdictions studied in the staff’s recreation fee study — San Rafael, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Novato, San Anselmo and Larkspur — only Larkspur had a similar rate system to Ross. Most cities and towns distinguished between non-residents and residents.

“Compared to neighboring cities, the town of Ross field rental fees were found to be on the lower end of the rental fee range for similar rental space,” Borthwick said.