Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director
Subject: San Mateo County Parks Department's Mariposa Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution amending the San Mateo County Parks Department's Fee Schedule to eliminate vehicle entrance fees for San Mateo County residents who receive Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and/or San Mateo County Access and Care for Everyone (ACE) benefits.
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BACKGROUND:
The San Mateo County Parks Department ("Department") manages 24 county parks and recreation areas, which includes over 16,000 acres of land, almost 200 miles of trails, eight playgrounds, and numerous picnic sites and campsites. With parks located throughout the county, the Department serves approximately 2.7 million visitors annually.
Seven of the parks and recreation areas in the San Mateo County park system currently charge a $6 vehicle entrance fee. These include the Coyote Point Recreation Area, Huddart Park, Sam McDonald Park, Memorial Park, San Pedro Valley Park, Junipero Serra Park, and San Bruno Mountain State and County Park. The vehicle entrance fee provides park visitors with access to all Day Use facilities in the respective park, including trails, playgrounds, drop-in picnic areas, visitor centers, and various recreational amenities. The vehicle entrance fee, however, does not authorize visitors to use group reservation sites or overnight camping facilities.
In Fiscal Year ("FY") 2018-19-the last full fiscal year before the pandemic-the Department generated approximately $1.13 million, or about 22 percent of its annual revenue, from vehicle entrance fees. In FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21, the Department generated almost $850,000 and $1.06 million respectively in revenue from vehicle entrance fees. The Department primarily uses these funds to maintain park facilities including restrooms, playgrounds, picnic areas, and reservation sites, as well as ...
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