Out-of-Towner Fees Weighed by City Parks

Responding to complaints that Los Angeles residents are frequently shut out from city parks programs, the City Council recently asked the Recreation and Parks Department to consider additional fees for nonresidents.

The department is conducting a feasibility study to explore the possibility of additional fees or other options to give city residents a special advantage in using park programs. The fees are not being considered for mere access to a park.

Plan supporters argue that such advantages are needed simply to be fair to residents. Critics worry that the plan would be too complicated to administer and could leave some programs underused. Part of the study is meant to determine where and how often residents are shut out of programs.

Should Los Angeles charge additional fees for nonresidents to use city parks programs?

Steve Soboroff, chairman of the Los Angeles Parks Commission:

“The problem is that in many of the facilities there are waiting lines that run into the hundreds and hundreds of people. . . . Because of that you have people who day in and day out pay for park services from their taxes who are not able to use them. . . . Another option--which I like better--is giving residents a week early to sign up for programs. . . . My concern is we need to make sure all of our programs are filled. . . . We will never charge people to use our parks. The issue is programs like Little League, like camp and soccer, where there are hundreds of people on waiting lists. . . . My sense is raising the fee $2 more for nonresidents isn’t going to make a difference.”

Richard Close, president of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Assn.:

“I think there is a lot of merit to that type of proposal. A lot of people use the facilities of the city and they don’t pay for them and go back home to Beverly Hills or Burbank and they don’t contribute. . . . I think it’s a question of fairness. . . . Those who benefit should pay. . . . These people who are not paying taxes in the city of Los Angeles should pay more. It will generate money from these groups so we can have more programs.”

John Dominguez, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board for the city of Burbank:

“As far as I’m concerned . . . it’s very troubling because of the growing independence between communities. I think it is almost like having a fortress-like mentality. In this day and age it’s something we can’t do. . . . It just seems if one city is going to adopt such a measure, it’s a truly tough, difficult situation.”

Ed Montan, director of the Recreation and Community Service Department for the city of San Fernando:

“It’s been a commonly used tool in the field over the years. . . . But we in San Fernando have not had a nonresident fee because it has not been a problem. . . . I think we’re taking some of the pressure off L.A. programs. We get a lot of nonresidents who come to our programs here. Being a smaller city, we were able to . . . offer a lot of things. . . . I think it’s up to [Los Angeles officials if they want to charge a fee]. Obviously, you need to serve the taxpayers of your community first.”