Clark County Council members voted Tuesday, Dec. 2, to raise parking and picnic shelter fees across four regional parks, citing years of growing operational costs and a widening budget gap.
Jennifer Corker, deputy director of Public Works, told councilors the increases are tied to everyday needs that keep the system running.
"Why now for fee increases? Long-standing operations,” she said regarding the county’s park operating funds. “Structural deficits in regional parks and the greater Clark Parks District have been accumulating for some time. This fee alignment is part of an incremental step towards a balanced recovery plan.”
Parking fees at Salmon Creek Regional Park and Klineline Pond, Vancouver Lake Regional Park, Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park, and Lewisville Regional Park will rise from $3 to $5 per vehicle for all vehicle types. The annual parking pass will increase from $30 to $40. County staff estimate the changes will bring in an extra $59,590 a year. The last increase was in 2010.
Picnic shelter rates will rise by $10 across all capacities. Shelters for roughly 20 people will cost $60 a day. Medium shelters up to 100 people will cost $85. Larger shelters that hold 100-216 people will cost $160.
“The additional revenue estimated from this change is about $3,600, and we are still one of the most affordable regionally," Corker said.
Meeting room rental fees will also shift to a two-tier system. Standard rates will range from $35 to $150 per hour, while residents and nonprofits will pay between $15 and $50.
The fee increase supports routine work, such as mowing, restroom cleaning, vandalism repairs, trail upkeep, and other tasks.
Although the park fee hikes aim to cover rising maintenance costs, Carmen DeLeon, who spoke during public comments, expressed worries about harmful algae blooms at Vancouver Lake during hot seasons, which are toxic to both people and pets who swim there.
“How much of this money is going to cleaning up the lake?” she asked. “You wanna charge another fee, go ahead, but can you at least fix the lake first so that people could actually swim … my family already knows nobody goes to Vancouver Lake because the water is always dead, filled with algae.”
In July, county staff presented four early-stage concepts to enhance water circulation by modifying or supplementing the Vancouver Lake Flushing Channel, which connects the lake to the Columbia River. Improving the southward flow of water is crucial to mitigating harmful algae blooms. However, Gov. Bob Ferguson vetoed a $300,000 legislative provision earlier this year, preventing the county from entering the next stage of algae mitigation.
Kimberlee Goheen-Elbon, who spoke via Zoom during the public hearing, opposed adding any fees for park-goers.
“I’m absolutely against any more (fees) being added on what is already being costly for people … now those of us that are working hard and trying to keep afloat, you’re gonna tax us some more, that is not right,” she said.
After the public hearing closed, the County Council passed the increase unanimously. All new fees take effect Dec. 8.
