Committee advances park code change to allow flexible pricing, resident and veteran waivers at three gardens

The Budget & Finance Committee voted to accept amendments and continue an ordinance that would allow the Recreation and Park Department to waive or discount admission for San Francisco residents and veterans at three Golden Gate Park attractions and to use flexible pricing for nonresident adults to fund the change.

Clerk and staff described the ordinance's scope: the Japanese Tea Garden, the Conservatory of Flowers and the San Francisco Botanical Garden would be treated collectively for resident waivers and flexible pricing of nonresident adult admission. Supervisor Gordon Mar introduced amendments capping the flex‑pricing increase for nonresident adults at $7 to clarify implementation.

Several callers representing the Botanical Garden and community volunteers (including Carol Izumi, Lisa Serwin, Don Baldacci, and Del Maxwell) spoke in support, saying flexible pricing is needed to generate ongoing revenue for maintenance and conservation.

Deputy city attorneys advised that the circulated amendments may be substantive and could require an additional committee hearing and mayoral consent; Ashley Grafenberger, the mayor's budget director, confirmed the mayor was amenable to the amendments. The committee voted to accept the amendments and then continued the matter for one week to the next Budget & Finance meeting to ensure procedural requirements are satisfied.