Chino Valley council weighs modest aquatics fee increases, asks staff for options to protect affordability

The Chino Valley Town Council on Tuesday reviewed an aquatics fee analysis that shows the town’s aquatic center runs at roughly $302,000 in annual operating costs and about $74,000 in annual revenue, or about a 24% cost recovery.

Finance Director Katie Peele presented models showing that reaching full cost recovery would require roughly quadrupling current revenue and dramatically raising prices — for example, daily admission rising from $3 to $12 and family passes jumping into the high hundreds — an outcome staff called infeasible for the community.

Peele recommended a phased approach to improve cost recovery without pricing out families: a first-phase target of about 34% cost recovery for the 2026 season and a possible 42% target for 2027. Under staff modeling, that would increase daily admission by $1 in the first year and by another $1 the second year, with proportionally modest adjustments to senior admission and other categories. Staff flagged swim lessons and family affordability as priorities to keep lower.

Council reaction was mixed but generally supportive of a modest first phase. Several council members said they favored the smaller Phase 1 increases but urged staff to reduce proposed hikes on season passes and family packages, and to avoid making swim lessons cost-prohibitive for families. Council members also noted the pool’s recent deferred-maintenance costs — pumps, pool surface and deck repairs — that have driven up short-term expenses and argued that any increase should balance fiscal sustainability with community access.

Peele said staff will return with a “menu” of specific fee-adjustment options reflecting council feedback and with alternatives for season passes, facility rentals and swim lessons. No formal rate changes were adopted Tuesday; the council directed staff to prepare options for a future meeting so decisions could be made before the 2026 season if council chooses to act.

The council’s next step will be review of concrete fee proposals and any related statutory notice or hearing requirements under the town’s fee ordinance.