Chico >> A committee of the Bidwell Park and Playground Commission has been working on various changes in policy regarding fees the public pays, and one of them is a new fee for those who park vehicles in upper Bidwell Park.

Reflecting the Christmas holiday conflict, the meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the City Council Chambers, 421 Main St.

The Policy Advisory Committee has been working for weeks on reviewing permits and fees, from reserving picnic sites to vendor fees. Those changes are included on the meeting agenda.

In several places, previous fees have been erased — such as the insurance review fee — but in other places a process will require a new permit but not a fee. Elsewhere, a new half-day fee has been added to the full-day fee to reserve places like Children’s Playground, and those costs are up.

Still without cost would be reserving Caper Acres’ birthday ring for two hours of use.

Among the proposed provisions is a new $1 per vehicle per day fee for parking in upper Bidwell Park.

There would also be a $50 annual pass that could be purchased. No fee would be charged for those over age 60, or disabled with an ADA placard.

According to the agenda, the money would be used “for parking amenities and road maintenance.”

The commission and Park Division have considered a fee for upper Bidwell Park parking or use for many years, but never moved forward.

A staff report notes that parking and use fees are common in large regional parks, with the revenue helping with road maintenance and other costs. The fees are charged, the report indicated, at staffed booths, at kiosks, in person or by mail.

The amount of fees already charged elsewhere range greatly, from $6-8 at nearby Woodson Bridge and Lake Oroville, to $20 at Lassen Volcanic National Park.

According to the report, the committee chose a low fee so not to inhibit use.

Such a program would also give the city a permanent presence in upper park where there is none now.

Knowing that could be controversial, the committee notes a need for public education regarding the fee.

The city has struggled with maintaining the road in upper park, closing off the far part of the road, and earlier this year dealing with a consultant about how to tackle the road erosion problem.

Later in the agenda, staff noted that the Park Division has been working on the upper park road, and is planning repairs on three high-priority sites identified by the consultant. That would should start in January.

Whatever fee or permit changes the Park Commission ends up recommending will be reviewed by the City Council.

Contact reporter Laura Urseny at 896-7756.