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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) Approval of a Subsidy Program for the Culver City Afterschool Recreation Program (CCARP); and (2) Direction to the City Manager Regarding the Proposed Eligibility Criteria, Subsidy Structure, and Program Implementation, as deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: August 10, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Adam Ferguson / Parks, Recreation and Community Services
Phone Number: (310) 253-6685
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (08/05/2026)
Department Approval: Tomás Herrera-Mishler, Director PRCS (07/20/2026) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a subsidy program for the Culver City Afterschool Recreation Program (CCARP) and provide direction to the City Manager regarding the proposed eligibility criteria, subsidy structure, and program implementation, as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND
The Culver City Afterschool Recreation Program (CCARP) is an after-school program that is offered through the Park, Recreation and Community Services Department. It runs 36 weeks of the year in conjunction with the Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) calendar and operates at the following sites:
• Blanco Park serving students at El Rincon Elementary School.
• El Marino Park serving students at El Marino Language School.
• Lindberg Park serving students at Farragut Elementary School.
• Linwood E Howe Elementary School serving students on the school’s campus.
The fee for CCARP was reviewed as part of the PRCS Department’s comprehensive fee update for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. Prior to the recent fee update, PRCS fees had not been updated since 2014. Pursuant to Article XIII C, Section 1(e) of the California Constitution, fees charged for a specific government service or product must not exceed the reasonable cost of providing that service or product. To ensure compliance with these requirements, PRCS worked with NBS Government Finance Group to conduct a detailed cost analysis of the CCARP program before considering any fee adjustments.
The cost analysis for CCARP included the following components:
• The Fiscal Year 2025-2026 adopted budget for CCARP, including part-time staff costs, supplies, contracts, and materials;
• A proportionate share of indirect staff costs associated with administering and supporting the program, calculated as a percentage of the adopted Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget;
• Costs allocated to CCARP through the City’s Cost Allocation Plan prepared by NBS Government Finance Group; and
• Actual facility and field usage costs associated with program operations.
Based on this analysis, staff determined that the full cost of providing the program was $219.07 per participant per week. Staff then worked to provide various levels of subsidy to the cost per participant. These included:
• Service Category Philosophy: Consistent with the City’s cost recovery philosophy utilizing service categories, CCARP falls into the service category “Out of School Activities.” Staff applied a 70% cost-recovery target with a 30% subsidy to participants.
• Phased Increase of Fee: The service category cost recovery amount represented a 200% increase from the $51.00 fee last established in Fiscal Year 2013-2014. To mitigate the impact on participating families, PRCS staff recommended phasing in the increase over time through additional subsidy.
• Resident Discount: City Council directed PRCS staff to define “Resident” as anyone who lives within the boundaries of Culver City or is enrolled at a CCUSD school. All participants therefore receive an additional 10% subsidy for being residents.
After applying these subsidies to the CCARP cost, the fee per week is explained as follows:
• Cost per Participant: $219.07
• 30% Service Category Subsidy: $153.35
• 34% Subsidy for a phased increase: $102
• 10% Resident Discount: $91
Cost of Similar Programs:
At $91 per week, the monthly estimated cost for CCARP will be $364. This is still under other programs being offered. Based on what was listed on their respective websites, the following organizations’ costs are as follows:
• Youth Sports Enrichment (YSE) is currently $395. After additional processing fees, the cost becomes $410 if you sign up for the month-by-month plan. Additional savings can happen if you pay for an entire semester or the entire school year at once.
• Iverbe offers after school programs at El Marino, Linwood Howe, and Farragut Elementary schools. The cost is $400 per month and payment is handled monthly.
• Culver-Palms YMCA can average $365-$650 per month. The rate depends on if the participants need morning care or just after school care, if the participant needs 5 days or needs 2 to 3 days (referred to as part-time). They also offer free programs and various program subsidies for qualifying families and. Finally, they offer a $25 per participant homework club at certain elementary school sites. In order to participate, the family needs to be a member of the YMCA, which costs $97 per month or $931 per year.
• Office of Child Development (OCD) is a program within the Culver City Unified School District. There is a $25 non-refundable registration fee and $25 non-refundable activity fee. The aftercare only program is listed as $450 per month as of January 1, 2026. However, it is important to acknowledge that tuition is assessed on a family specific basis, with grant funding allowing a sliding scale for income eligible families until it runs out.
During the City Council Regular Meeting on May 26, 2026, as part of Agenda Item PH-2, Adoption of a Resolution Approving and Adopting the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department Comprehensive Fee Schedule Update for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, the City Council directed staff to return with additional information regarding the proposed fee increase and to develop an assistance program for income-qualified families participating in CCARP.
In response to City Council’s direction, PRCS staff evaluated childcare assistance and fee subsidy programs offered by neighboring agencies, including the Cities of Santa Monica and El Segundo, and reviewed eligibility criteria and best practices utilized by the California Department of Social Services’ Child Care and Development Division and other publicly funded childcare assistance programs. Staff also examined state and county income eligibility standards, documentation requirements, and prioritization criteria commonly used for childcare subsidy programs. The proposed Childcare Subsidy Program has been developed based on these established practices while taking into consideration available City resources, anticipated program demand, and the operational needs of CCARP.
DISCUSSION
The proposed Childcare Subsidy Program is intended to provide financial assistance to income-qualified families while maintaining the fiscal sustainability of the CCARP. The program establishes a standardized application (Attachment 1), eligibility verification process, and prioritization system to ensure that available subsidy funding is distributed fairly and transparently.
Under the proposed program, applicants must have a child enrolled in one of the four Culver City Unified School District (CCUSD) elementary schools currently served by CCARP, meet the program's age requirements, and provide documentation verifying eligibility. Eligibility is based on one of three priority categories:
• Category 1 : Families experiencing homelessness, residing in emergency shelter, families referred through Child Protective Services or another qualifying social service agency, and children in foster care.
• Category 2: Income-qualified households based on family size and gross household income using established income thresholds.
• Category 3: Families currently receiving qualifying public assistance benefits, including but limited to CalFresh, WIC, or SNAP.
Priority for available subsidy funding would be provided in the order of category, subject to available funding and program capacity.
The proposed subsidy structure provides varying levels of financial assistance based on demonstrated need. Families qualifying under Category 1 would receive a full childcare subsidy while they continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Families qualifying under Category 2 would be eligible to receive up to 50 percent subsidy based on household income. Household income is based on the Los Angeles County Lowest Gross Monthly Income from 2025. Family size is determined by the total number of children and adults in the household.
• Family size of 1 person with a monthly income of $2,917
• Family size of 2 persons with a monthly income of $3,333
• Family size of 3 persons with a monthly income of $3,750
• Family size of 4 persons with a monthly income of $4,167
• Family size of 5 persons with a monthly income of $4,500
• Family size of 6 persons with a monthly income of $4,833
Families qualifying under Category 3 would be eligible to receive up to a 15 percent subsidy while receiving qualifying public assistance benefits.
To ensure continued eligibility, participating families would be required to notify PRCS staff of changes in household income, housing status, referral services, or public assistance benefits within 15 days of the change. Participants would also be required to maintain at least 80 percent attendance in the program each month. PRCS staff would conduct quarterly eligibility reviews to verify continued program qualification. The proposed Parent Handbook (attachment 2) and Code of Conduct (attachment 3) establishes enrollment procedures, documentation requirements, participant responsibilities, attendance expectations, and circumstances that may result in termination from the subsidy program. The handbook is intended to provide consistency in program administration and ensure that applicants understand the requirements for participation.
Funding for the subsidy program would be limited to the amount appropriated through the City's annual budget process. As a result, meeting eligibility requirements does not guarantee enrollment or receipt of a subsidy. The proposed Childcare Subsidy Program is designed to balance City Council's goal of increasing affordability for families with demonstrated financial need while maintaining the long-term financial sustainability of CCARP. It also establishes a consistent and transparent framework for determining eligibility and administering financial assistance in future program years.
Considering the timeline, staff is recommending the 2014 fee stays in effect for September 2026. The application and review period for the subsidy program will be from August -September with new fees and applied subsidies going into effect for the October payment.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
During the City Council Regular Meeting on June 8, 2026, City Council approved an ongoing increase of $100,000 to the FY 2026-27 budget for the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services After School Program, account (10130233). The additional funding is intended to increase current service levels by supporting adequate staffing, program supplies, and funding the Childcare Subsidy Program. Of the $100,000 ongoing budget increase approved by City Council, staff proposes allocating $25,000 toward program supplies, staffing, and operational needs and reserving $75,000 annually to fund the Childcare Subsidy Program. The annual subsidy cost per child in each category is outlined below:
• 100% subsidy - $3,240 for 36 weeks
• 50% subsidy - $1,638 for 36 weeks
• 15% subsidy - $491 for 36 weeks
Actual participation levels will vary based on the number of applicants in each eligible category and the duration of assistance provided.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2026-08-10 ATT1 CCARP Subsidy Application
2. 2026-08-10 ATT2 CCARP Subsidy Parent Handbook
3. 2026-08-10 ATT3 CCARP Subsidy Code of Conduct
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
1. Approve a Subsidy Program for the Culver City Afterschool Recreation Program; and
2. Provide direction to the City Manager regarding the proposed eligibility criteria, subsidy structure, and program implementation, as deemed appropriate.