Some visitors could pay extra at Woodward, Modesto reservoirs

Stanislaus County will charge an extra $5 for park visitors from outside the county, if supervisors approve a bunch of fee changes Tuesday.

The day-use fee for out-of-county residents would climb from $10 to $15 per carload at Woodward Reservoir near Oakdale and at Modesto Reservoir, effective June 26.

The park entrance fee would remain at $10 for county residents, and discounts for seniors, the disabled and veterans would remain in place. Park users would be asked to show their driver’s licenses at the gate as proof they are county residents.

Jami Aggers, director of county environmental resources, said county leaders directed the department to develop the tiered fees. “Local dollars are supporting the park facilities and we are getting a lot of attendance from out of the area,” Aggers said.

The higher charge for out-of-county visitors is among proposed fee increases that could boost county park revenue by $240,000 a year.

Some of the changes going before the Board of Supervisors would apply to everyone. The gate fee for the Fourth of July fireworks at Woodward would be $25 per vehicle, up from $20.

An annual pass for Woodward and Modesto reservoirs, and the off-highway vehicle parks at Frank Raines and La Grange, would increase from $80 to $100. Discounted annual passes for seniors (62 and older) and veterans would increase from $40 to $50.

Boat fees would increase from $7 to $10 per vessel and a campsite would cost $25 per night, up from $20.

Campsites with hookups would cost $30 a night, with $25 charged for a second vehicle, and group camping at Modesto Reservoir would cost $90 per night – a $30 increase. An annual pass for horse lovers would cost $50 per horse.

People are welcome to comment on the proposed higher costs for using parks during a public hearing. County departments adjust their fees every year to ensure they cover the costs of services.

Environmental, dairy fees

The county also would begin charging a $45 fee for a state electronic reporting system for about 1,500 businesses that are regulated for hazardous materials.

The regulatory fees for above-ground petroleum storage tanks would jump about 10 percent, ranging from $326 to $717, depending on the amount of storage.

The county proposes an 11 percent hike for Grade A and B dairy fees, the first county increase since 2008.

A new $265 fee would be charged for monitoring well construction, plus $53 for each additional boring. A well permit transfer fee would cost $106, with an extension costing $53.

Bus fares

In addition, the county proposes a 10-cent increase for riders on Stanislaus Regional Transit buses. The $1.50 fare for students wouldn’t change, and seniors and the disabled would pay an 80-cent fare, down from $1.

The 20-ride bus cards would increase $1 for most riders; a 31-day pass would cost $48, a $3 increase. The 31-day passes for students would increase $1, while the same pass for young people would cost $42, a $3 decrease, and $24 for seniors and the disabled, almost a 50 percent reduction.

People using intercity Dial-A-Ride are facing a 25-cent increase, and $1-$2 increases are proposed for Medivan service.

As an incentive to increase ridership, StaRT is talking with employers such as Blue Diamond and Amazon to encourage seasonal workers to take the bus to and from work. Employers could offer $46 monthly passes to employees.

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Some visitors could pay extra at Woodward, Modesto reservoirs."