Title
Report on the Fiscal Year 2017 - 2019 Budget for Recreation and Parks Department.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Report on the Fiscal Year 2017 - 2019 Budget for Recreation and Parks Department.
BACKGROUND
The City Council adopts a two-year City budget with the next budget process being Fiscal Year 2017 - 2019.
DISCUSSION
The Parks Maintenance budget is funded by the General Fund. Maintenance of Marina Cove and Bayport Parks are funded by assessment districts on the adjacent neighbors and businesses.
All recreation program revenues and expenditures are in the Recreation Fund, which is a special revenue fund that is separate from the General Fund. In the proposed FY 2017 - 2019 budget, the Recreation Fund is balanced. There is a transfer from the General Fund to the Recreation Fund to help support programs, particularly those that are minimal or no cost to the community and serve a broad and at-risk population, such as Mastick Senior Center, free Parks and Playgrounds programming, aquatics, teens, and people with physical and developmental disabilities
The numbers below may vary slightly from the final numbers presented to City Council on May 17, 2017 as the Finance Department finalizes cost allocations and staffing costs. Cost allocations are transfers made for General Fund internal services and funds, such as human resources, city management, attorney, and finance department services. It also includes equipment fund set aside, such as vehicles, facilities, and information technology.
The following describes the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department’s budget adjustments and requests for FY 17-19.
PARK MAINTENANCE
In FY 17/18, Alameda is adding two new parks, Estuary Park and Jean Sweeney Open Space Park that combined total 35 acres of new parkland. This includes 14 acres of active park area and 21 acres of open space, all of which requires maintenance. The total park acreage is increasing 18% (from 185 acres to 220 acres). ARPD is requesting $224,000 from the General Fund for two full-time positions (Park Maintenance Supervisor and Park Maintenance Worker II). This budget request is only a 12.5% increase to the Park Maintenance budget.
In addition, the Park Maintenance Worker II will be an irrigation specialist, who is knowledgeable in Bay-Friendly management practices as well as a variety of irrigation systems. This staff person will be able to address and adjust water efficiency throughout all city park and these improvements will significantly reduce water usage, resulting in an annual average cost savings of $115,000. Subsequently, ARPD maintained all water utility budgets at current levels which includes water utilities for the additional 14 acres of new, active park land and an annual 10% EBMUD rate increase. Therefore, with this savings to the General Fund, the new funding request for Parks Maintenance is only a net cost of $109,000.
Staff conducted an informal survey of other local comparable municipalities and how much acreage their park maintenance manage per full-time staff person. Interestingly, other cities maintain 4 - 12 acres per full-time staff person and Alameda Parks Maintenance manages 16 acres per full-time staff person.
RECREATION
The Recreation Fund is a special revenue fund that receives a transfer of funding from the General Fund. This transfer has increased 2% annually to help offset rising staffing and other program costs. ARPD is requesting that this be adjusted to a 3% annual. This still does not offset rising full-time and part time staff costs, which must be covered with increased fees and other revenues. The goal of the Recreation Fund is to be fully balance. It is near balance for this two-year budget and staff will explore ways to increase revenues, which may include new programming and increased fees. Part-time staff costs are rising due to the state minimum wage increase.
The Mastick Senior Center Advisory Board annually allocates funds towards capital improvements at the center. The net deficits shown in the budget will draw down from the Board’s fund balance.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from receiving this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Receive report and comment on the Fiscal Year 2017 - 2019 Budget for the Recreation and Parks Department.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Recreation and Parks Department FY 2017-2019 Budget