Title
Review of Fiscal Year 2019-21 Biennial Budget for the Recreation and Parks Department
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review of Fiscal Year 2019-21 Biennial Budget for the Recreation and Parks Department
BACKGROUND
On June 6, 2019, the City Council adopted a two-year City budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 - 2021. The Alameda Recreation and Parks Department (ARPD) is comprised of three divisions: Park Maintenance, Recreation Programs and Mastick Senior Center.
This report will focus on the FY 2019-20 budget but Exhibit 1 includes numbers from FY 16-17 through FY 20-21.
DISCUSSION
The Park Maintenance Division budget total for FY 2019-20 is $3,914,908 funded by the General Fund. Maintenance of Marina Cove, Bayport and Marina Village Parks are funded separately by assessment districts from the adjacent neighbors and businesses.
City Council authorized two new Gardener positions for Park Maintenance. In FY 2019-20, one Gardener position is funded 50% from the General Fund and 50% from Marina Village assessment district. In FY 2020-21, a second Gardener position is funded fully from the General Fund. Other primary Park Maintenance costs include contractual services for smaller projects (fence repairs, replacing drinking fountains, etc.), tool and equipment repair, and utilities (water, electrical and sewer). Water costs are increasing 8% each year in this budget cycle. Staff are exploring ways to convert decorative grass areas to drought tolerant landscape to reduce overall water usage and subsequently reduce costs.
The Recreation Fund 280 is a special revenue fund that is separate from the General Fund and includes the Mastick Senior Center Division and Recreation Division. In FY 2019-20, a total of $2,479,000 is being transferred from the General Fund into the Recreation Fund 280. The purpose of this transfer is to offset costs for progra...
Click here for full text