City of Santa Rosa

1. City of Santa Rosa Fiscal Year 2008/09 Budget Overview Recreation & Parks

2. Recreation & Parks Budget Summary • The Budget Team is responsible for preparing this slide. This slide will give a large scale overview of the department’s actual budget (numbers). • It will differentiate between CIP and the GF and other funds as needed.

3. Recreation & Parks Budget Changes • The Budget Team is responsible for preparing this slide. It will show the $ amount changes for salary and benefits and other important areas if needed.

4. Recreation & Parks Department

5. FY 2007/08 Accomplishments • Business & Strategic Action Plan (BSAP) • Council adopted BSAP May 2008 • Set the stage for: • General Plan Amendment • Funding Strategy (part of overall economic stabilization) • Ongoing organizational adjustments • Gang Prevention & Intervention • 12-month evaluation report on CHOICE grant programs • 94% of grantees met or exceeded children and youth satisfaction goal • 88% met parent satisfaction goal • Recognized as element of All America City award • Participation in statewide 13-cities collaboration • Santa Rosa used as model for other cities that want to start programs

6. FY 2007/08 Accomplishments • Facilities Operation • Howarth “Best Park” and Camp Wa-Tam “Best Camp” 2nd year in a row • “Parents’ Journal” and “Bohemian” newspaper • Opened new facilities at Bennett Valley Golf Course • Green fee revenue up 13% in 07-08 • New restaurant will generate approximately $66K for six months of operation • LEED certified facility at Silver level • Parks • Project Progress • Nagasawa Community Park at Fountaingrove • Prince Gateway Park • A Place to Play • Pilot program initiated to develop electronic street tree inventory and automated tree service request and scheduling system • As recommended by BSAP, hired seasonal maintenance workforce to augment regular staffing

7. FY 2007/08 Accomplishments • Partnerships • Fundraising partnership with Seniors, Inc.; within $3M of funds needed to construct Senior Wing • Parks volunteers contributed 3000 hours of volunteer service through March, 2008 valued at more than $45,000 • LandPaths providing access to Bayer Farm property and implementing community garden program on site in Roseland • LBH&G garden volunteers shouldered increased responsibilities associated with loss of Garden Curator • Park Watch, Adopt-a-Green Space, Adopt-a-Park programs • Redwood Live Steamers • Arts Program • Completed Arts District Business Plan • Increased arts and cultural offerings in Downtown Arts District by 75% since July 2007 • Boback Emad sculpture dedication and unveiling on June 28th

8. FY 2008/09 Objectives • Implement Department Business & Strategic Action Plan • Establish priorities and timeline; develop annual report • General Plan Amendment • Create flexibility in General Plan • Funding • Increase Park Development Fees and phase implementation • Address budget/economic challenges • Acquire grants to fund parkland purchases • Seek additional funding streams for park and facility operations and maintenance • Organizational adjustments • Implement Arts District Strategic Plan

9. FY 2008/09 Objectives • Contribute to Council goals • Open Space & Recreation • Regional Gang Prevention/Intervention • Implement MGPTF Strategic Plan • Services to Youth & Seniors • Support Luther Burbank Home & Gardens’ efforts to develop 501(c)(3) • Develop water conservation plan and other approaches to water budget increases

10. Budget Highlights • Changing marketing strategy • Shifting resources internally to align staffing with revenue generation needs • Reorganizing Park Maintenance to add seasonal workforce • Making fee adjustments • Continuing partnerships to extend resources and provide services to the community • Finding wherewithal to continue Arts District effort past the expenditure of seed money from EDH

11. Reductions: Cut 3.75 FTE Burbank, Sports, Steele Lane Operations, Fee-Based After School Classes, Prop 49 funded after-school programs Service Impacts: Reduced facility maintenance and logistical support to recreation programmers Reduction in service hours at SLCC Facility will be open when program revenue is sufficient to cover operating costs At Burbank, increased reliance on garden volunteers and loss of onsite expertise Reduced range of youth and adult sports program offerings Reduced recreation programming at some schools formerly funded by Prop 49 – new focus more academic Recreation & Parks General Fund Budget Reductions and Impacts

12. Reductions: Shifting staff charges to capital projects, special maintenance funds and special tax districts Service Impacts: Project charges provide short-term relief to General Fund salary and benefit obligations, but not sustainable long-term funding for regular staff Staff diverted from regular maintenance assignments Special tax district charge-outs provide long-term, sustainable funding mechanism for limited services Back-on Maintenance and Tree Mitigation funds rapidly depleting; additional resources critical to continued ability to provide covered services Recreation & Parks General Fund Budget Reductions and Impacts

13. Reductions: Reduced services and supplies and project requests Service Impacts: Fewer temporary staff and contract instructors hired to provide sports and recreation facility programming Reduced funding for public school gym rentals, program operating supplies, equipment maintenance and repair Less funding for critical supplies, e.g., fertilizer, garbage bags, restroom supplies, graffiti remover, weed control supplies, Tree Crew saddles and ropes May not fertilize as often or replace ball field bases, lights, or basketball and tennis nets as often Recreation & Parks General Fund Budget Reductions and Impacts

14. Reductions: Restructured staffing in Aquatics Reduced budget for temp staff salaries Service Impacts: Reduced expertise available to handle pool emergencies (e.g., equipment failures) resulting in more unscheduled pool closures Reduction in days/hours of after-school recreation programs in Neighborhood Services Recreation & Parks General Fund Budget Reductions and Impacts

15. Reductions: Increased recreation program revenue Proposed recreation fee increases Service Impacts: Currently at capacity – unlikely we can add new programs or responsibilities without eliminating others Future budget reductions likely to require facility closures and significant service reductions Fee increases impact who can afford recreation Will have to carefully monitor attendance to determine if market will support changes Actively soliciting scholarship donations to assist low-income patrons Some families may be priced out of participation Recreation & Parks General Fund Budget Reductions and Impacts

16. Future Challenges • Existing facilities at capacity • Community expectations for new facilities and programs high, exceeding current financial capabilities • Operations and maintenance funding is insufficient • Revenue source needed to fund rehabilitation and deferred maintenance (top community priority) • $3,000,000 needed annually • Park development fee increases needed for new park and facility development • Staff funding for tree services and back-on maintenance depleting • Approximately 18 months remaining in special funds • Succession planning and employee development

17. Future Challenges • If graded, Community Parks rated “C” and Neighborhood Parks “D” • Concern that additional cuts in maintenance funding will reduce maintenance in most neighborhood parks and some community parks • Watering lawns will be reserved for athletic fields • Some restrooms will be closed and locked and maintenance including litter removal, graffiti abatement, mowing and edging lawns will be severely cut back in all parks • Keeping our parks safe, clean and well-maintained will become increasingly difficult • Working to develop alternative funding source