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HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks And Recreation Board - Minutes - 09/25/1991CITY OF FORT COLLINS CULTURAL, LIBRARY, AND RECREATIONAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MINUTES: Regular Meeting -- September 25, 1991 President Bob McCluskey called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Board Members John Barnett and Mary Ness, and Poudre R-1 Representative Dave Danielson called to report they would not be able to attend tonight's meeting. Agenda Review: Staff added two items to the printed agenda -- 1991 Colorado Parks and Recreation Association Torch Award and viewing of a video tape titled "Poudre River Corridor". Minutes: The minutes of the regular meeting of July 28, 1991 and the special meeting of August 5, 1991 were unanimously approved on a motion by Bob Alexander and seconded by Roger Tarum. Citizen Participation: No citizen participation. Election of Board Officers The Board By-laws state election of officers shall be the first item of business at the regular September meeting. Bob McCluskey was elected president; Roger Tarum was elected vice president; and K-Lynn Cameron was elected secretary. All were unanimously elected to office. 1991 Colorado Parks and Recreation Association's Torch Award Mike Powers was presented the Special Olympics Torch Award at the annual Colorado Parks and Recreation Association's Awards ceremony in Winter Park last week. Mike said that this award was received by our department because of three Recreation Supervisors Terry Keith, Suzy Danford, and Mike McDonnell, who have been a tremendous support of the Colorado Special Olympics. Review of GID #1 (Downtown) Renovation Plan Parks Manager Virgil Taylor reviewed this project with the Board. He introduced Dave Lingle from the Architectural Firm of Aller-Lingle, and Chuck Ainsworth, Park Project Analyst. A report on the project was distributed to Board members earlier this week. The bonds for this General Improvement District (GID) will mature in 1996. There is enough money in this fund for City Council to direct staff to pay off these bonds next year. The City developed a task force last year to review the downtown plan and make recommendations to Council prior to the maturity of these bonds. The architectural firm of Aller-Lingle was hired to assist staff in this project. After review of the plan, the Board, on a motion by Roger Tarum, seconded by K-Lynn Cameron voted 5-1-1 to recommend to Council that they consider continuing the GID for the downtown area before they take action to pay off the bonds prior to 1996 and to continue the mill levy. The Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 25, 1991 Page 2 Board would like to go on record that they are concerned about funding for maintenance in the downtown area. Bob McCluskey abstained from voting because he is a property owner in the downtown area and therefore would have a conflict of interest if he voted. Elery Wilmarth voted no because he wanted to review the financial plan for the project before voting. Review. Approval. and Recommendation of the 1992 Recreation Fees and Charges Mike Powers addressed the Board on this issue. In the Board's packet was a listing of the 1992 Recreation Fees and Charges. As the Board recalls, the Recreation Fee Policy was adopted by Council in 1990. The policy is designed to equitably distribute the cost of Recreation between fees users' pay and general tax support. In some programs, participants are charged significantly more than the cost of the program. These "profits" are used to subsidize the cost of programs for seniors, disabled, and low income. In addition, these "profits" fund a portion of the administrative costs. The intent of the policy is to shift the cost of the subsidized programs to the General Fund and to reduce fees to an appropriate level. The Recreation Fee Policy was to be implemented over a four-year period -- 1991 through 1994. The first year funding of the policy covered the cost of inflation in the fund. Fees were frozen at 1990 levels. Year two of the policy (1992) would cost the General Fund an additional $242,919. This additional money would establish a low-income scholarship fund ($33,632), a minor maintenance reserve,($39,018), and begin to lower fees in programs where charges significantly exceed their costs ($170,269). Year two funding for the policy is not included in the recommended budget. Without Year two funding of the policy, staff must recommend fee increases in 15 program areas. Council will consider these increases in October. In addition, Recreation has begun to experience revenue shortfalls. In 1991, we are projecting a shortfall of $114,000. We have reduced expenditures to handle this shortfall. For the 1992 budget, we have reduced our revenue projections by $147,330 from our 1991 expected revenue figure. We believe the shortfalls are attributable to an economy that makes people cautious in how they spend their discretionary dollars and because we are over priced in some areas due to historical fee increases. The revenue reduction for 1992 produces cuts in many areas in the Recreation budget. The most sensitive of these cuts are closure of the Rolland Moore Racquet Complex office, the reduction of hours at Northside Aztlan Center, and the Community Pool, and the elimination of all minor maintenance money. When staff discussed the Recreation Fee Policy with the Council in 1990, we presented data that identified that we were losing participants in our higher "profit" programs. In 1991 and 1992 we have continued to lose participants and this has resulted in lower revenue growth. We anticipated that with the implementation of the Recreation Fee Policy, we will return to a stable participant base as fees are lowered. Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 25, 1991 Page 3 Bob McCluskey said that he spoke to Mary Ness today and Mary is very concerned with the increase in fees for 1992. Bob McCluskey agrees with Marv. After much discussion, on a motion by Bob McCluskey, seconded by Roger Tarum, the Board voted unanimously (7-0) to reject the Recreation Fees and Charges as submitted by staff to the Board tonight. Instead, the Parks and Recreation Board recommends that City Council fund Year 2 of the Recreation Fee Policy, and hold off funding of new projects until this policy is implemented. Recreation Low Income Policv Mike Powers introduced Peggy Bowers and Steve Budner, of Recreation who have been working on the budget issues and are part of a team reviewing the Low Income Policy. The City does not have a formal reduced fee policy to assist persons who are unable to pay full fees for Recreation services. Therefore, through the Quality Improvement Process a "Fee for All" team was formed. They have studied this issue and their recommendations were presented to the Board for their review. Marilyn Barnes questioned the senior discounts. She feels there should not be lower fees simply because of someone's age. The low income policy may be more relevant to single parents raising children by themselves than to seniors who can afford to pay. Roger Tarum asked if staff markets the low income fees? Steve said that we do not because we cannot afford to increase the usage of this program without a scholarship reserve fund. Bob McCluskey questioned the section in the report where low income participants felt they were treated differently. Karen Schubert responded to that question. She said that as a softball coach for the Pony Tail program that the policy now is that when a coach received his/her list of players there is no indication on the roster if a child paid or did not pay for this program. Punch passes are now printed all the same color so that there is no differential between low income and full paying customers. After much discussion, Karen Schubert commended staff for addressing this issue. This policy is much needed and she would like to see it implemented. On a motion by Karen Schubert, seconded by Bob Alexander, the Board voted 6-1 to approve the low income fee draft policy as submitted to the Board tonight and would like to see it in final form. Elery Wilmarth opposed because he feels that the adoption of this policy without the Year 2 funding of the Recreation Policy would create an expectation that cannot be met. Appointment of Senior Center Building Team Representative Replacing Rene' Clements Cooney Since Rene' has accepted a position on the Planning and Zoning Board, her position on the Senior Center Building Team has also been terminated. Bob Alexander has volunteered to take her place on the Building Team as the representative for the Parks and Recreation Board. The meeting was adjourned at 9:05 p.m. fully submi AdminisAative Aide II Parks and Recreation Board Minutes September 25, 1991 Page 4 Meetina Attendance Board Members Staff Guests Bob McCluskey Mike Powers Dave Lingle Bob Alexander Jerry P. Brown Marilyn Barnes Virgil Taylor K-Lynn Cameron Chuck Ainsworth Karen Schubert Peggy Bowers Roger Tarum Steve Budner Elery Wilmarth Brenda Honeycutt, Intern Jackie Rael