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Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission (View All)

Parks Commission Special Meeting Minutes

Agenda
Tuesday, May 15, 2007

City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

 

SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES

 

May 15, 2007

ATTENDANCE

Present:        Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas, Rosenthal; City Council Liaison Navickas; Director Robertson; Superintendents Gies and Teige

Absent:          None

CALL TO ORDER

Eggers called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. at the Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer Street.

PROPOSED BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS

Robertson reported that, based on the results from the April 30 Budget Committee meeting and the May 10 Parks Commission study session, it was necessary to provide the Budget Committee with proposed budget reductions totaling approximately 5% at their May 17 meeting. He presented a proposed list of prioritized budget reductions and their impacts. Items included:

1.       Transfer $45,000 from Materials and Services to Youth Activities Levy (YAL)

§        Preserves the expenditure but reallocates based on YAL final year

2.       Transfer $48,000 from Parks personnel to YAL

§        Preserves the expenditure but reallocates based on YAL final year

3.       Eliminate Senior Program Specialist / Add $20,000 temporary employee

§        Impacts include loss of Senior City Utility Discount involvement, Heating Assistance Program involvement, reduced hours of operations at Senior Center. Would require City to restructure these programs.

§         Saves $30,000

4.       Eliminate $3,000 for Summer Outdoor Program (Siskiyou Field Institute)

5.       Eliminate $2,000 for contracted senior field trips with YMCA

6.       Remove $60,000 from Parks Materials and Services

§         Reduce non-native vegetation removal (Lithia Park and forest interface)

§         Reduce fuel reduction program (Lithia Park and forest interface)

§         Reduce park maintenance materials (all parks)

§         Saves $60,000

7.       Reduce Parks transfer to Capital budget by $20,000

§        Retains recreation van that was planned to be replaced by hybrid vehicle

8.       Reduce $5,000 from Golf budget

§       Eliminates $5,000 in capital improvements

9.       Eliminate $32,000 (100% of Parks funding) for CSO from Maintenance Materials and Services

§       Reduces graffiti removal program and skateboard / general park rule enforcement

10.   Eliminate $50,000 (50% of Parks funding) for CAP Officer Program

§        Reflects potential reduction in time spent with Park Patrol rule enforcement

11.   Remove Promotions Coordinator position / add back Admin Assistant position; remove Reception position / add back $30,000 to contracted services

§         Reduces capabilities for department-wide position

§         Eliminates a temporary employee

§         Restricts program capabilities of Nature Center

§         Saves $20,200

12.   Reduce Capital Improvements by $100,000

§        Reduces / delays construction of neighborhood parks

Robertson shared with the commission a draft memo prepared by staff. He requested feedback on the memo, stating that it would be presented by Eggers at the May 17 Budget Committee meeting, along with the proposed budget reductions list. Commissioners asked that the memo clearly state that any reductions to the budget would represent losses to vital services within the community, including funds for senior programs, policing, and Lithia Park/other park maintenance. Commissioners questioned long-term impacts of potential cuts and asked whether, once reduced or eliminated, the services could ever be restored.

Commissioners expressed frustration with the outcome of the April 30 budget meeting and commented that several councilors were absent.

Eggers disclosed that she met with Mayor Morrison and two city councilors (Hartzell and Hardesty) and the meetings were positive, with Hartzell speaking in support of the Parks budget and Hardesty requesting clarification about several budget issues.

Robertson spoke of the value and importance of a Parks Commission presence at the May 17 meeting and asked the commission to attend and provide their valuable perspective about budget reduction impacts.

Commissioners offered additional suggestions about the memo and the list of proposed budget reductions and agreed to attend the May 17 Budget Committee meeting and speak in support of items one and two.

MOTION Noraas moved to approve the list of proposed budget reductions, including their impacts, and to support items one and two only. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Eggers adjourned the meeting at 12:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation

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