Fiscal Sustainability CommitteeCity Services Subcommittee

Presented by Paul D. Butcher, Director

March 13, 2009

Parks, Recreation and Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services DepartmentCultural Services Department

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General Fund Eliminated or Transferred Positions = 45.75

2008 Budget = $19.9M2009 Budget = $15.3 M (23% reduction)

‘08 Gen Fund Budget = $1,537,022 Revised ‘09 Gen Fund = $938,512 (39% dec)

‘08 FTE = 12 Revised ‘09 FTE = 10 (17% dec)

2009 Impacts:

Eliminate 1 position and freeze 1 position

Eliminate 4th of July symphony and 58 other

summer concerts

Eliminate seasonal funding

Recruitment of volunteers to backfill

eliminated positions and funding for projects

throughout the Dept

Provide legal, financial and human resources support to the operating divisions as well as manages several internal and external programs.

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*Current volunteer program = 6,111 volunteers and 145,480 hours

‘08 Gen Fund Budget = $507,293 Revised ‘09 Gen Fund = $374,727 (26% dec)

‘08 FTE = 7.0 Revised ‘09 FTE = 4.5 (36% dec)

2009 Impacts:

Eliminate park development/ construction

Eliminate playground repair/renovation

Eliminate trail repair/renovation

50% reduction in capacity to manage

projects

Reduce TOPS meetings to one per month

Provide comprehensive planning and construction management services for parks, trails, open space and recreation facilities.

2009 Changes to TOPS:

One-time transfer from TOPS of

$1,194,441 to the General Fund

to cover maintenance costs for

TOPS projects previously funded

by the General Fund

Partnerships – see list

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‘08 Gen Fund Budget = $1,359,777 Revised ‘09 Gen Fund = $1,148,736 (16% dec)

‘08 FTE = 15.5 Revised ‘09 FTE = 10 (35% dec)

2009 Impacts:

Eliminate/freeze 5.5 positions

Reduce hours at the Pioneers Museum,

Starsmore Discover Center, and Helen

Hunt Falls Visitor Center

Reduce programming and exhibits at

affected sites

Develop and implement programs that preserve and interpret the culture and natural history of the Pikes Peak Region.

Partnerships:

RLR Living History Association

Friends of NCC

Friends of Pioneers Museum

Garden of the Gods Foundation

Friends of Garden of the Gods

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‘08 Gen Fund Budget = $1,342,157 Revised ‘09 Gen Fund = $956,304 (29% dec)

‘08 FTE = 16 Revised ‘09 FTE = 15 (6% dec)

2009 Impacts:

Eliminate contract funds for street tree pruning

($207,500)

Increase length of pruning cycle to 25+ years

(national standard = 8 to 10 years)

Increase response times for citizen work

requests (2008 requests for service = 6,938)

Decrease number of trees planted due to

reduced funding

Responsible for overall management of the urban forest and wildland/urban interface.

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*Urban Forest = 129,000 trees

‘08 Gen Fund Budget = $7,652,677 Revised ‘09 Gen Fund = $4,328,748 (43% dec)‘08 GF FTE = 83.4 Revised ‘09 GF FTE = 53.4 (36% dec)

‘08 Lottery Budget = $1,302,000 Revised ‘09 Lottery = $3,424,457 (263% inc)‘08 Lottery FTE = 4 Revised ‘09 Lottery FTE = 29 (725% inc)

2009 Impacts:

Absorb 41% water rate increase

Eliminate seasonal staff

Irrigate at 31% of recommended level

Close 35% of permanent restrooms

Eliminate 90% of port-a-johns

Reduce repair/renovation system wide to

$56,060 ($3.49/acre)

Maintain open space, parks, trails, medians, athletic fields, and facilities.

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*Acreage = 16,052 (includes lands managed for others)

‘08 Gen Fund Budget = $7,510,423 Revised ‘09 Gen Fund = $7,295,393 (3% dec)

’08 FTE = 50.25 Revised ‘09 FTE = 45.5 (9% dec)

2009 Impacts:

Eliminate neighborhood block parties (30)

Reduce pool hours of operation

Reduce Human Services Complex (HSC)

fund balance by 1/3 ($275K) – one time

funding for the Senior Center

Increase fees for select sports programs

and facilities

Close Julie Penrose Fountain in ATB Park *Facilities = 16

Provide a myriad of recreation programs, human services, and special events to the community.

Partnerships (examples):

Council of the Blind

American Youth Soccer

Organization

School District #11 Middle

Schools

Golden Circle Nutrition

See partnership list

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With El Paso County:

Trail Maintenance

Interpretive services associated with

Nature and Visitor Centers

Co-locate regional trails facility

Current Contracts:

Janitorial

Mowing

Fence Repair/Installation

Broadleaf Spraying

Fertilizer Distribution

US Tennis Federation*

YMCA Military Families*

*Funding eliminated for 2009

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Potential Contracts:

Sertich Ice Center

Aquatics Facilities

2 recreation centers

5 outdoor pools

Adult Sports Programming

6 programs (Softball, Volleyball,

Football, Basketball, Dodgeball,

and Kickball)

Helen Hunt Falls and Starsmore

Discovery Center

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Efficiencies:

Reduction of irrigated turf in

new park design

De-turfing

Land venture with Pikes

Peak Library District and

the YMCA

Innovations:

Sale of carbon credits on local/

national basis

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Areas for Concern:

Green infrastructure – the lack of water will result in significant loss of turf

throughout the system – estimated cost to bring back an acre of turf is $10K

Urban forest – as the pruning cycle increases, trees will experience greater

disease and storm damage, weakening the overall urban forest

Park System Repair – reduction from annual expenses of $800,000 to

$56,060 will result in removal/closure of facilities

Open space – without development and management, open space areas will

deteriorate

Employees – as staffing is reduced, employees are required to do more with

less which may lead to legal, financial and safety issues

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The Department will have:

Less TOPS and Lottery Funds available for development due to maintenance

requirements

Increasing urban forest safety issues due to hazard and diseased trees

No new community parks, athletic complexes or senior centers

No new neighborhood parks (other than those provided through metro districts)

Increased vandalism due to overall deterioration of the park system (the “broken

window” syndrome)

The community’s perception that quality of life has decreased (i.e. Uncle Wilber)

An increased reliance on citizens to perform basic maintenance functions

Potential for the creation of a regional special district