HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - December 19, 2017 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL
SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2017
A. Roll Call by City Clerk
An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday,
December 19, 2017, commencing at 7:01 a.m.
Present: Council Member Chandler, Council Member Johnson, Council Member Kuehne, and Mayor
Pro Tempore Mounce
Absent: Mayor Nakanishi
Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Ferraiolo
B. Topic(s)
B-1 Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Annual Update (PRCS)
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director Jeff Hood provided a PowerPoint presentation
regarding the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (PRCS) Fiscal Year 2016/17 report. Specific
topics of discussion included achievements, revenue, expenditures, net revenue, fund balance history,
keys to revenue, keys to expense control, savings directed to capital, capital spending trend,
participation report, challenges, and path forward.
In response to Council Member Johnson, Mr. Hood stated the increase in aquatics revenue can be
attributed to increased use at the Lodi Lake beach due to efforts of staff to keep the area clean of goose
droppings, as well as increased use at Blakely Park; however, the numbers at Hutchins Street Square
have changed very little.
In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce, Mr. Hood stated there has been a minimal increase in
revenue at the Grape Bowl. The largest customer is the school district and there are more outside
soccer groups playing in winter and spring, as well as a semi-professional adult football team that rents
the facility roughly five times in spring. Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce pointed out that Community
Development Block Grant funding for the east side was diverted to improve the Grape Bowl; however,
she was uncertain how many area residents actually utilize the facility. She questioned what the
expanded use and income is for the facility, to which Mr. Hood stated that it is not enough to make up
for the costs to enhance the site, but it is starting to head in the right direction, adding there is some
money set aside for repairs at the Grape Bowl. Mr. Schwabauer stated the significant issue with the
Grape Bowl is the negative income, particularly because the facility was not Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) compliant and a subsequent lawsuit. The City is experiencing greater success in dealing with
the facility now that many of the ADA issues have been resolved. City Attorney Magdich explained that
the facility has been judged by the court to be ADA program-compliant. The Grape Bowl is not
completely done as the north side is still not compliant; however, Parks and Recreation is working with
Public Works to develop paths of travel that can be accomplished with the least amount of money to
bring it into compliance. Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce expressed her appreciation that staff has been
tracking and setting aside funding for replacement of the artificial turf, because she expressed concerns
about it when it was first installed. Mr. Hood stated that Parks and Recreation staff were complimented
by field experts that Lodi's turf at the Grape Bowl is the best-maintained they have seen and it will have
a longer useful life than most because of it.
Council Member Johnson requested an update on where the City stands on the appraisal of the
properties Council discussed recently, some of which are park properties. Mr. Schwabauer stated there
is a Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI) appraiser currently assessing the properties and it is an
industry practice to utilize MAI appraisers for these types of appraisals. Council Member Johnson
stated it is taking a long time to complete these appraisals when most of the properties are bare land
and less complex than sites with buildings and structures. Mr. Schwabauer stated he estimates the
appraisals will be completed at the beginning of the year, and Ms. Magdich added that MAI appraisals
typically take three to four months, but staff will look into the matter and provide an update.
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Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce questioned the status of utilizing Lawrence Park as a police canine
training location, to which Mr. Hood responded that Council previously rejected the idea, but he could
bring the matter back if Council so desires. Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce stated that something needs to
be done at the park because the homeless are destroying it.
Council Member Johnson suggested expanding the contract with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) to
handle light maintenance inside various facilities. Mr. Hood stated that UCP has a crew of five or six
members and the hourly fee is $68, which may be more costly than part-time workers. He added the
Department utilizes volunteers looking for service hours and the new Facilities Supervisor is currently
building a team of both skilled and advanced-level workers.
Myrna Wetzel expressed concern regarding the current condition of Candy Cane Park, stating that
former Parks Superintendent Steve Dutra put plans in motion to re-design the park utilizing volunteer
materials, labor, and donations; however, there has been no movement at the park since his retirement.
She stated there is interest among area residents to utilize the park because there are a number of
families with small children in the neighborhood, but the current equipment offers only two swings for
older children, the bark is overgrown with grass, there are no restrooms, the water fountain is poor, and
several trees have died. She believes Candy Cane Park is vital to the neighborhood and that children
will use it if adequate equipment is installed. Further, Ms. Wetzel pointed out the curbs surrounding the
park lack handicap ramps and there is a handicapped individual who lives near the park and cannot use
the curbs. Mr. Dutra had informed her the ramps could potentially be corrected as part of a package
deal to improve the park, yet no work has commenced on either project.
Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce stated her understanding is that the City must accommodate a request for
ADA improvements once it is reported by a handicapped individual. Mr. Schwabauer responded that it
depends on the situation and what the correction is. The City does not have the budgetary capacity to
make the entire city ADA compliant, but the reported location would be added to the ADA Transition
Plan. Public Works has been proactive by adding many requests to its budget to complete paths of
travel or improve sidewalks based on citizen complaints. He stated that Public Works will look into the
area surrounding Candy Cane Park. Mr. Hood stated the bottom line is that it comes down to money
and the cost of equipment far exceeds what volunteer assistance and donations can provide. The
proposed Measure R on the 2016 ballot included improvements to Candy Cane Park; however, the
measure failed. Since then, Council approved applying the money set aside for Candy Cane Park to
replace the Salas Park restroom roof due to its dangerous condition. With regard to the lack of
handicap ramps around Candy Cane Park, Mr. Hood stated there is a storm drain there as well that
would need to be relocated as part of the ramp project. He confirmed that the Candy Cane Park
improvements are currently included in the ADA Transition Plan.
C. Comments by Public on Non-Agenda Items
None.
D. Adjournment
No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 a.m.
ATTEST:
Jennifer M. Ferraiolo
City Clerk
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PRCS FY 2016/17
report
City Council
December 19, 2017
Year of Achievements
•Repaired roofs at HSS, Hale, Salas ($128,239)
•New beach sand at Lodi Lake ($15,500)
o Donated labor by A.M. Stephens
•New floor at HSS Holz Room ($18,000)
•Began trail/lot work at DeBenedetti
•Successful application for Blakely Park
renovations
•State grant worth $883,000
•Created/filled new Deputy Director position
•5th consecutive year of positive net revenue
Fiscal Year numbers
PRCS fund balance history
($1,000,000)
($800,000)
($600,000)
($400,000)
($200,000)
$0
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17
Keys to revenue
•Overachievers
o Hutchins Street Square rentals $378,074,
2% over budget
o Parks rentals $131,038, 22% over budget
o Aquatics $87,285, 16% over budget
•Underperformers
o Theater $94,280, 31% under budget
o Adult sports $34,067, 37% under budget
Keys to expense control
•Personnel
o $310,066 below budget on personnel-
related expenses
•Two-thirds of that savings on Deputy
Director position
•$100,659 below budget on PT pay
Savings directed to capital
•Fund balance expenditure on Wednesday agenda
•Most are one-time expenses
o Boost contract services
•HVAC repairs at HSS
•Flooring at HSS
•Fire damage at Legion Park
•Tree work
•Emerson Park paver repairs
o Parks supply inventory
•Fibar
•Skate Park ramp material
•Restroom fixtures at Kofu Park
•Marketing/graphic design PT position ($18,000)
Capital spending trend
$0
$100,000
$200,000
$300,000
$400,000
$500,000
$600,000
$700,000
$800,000
$900,000
FY 2009/10 FY 2010/11 FY 2011/12 FY 2012/13 FY 2013/14 FY 2014/15 FY 2015/16 FY 2016/17
Other
Grape Bowl
Participation report
•3% increase in participation in FY 16/17
o Program participants 122,441
o Youth/adult sports down 8%
o After-school/camps up 10%
o Specialty classes up 10%
Challenges
•Full-time staffing at 1970 levels
•Aging facilities/parks
•Lack of indoor space
•Vandalism/transient issues
Path forward
Short-term
•Staff’s ability to adapt to changing times
•Follow Strategic Plan recommendations
•Leverage savings into capital expenditures
Long-term
•Additional funding needed for
o Maintenance/repairs/replacement
•Program revenue insufficient to meet need
•New parks added to inventory
o Backfill staffing