07-17-03 Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts & Entertainment

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f I Gommttt a ort marks, Zama-ion, tulturat Rrts anb enttrtatnm nt commttt The July 17, 2003 meeting of the Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts and Entertainment Committee was called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Sean Coleman at 4:04 p.m. in the Council Informal Meeting Room. Persons in attendance included Council Members Aranowski, Coleman, Kelly, and Kuspa; City Park Superintendent Phil St. Clair, Fiscal Officer Bill Carleton and Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand. Council Member Coleman stated that the members of the Parks, Recreation, Cultural Arts and Entertainment Committee include Council Members Aranowski,Kuspa,King and himself. Council Member Coleman noted that the Committee meeting was called to continue discussion on the proposed 21st Century Parks Capital Improvement Initiative which was discussed at the July 14, 2003 Committee meeting. He asked the Park Superintendent and Fiscal Officer to provide more specific information to the Committee so that discussion could take place with the Mayor being contacted at a later date. Park Superintendent Phil St. Clair noted that he and his staff have been working on their budget for 2004, therefore the information provided today should be considered a work in progress. He then provided various handouts to the Committee. The first handout was a one-page sheet entitled " South Bend Parks&Recreation Department Annual Lease Payment Schedule",and noted that the 2003 lease payments total $ 228,359.00 ( copy attached). The second handout was a one-page document giving a ten(10) year history of actual revenues and expenditures, noting that there have been "some good years and some not so good years" (copy attached). The third handout was a one-page document entitled "Fund 405 - Park Nonreverting Capital Funds Available for 2002" (copy attached). The fourth handout was a one-page sheet entitled "Major Capital Improvement Items" totaling $ 24,300,000 which would be addressed in greater detail in the Park Department Master Plan which is to be completed later this year(copy attached). The fifth handout was a one- page sheet entitled"Funding Alternatives"listing three(3) basic options for$ 12 million. Mr. St. Clair noted that they were looking for items with long term benefits and some items which could generate revenue through user fees. He suggested that a good mix of new items and maintenance items would be best. Council Member Coleman noted that the Belleville/O'Brien leases roll off in three years, thereby creating a"windfall". Council Member Aranowski noted that there would have to be a commitment from the City Administration for the next several years in order to move forward. He then inquired as to what areas would be earmarked for fee increases, stressing that the manner of selling such increases would be extremely important. Mr. St. Clair stated that increases are warranted in the golf area, however there would be resistance from the public. He also suggested increases in the softball fee area. Council Member Coleman then handout out a two-page "Survey" (copy attached) which he noted was conducted of some of the people who attended this year's Summer in the City festival. Council Member Kelly noted that it was a"dirty survey"with limited quantitative value.