HomeMy WebLinkAbout12.A. Parks and Recreation 2008 Staffing / g .
CITY OF SHAKOPEE
.MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor & City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
From: Jamie Polley, Director of Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources
Meeting Date: December 18, 2007
Subject: Parks and Recreation 2008 Staffing
Introduction
This item is a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to the
City Council to maintain the Parks and Recreation Department current staffing levels. for
FY-08.
Background
On December 4, 2007 the City Council approved the reprioritized CIP for 2008-2012.
The CIP will be reevaluated each year to reflect current revenue and expenses. In
addition to reviewing the 2008-2012 CIP the City Council wa§ asked to evaluate the
2008 funding of the Landscape Architect/Park Designer position. Council deferred this
decision to the meeting of December 18~'.
The Landscape Architect/Park Designer position is budgeted in the Recreation Fund.
The recreation fund revenue illustrated that 100% of the position's salary would be
brought back into the Recreation Fund from the Park Reserve Funds. Over time this
position was given additional tasks that fall within park development; and design but are
tasks that can not be charged to the Park Reserve. In 2005 and 2006 when
development was at a high only 50% of the Landscape Architect/Park Designer position
was charged to the Park Reserve fund.
The current budget proposal is to fund the position for six (ti) months, and is budgeted to
be funded 100% from the Park Reserve. Staff was directed to evaluate the Recreation
Fund and find the additional funding for the remaining six (8) months of 2008. At this
time, the Recreation fund is funding programming for the department. In looking at the
budget, we feel that perhaps $1b,000 from the recreation fund can be freed-up to fund
an additional three (3) months of the Landscape Architect/Park Designer position. The
additional funding needed to fund the position for the remaining'three (3) months
(October 1 through December 31, 2008) would need to come from the Recreation Fund-
fund balance, which at this time has approximately $400,000 in. it. '
Recommendation:
The parK reserve fund balance is lower than in years past due to recent construction
projects. However, the~funding described above is available to complete parka that are
currently being developed, complete schematic designs for future parks, update the park
signage, promote the park naming program, provide. expertise. on development reviews,
and assist with other city projects that would otherwise hire out for. landscaping
assistance. It Is beneficial to the City to have a Landscape Architect/Park Designer on
staff, not only monetarily, but also to ensure that we have a person who is familiar with
all aspects of the City and putting 100% into each project to provide the City with the
best parks, trails and open spaces.
The PRAB unanimously recommended providing funding for a full year of a Landscape
Architect/Park designer position
Relationship to Vlaionlna•
The supports Goals A "Active and Healthy Community", and Goal C "Great Place for
Kids to Grow Up"
Reauested Action
If the City Council concurs it should, by motion, authorize the funding of the Landscape
ArchitecUPark Designer position for a full year based on the anticipated 2008 work load
and authorize the additional three (3) months of funding to be allocated from the
Recreation Fund-fund balance, It should further pass a motion directing staff to prepare
a budget amendment for FY 2008 to accommodate this action. _
mie Polley
Director of Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources