Report Prepared by: Jennifer Arellano, Recreation Supervisor, Parks and Recreation
Title
SUBJECT: Measure Y Fund Allocation in the Amount of $206,525 for Recreation Programming and Park, Zoo, One Time Events and Youth Center Upgrades
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers how to allocate available Measure Y funds for various park, Zoo, and youth center maintenance and upgrades, one-time events, and new recreation programs.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the allocation of Measure Y funds in the amount of $206,525 for the proposed park, Zoo, and youth center maintenance projects, one-time events, and new recreation programming; and,
B. Allowing the Finance Officer to make the necessary budget adjustments for the unprogrammed funds of $206,525.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, as recommended by Commission; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by Commission/staff (identify specific finding and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2020-21 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
On June 5th, 2018 voters passed Measure Y, a cannabis business tax to maintain and improve Merced’s police, fire, and parks and recreation services. Measure Y provides a source of independent, locally-controlled revenue from the cannabis industry to improve these city resources. Revenue is broken down by the following: 20% for Police, 20% for Fire, and 20% for Parks and Recreation. The remaining 40% is discretionary to the City Council among Police, Fire, and/or Parks and Recreation.
At the City Council meeting on June 15, 2020 many community members expressed a strong desire to see more youth programming with the Measure Y funding. As a result, the City Council wanted to allocate the 40% discretionary amount collected to date to Parks and Recreation. Since some of the discretionary funding had already been allocated to Police and Fire, the City Council directed staff to backfill the amount from the Revenue Stabilization Fund. Below is the final Fiscal Year 2020-21 additional
budgeted funding for Parks and Recreation:
|
Revenue Source |
Allocation |
|
Measure Y |
$273,405 |
|
Revenue Stabilization |
140,196 |
|
Total Allocation |
$413,601 |
|
Expense |
Allocation |
|
General Fund Shortfall |
$179,996 |
|
Boys and Girls Club Summer Program |
20,000 |
|
City Summer Program |
7,080 |
|
Budgeted/Unprogrammed |
206,525 |
|
Total Allocation |
$413,601 |
At this time, there is $206,525 available to be disbursed and the allocation of the funding should be approved by the City Council. At the July 27th Recreation and Parks Commission meeting the commission discussed staff’s recommended budget that includes: one-time events that can safely be done during the Coronavirus pandemic, such as drive-in movies and other drive-thru events, and park and facility maintenance and upgrade projects.
After discussion, Commission approved a modified budget which included removing the McNamara playground upgrade project of $90,000 and reallocating $10,000 toward Sports Complex ballfield lights, shifting the stipends for the youth centers to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and utilizing the remaining $80,000 for youth programming, the details of which will be discussed at their next meeting on August 24th.
Both the staff and Commission budgets are attached for your discussion and review.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Funds are available within the adopted Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Community Surveys and Feedback
2. Measure Y Full Text
3. Proposed Measure Y Budgets
4. McNamara Concept Site Design
5. McNamara Playground Quote