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THE PATIENTS.WE NOW CALL THE FEBRUARY 5TH, 2026 PARK
[Dallas Park and Recreation Board on February 5, 2026.]
BOARD MEETING ORDER AT 10:48 AM UH, WE ARE GOING TO SKIP THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION, UM, BECAUSE OF THE AUDIO VISUAL PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD, UM, THAT WE'RE GONNA DO THAT AT A DIFFERENT PARK BOARD MEETING.SO THAT'S ON THE AGENDA, BUT I JUST LET YOU KNOW WE'RE GONNA SKIP THAT.
UM, ADAM, SECRETARY, ARE THERE ANY SPEAKERS? YES, WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC SPEAKER.
UM, LET ME READ THE SPEAKER GUIDELINES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
PLEASE DIRECT YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CHAIR.
UH, THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE BOARD, ONLY ANY SPEAKER WHO MAKES PERSONAL AND PERTINENT PROFANE OR SLANDEROUS REMARKS OR BECOMES OUS WHILE ADDRESSING THE PARK CLERK WILL BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY.
OUR FIRST SPEAKER IS VANESSA RUIZ.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE FIRST OF ALL.
SO, UH, MY CONCERNS ARE REGARDING THE SAFETY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT WINTER WILLIS PARKS DURING STUDENT USE.
THE SAFETY OF THE STUDENTS WHILE USING A PUBLIC PARK IS A SHARED PRIORITY AND MUST BE CLEARLY ADDRESSED THROUGH A FORMAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF THE PARK.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHEDULES A SCHEDULES OR SUPERVISES STUDENTS ACTIVITIES AT THE PUBLIC PARK, WHETHER DURING SCHOOL HOURS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ATHLETIC EVENTS, STUDENT PARKING, OR ORGANIZED INSTRUCTIONAL TIME, THE DISTRICT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE STUDENT SAFETY FOR THE DURATION OF THAT USE.
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PROVIDING ADEQUATE SUPERVISION, IMPLEMENTING REASONABLE SAFETY MEASURES, AND ENSURING THAT STUDENTS ARE PROTECTED FROM THE FORESEEABLE RISK.
THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO APPROPRIATE STAFF SUPERVISION, ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISHED SAFETY PROTOCOLS, COORDINATING WITH THE PARK AUTHORITIES, AND ENSURING THAT THE AREA BE USED IN A SUITABLE AND SECURE AND SUITABLE AND SECURE FOR THE STUDENT ACTIVITIES.
IF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT FAILS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SAFETY MEASURES OR SUPERVISION DURING THE STUDENT USE OF THE PARK, WOULD DISD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RESULTING INCIDENT INJURIES OR HARM? AS SUCH, FAILURE AS SUCH FAILURE BY DISD COULD EXPOSE THE DISTRICT TO LIABILITY, DISCIPLINARY REVIEWS OR CORRECTIVE ACTIONS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE AND SEVERITY OF THE INCIDENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WHAT REPERCUSSIONS WOULD DISD HAVE IF CONTINUED USE OF THE PARK WITHOUT INSURANCE, WITHOUT ENSURING PROPER STAFF AND SAFETY? WOULD DISD USE OF THE PARK BE SUSPENDED OR REEVALUATED UNTIL PROPER SAFETY STANDARDS ARE MET AND DOCUMENTED? YOUR COMMUNICATION DEFINES RULES AND CONSI AND CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT OF SAFETY.
EXPECTATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING OUR STUDENTS AND MAINTAINING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE PUBLIC SPACES ARE USED FOR SCHOOL RELATED PURPOSES.
THIS POLICY IS INTENDED TO PROMOTE STUDENT SAFETY, CLARITY OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY WHEN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES EXTEND BEYOND THE DISTRICT'S OWN PROPERTY.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR TAKING WITH US AND PATIENT.
I A QUICK MOMENT OF PRIVILEGE HONOR.
I WANNA THANK MS. RUIZ AND, AND OTHER PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN STEPPING UP, UH, RAISING THEIR VOICES DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
UH, THIS INCIDENT IS TRAGIC INCIDENT CARDIAC WILLIS WARNERS PARK TWO WEEKS AGO.
WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS THOROUGHLY AT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY, UH, BRIEFING LAST FRIDAY, WHICH MS. RUIZ ATTENDED.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ATTENDING.
WE HAVE SEVERAL UPCOMING MEETINGS.
UH, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS ALREADY.
WE'VE GOT A LARGE COMMUNITY FORUM AT WOODROW WILSON HIGH SCHOOL, UH, THIS TUESDAY, UH, FEBRUARY 10TH AT 5:30 PM THAT I ENCOURAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DIRECTOR JENKINS AND I HAVE BEEN IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION ABOUT THINGS THAT WE ARE GONNA DO DIFFERENTLY AND WE WILL BE RUNNING TOWARDS THIS PROBLEM, NOT AWAY FROM IT.
AND, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING BRAVE AND, AND COMING IN IN A DIFFICULT TIME AND, AND, AND SPEAKING TO US ABOUT THAT.
UH, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JANUARY 22ND VOTE BEING MR. MADANO? UH, SO MOVED.
UH, WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
WE MOVED ITEM NUMBER FOUR, UH, FROM, UH, UH, CONSENT TO, UM, INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION.
UM, SO ITEMS 1, 2, 3, AND, UH, AND 1, 2, 3, AND FIVE.
UM, HAVE A MOTION, MR. YOUNG, ANY OTHER, UH, SECOND MOTION I, MR. MADANO, UH, ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE FOUR ITEMS? ALL RIGHT.
UH, NUMBER FOUR IS, UM, A, UH, SUPPLEMENTAL AUTHORIZED
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SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT NUMBER FOUR TO THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK AGREEMENT WITH JE DUN RUSSELL.I JOINED VENTURE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR PART TWO FOR THE COMMON RENOVATION REGULATION AND ADDITION PROJECT LOCATED AT 37 50 AT THE MIDWAY IN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 678,960 $50 98 CENTS, INCREASING THE AGREEMENT AMOUNT FROM THE POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
CAN WE DO THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION? WE HAVE TO, WE'VE, IS THAT GONNA BE AT THE END? NO, WE'RE GONNA DO IT AT A DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT MEETING.
MR. JENKINS? YEAH, I SPOKE WITH MR. COSTA.
MARK, KNOW THAT I WAS LIKE, I, YEAH.
UM, TO EXCEED, UH, $678,963 AND 98 CENTS, INCREASING THE AGREEMENT AMOUNT FROM 118,000 $186 AND, UH, THAT IS A, OH, SORRY, 118 MILLION 186, UH, THOUSAND 867,000 HUNDRED $67 TO $118,865,830 98 CENTS FINANCING FAIR PARK REVENUE BONDS TO AGREED FUND.
UH, THIS WAS ALREADY CONSIDERED BY THE PLANNING DESIGN COMMITTEE THIS MORNING.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE? DO I HAVE A MOTION? MR. HUERTA? SECOND, MR. KAMI? UH, WE DON'T HAVE THE, UH, BOARDS TODAY, SO I WILL CALL ON PEOPLE AS PEOPLE'S HANDS COME UP.
SO ANY DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.
UH, LAST, UH, WE ARE GONNA HAVE, UH, NEXT WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE FISCAL 2025 BUDGET RECAP.
UM, AND SO, UM, MS. BARRY, AS THEY TAKE THEIR SEAT, JUST WANNA, UM, REMIND THE BOARD WE, WE WENT OVER A LOT OF THE BUDGET AT OUR RETREAT.
BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE STANDING UP, WE'RE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD ON A REGULAR BASIS, GIVING YOU ALL BUDGET UPDATES.
SO I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO MS. RACHEL BERRY AND MR. PATRICK FENNELL.
UM, SO COUPLE THINGS WE WANNA TALK ABOUT THIS MORNING.
WHILE WE ARE GOING TO DO, UM, HOW WE CLOSED OUT THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DOING, MOVING FORWARD, NOW THAT WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED FROM 24 25, OF COURSE NOW WE HAVE, UM, WE'LL HAVE THE 25 FROM THE SIX, WHICH ARE CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE ARE WORKING ON.
AND THEN WE ALSO WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING ON OUR NEW BUDGET KICKOFF.
AND IT STARTED, UM, JANUARY 29TH THIS YEAR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS THAT WE'LL BE DEVELOPING.
SO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION WHERE THE CITY SITS RIGHT NOW WITH THAT BUDGET KICKOFF.
AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW.
UM, BUT WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND START WITH HOW WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE OUR YEAR END.
AND NOW I'M GONNA HAND IT OVER TO MY BUDGET ADMINISTRATOR, PATRICK PINNELL.
UH, THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE, AND WE'LL DEFINITELY BE BRIEF WITH THIS BUDGET UPDATE.
AS DIRECTOR JENKINS WAS SAYING, SOME OF THIS INFORMATION WAS SHARED PREVIOUSLY AT OUR RETREAT.
AND WE'LL, UH, RUSH RIGHT THROUGH, UH, THE REPORT TODAY.
WE'LL GO TO OUR, UH, BUDGET VERSION OF EXPENSES.
THE SLIDE, THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS THE DEPARTMENT'S TOTAL ADOPTED BUDGET COMPARED TO THE YEAR END, ACTUAL FISCAL YEAR 24 25 OVERALL, SORRY.
OVERALL, EXPONENTIAL EXCEED THE ADOPTED BUDGET DRIVEN LARGELY BY PERSONNEL RELATED COSTS AND SEVERAL UNPLANNED OPERATIONAL NEEDS.
WHILE DIVISIONS REMAIN OPERATIONALLY STABLE, ITS VARIANCE HIGHLIGHTS THE STRUCTURAL PRESSURES WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE, PARTICULARLY IN STAFFING AND UNPLANNED EMERGENCY MAINTENANCE.
NOW THE TEAM IS COMMITTED TO CONTINUOUSLY WORKING TO BETTER ALIGN OUR BUDGETS WITH OUR HISTORICAL TRENDS AND OUR SPENDING PATTERNS FOR PREVIOUS YEARS.
THIS BREAKOUT IS THE SAME BUDGET IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE, BUT NOW INSTEAD OF THE DIVISIONAL BREAKDOWN, WE'RE BREAKING IT DOWN BY SPENDING CATEGORIES ON THE TOP ARE THE DEPARTMENT'S TOP EXPENDITURES, INCLUDING PARTNER STIPENDS, SYSTEMWIDE, SECURITY AT THAT TIME, FAIR PARK, UTILITIES, EMERGENCY REPAIRS, AND OVERTIME.
BUT THESE COSTS REFLECT BOTH CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND REACTIVE SPENDING TIED TO AGENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY NEEDS.
WHILE YOU ALSO SEE REIMBURSEMENTS BELOW RECEIVED FOR MAJOR EQUIPMENT PURCHASES AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS SUCH AS THE FIRE PARK, UTILITIES, AND NORTH HAVEN TRAIL, THESE REIMBURSE HELP OFFSET EXPENSES, BUT, BUT DO NOT FULLY ELIMINATE THE OVERAGES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH ON WITH OUR BUDGET VERSUS EXPENSES.
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THIS MOST OF YEAR VIEW SHOWS THAT, THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OPERATING UNDER CONSISTENT FINANCIAL PRESSURES FOR SEVERAL YEARS.THE ENCOURAGING NEWS IS THAT 24 25 SHOWS CLEAR IMPROVEMENT AND THAT IMPROVEMENT IS A RESULT OF INTENTIONAL DECISIONS, CLOSER MONITORING AND STRONGER BUDGET DISCIPLINE.
WE'RE NOT FULLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE YET, BUT WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
THIS SHOWS THE TRUE COST OF OPERATING WHILE NOTICING A GAP THAT IS STABILIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AS YOU RECEIVE FURTHER ON IN THE PRESENTATION.
A SALARY AND OVERTIME COST IMPACT SUMMARY PERSONNEL COSTS REMAIN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BUDGET DRIVER.
THE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYS A MIX OF FULL-TIME, PART-TIME SEASONAL AND TEMPORARY STAFF.
DUE TO THE NATURE OF RECREATION AND AQUATIC PROGRAMMING, THE NET PERSONNEL OVERAGE OF APPROXIMATELY 4.4 MILLION REFLECTS OVERTIME DEMANDS, SEASONAL COVERAGE NEEDS, AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE LEVELS THAT EXCEED EXISTING BUDGET CAPACITY.
EACH YEAR WE HAVE OUR DEPARTMENTAL VACANCY SAVINGS REVIEWED BASED ON HIRING TRENDS AND SALARIES.
AND THE ATTRIBUTED VACANT SAVINGS TO THE DEPARTMENT LAST FISCAL YEAR WAS 3.6 MILLION.
SO WHAT THIS SLIDE, UM, IS GONNA REFER TO AS OUR PROJECTED REVENUE VERSUS OUR REVENUE RECEIVED FOR THE LAST THREE PHYSICAL YEARS.
REVENUE PERFORMANCE HAS GENERALLY BEEN STRONG, PARTICULARLY IN GOLF, AQUATICS, ACTUAL FLUCTUATES, ACTUAL COLLECTIONS FLUCTUATE BASED ON PARTICIPATION LEVELS, WEATHER AND PROGRAM CAPACITIES.
THESE TRENDS REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF ALIGNING STAFFING PROGRAM AND REVENUE ASSUMPTIONS MORE CLOSELY.
IN OUR NEXT SLIDE, OUR 20 24 25 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES REVENUE SUMMARY WITH THIS SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS IS HOW DEPARTMENTAL REVENUES SUPPORT SERVICE DELIVERY.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ALLOW US TO ENHANCE PROGRAM QUALITY, EXPAND PARTICIPATION, AND ULTIMATELY GENERATE MORE REVENUE.
HOWEVER, INCREASED PROGRAMMING OFTEN REQUIRES ADDITIONAL STAFFING, WHICH MUST BE CAREFULLY BALANCED AGAINST PERSONNEL BUDGET LIMITS.
THESE ARE THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT TO APPROACH A BALANCED BUDGET EACH PHYSICAL YEAR.
AND I'M TURNING IT BACK OVER TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RACHEL BARRY, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND EXPLAIN WHAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW BOARD MEMBERS, EVEN EXISTING BOARD MEMBERS.
WHAT IS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES? SO WHAT OUR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES IS, IS THE, UH, PORTION OF THE COLLECTIVE REVENUE THAT GOES INTO OUR MULTI-YEAR FUNDS, WHICH ULTIMATELY HELPS US TO BALANCE OUR, OUR BUDGET AT THE END OF EACH PHYSICAL YEAR.
OUR, UM, ADDITIONAL REVENUES HELP CLOSE THAT GAP THAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THE OTHER, UH, PRESENTATION ON HOW WE ACTUALLY SPEND OUR EXPENSES FOR THE PHYSICAL YEAR.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE APPROACH A BALANCED BUDGET EVERY PHYSICAL YEAR.
WELL, WHEN, WHEN WE SPEAK OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, I KNOW MR. FENNELL GAVE YOU FROM THE BUDGET STANDPOINT, BUT ADDITIONAL REVENUES IS WHERE WE HAVE MULTI-YEAR FUNDS WHERE WE ARE CHARGING FOR SERVICES AND WE TAKE A SPLIT.
SO WE GIVE, FOR EXAMPLE, GOLF, WE GIVE, AT ONE TIME IT WAS 55% OF THE REVENUES WE GENERATED FROM THE GREEN FEES WENT TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND, AND 45% WENT INTO A MULTI-YEAR FUND SO THAT WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STAFFING, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND THEN THE BOARD ABOUT A YEAR AGO SAID, HEY, WE WANT YOU TO FLIP THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE KEEP 55% AND 45% THE GENERAL FUND.
SO WE HAVE THAT BROKEN OUT ACROSS DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ACROSS THE CITY FROM GOING TO THE FITNESS ROOM.
THERE'S A BREAKDOWN THAT SO MUCH GOES TOWARDS THE GENERAL FUND.
SO MUCH GOES BACK TOWARDS THE MO MOTEL YEAR FUND.
SO ONCE AGAIN, WE CAN KEEP REPLACING THAT EQUIPMENT TO KEEP IT RELEVANT.
I MAY, SHE WAS, HE WAS TURNING IT BACK OVER TO YOU.
UM, AND SO WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING IS SOME INFORMATION ON HOW
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I'M STARTING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.UM, YOU REALIZE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MADE SOME CHANGES THROUGHOUT, BUT WE'RE AT $117 MILLION, UM, FOR OUR CURRENT BUDGET.
THE GRAPHIC BEHIND YOU, UM, BASICALLY TELLS YOU HOW OUR BUDGETS ARE BROKEN UP, UM, EITHER BASED ON PERSONNEL OR ON THE DEPARTMENT WIDE.
WE DO BUDGET NOW BASED ON PROGRAMMING, BUT THOSE PROGRAMS ARE STILL ALIGNED WITH THE DIVISIONS THAT YOU SEE THERE ON THE SCREEN.
UM, OF COURSE, UM, PERSONNEL SERVICES BEING THE LARGEST EXPENSE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET.
UM, AND THEN THE, OF COURSE, THE LARGEST EXPENSES, EXPENSES BEING ATTRIBUTED TO PARK MAINTENANCE SERVICES, UM, FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE PARKS.
UM, SO WE ARE MOVING AS WE'RE, AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, WE DO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, AS PATRICK JUST SAID, EVERY YEAR WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HAVING TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS.
UM, THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, THERE ANYMORE BECAUSE LARGE SUM OF THEM.
SO THIS YEAR WAS PROBABLY THE CLOSEST YOU SAW THE GAP THAT WE WERE AT THAT DID A LITTLE OVER 1 MILLION THAT WILL BE COVERED WITH THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
UM, BUT MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE STILL GOING TO LOOK AT THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
WE STILL HAVE TO REASSESS HOW WE'RE FUNDING ITEMS, WHAT THE ALLOCATIONS ARE, AND THEN PERHAPS FOCUSING ON LIKE HEIGHT IMPACT AREAS.
AND THEN JUST REDUCING THINGS THAT ARE NON-CRITICAL TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ABLE TO BALANCE THIS YEAR WITHOUT HAVING TO HEAVILY RELY ON THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
UM, AND WE ARE GONNA LOOK AT THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, PARTNER
UM, AND THAT GOES INTO ALSO IF THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.
IF YOU'LL LOOK AT THE, UM, PROJECTED REVENUE, THIS GIVES YOU IDEA, AN IDEA OF WHERE OUR REVENUES ARE COMING, YOU KNOW, THE 5% IS, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MEMBERSHIPS.
UM, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THAT 5% ACTUALLY PAYS FOR OUR SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, UM, WHICH IS NOT A LOT OF MONEY.
UM, WE HAVE PROGRAM FEES, UM, WHICH IS OUR LARGEST, OUR RENTALS, OUR ADMISSIONS, AND OUR SALES.
UH, KEEPING IN MIND THAT WHERE OUR FOCUS IS IN MOVING FORWARD, WHICH ARE GONNA SEE BROUGHT TO YOU, WILL BE AFFECTING YOUR PROGRAM, YOUR RENTALS, YOUR ADMISSION FEES AS WE GO THROUGH AND REVIEW OUR REVENUES THAT ARE COMING IN TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE, UM, THE PROBLEMS WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
MAINLY NEEDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, ADDITIONAL TO COVER OUR SHORTAGE ON, ON MEETING OUR REVENUE GOALS BECAUSE OUR REVENUE GOALS ARE VERY CLEARLY ATTACHED TO THE BUDGETS THAT WE RECEIVE EVERY YEAR.
UM, SO THAT WAS JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA WORK ON TO ENSURE THAT WE BALANCE THIS YEAR.
AND HOPEFULLY WHEN WE BRING YOU THE NEXT UPDATE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THAT IS WHERE WE ARE MOVING AND STAYING ON TRACK TO BALANCE.
UM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE JANUARY 29TH, UM, WE STARTED OUR, OUR NEW BUDGET DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING ON, YOU KNOW, BALANCING OUT 26, 27.
UM, BECAUSE WE DO USE THE TWO YEAR STRUCTURE, IT IS A MATTER OF BALANCING WHAT WAS ALREADY PLANNED FOR US AND THEN PROJECTING WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
WE LIMITED ENHANCEMENTS, UM, NEW PROGRAMS, UM, YOU KNOW, IMPROVEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
TO WHAT PAGE ARE YOU ON? UH, THEY JUST MOVED.
SO, UM, YES, SO WE'LL BE LOOKING AT THOSE, UM, SMALLER ITEMS. OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF, SINCE THE BUDGET IS ALREADY PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR, WE WILL HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, VERY CAREFUL ON WHAT WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE AN ADDITION FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, WE DO HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO MEET OUR TARGETS, UM, WHICH AT THIS POINT WOULD BE THE ENHANCEMENTS, BUT ALSO NECESSARY REDUCTIONS TO GO TO THE NEXT.
SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, UM, TO MEET OUR BASE BUDGET TARGET, UM, WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD, THERE YOU GO.
AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO MEET OUR BASE BUDGET THAT'S ALREADY BEEN ESTABLISHED, UM, WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THERE WILL BE REDUCTION SCENARIOS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED.
UM, THE CITY CURRENTLY IS FACING A $51 MILLION DEFICIT, UM, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGETS THAT ARE, UM, GONNA BE AVAILABLE NEXT YEAR.
SO OF COURSE THERE'LL HAVE TO BE A WAY TO MITIGATE THAT.
THEY HAVE ALREADY TOLD US THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR US TO SUBMIT REDUCTIONS IN THAT.
UM, WE COULD ALSO ARE WORKING ON
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NEW PROGRAMS, UM, DO REVENUE INCREASES INSTEAD.UM, HOWEVER, WE WOULD NEED TO FIRST, FIRST MEET THE REVENUE THAT WE'RE SHORT RIGHT NOW AND THEN MAKE AN AMOUNT OVER THAT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE A REDUCTION.
UM, BUT WE'LL BRING ALL OF THOSE BACK TO PARK BOARD AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THAT, THAT PROCESS TO SEE WHAT, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD LIKE TO RANK OR WHAT WE WANT TO SUBMIT, UM, MOVING FORWARD.
SO, UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE NEXT STEP, UM, YOU'RE GONNA SEE, UM, THE DIVISIONS BRINGING FORWARD SOME MORE PRESENTATIONS ON ADJUSTMENTS OF FEES.
UM, WE'LL BRING SOME POTENTIAL, UM, BUDGET REDUCTIONS, PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCTIONS, AND ALSO IF WE NEED TO ESTABLISH ANY NEW REVENUE GENERATING PROGRAMS, UM, THEN WE WILL BRING THOSE FORWARD ALSO ON THE NEXT BUDGET UPDATE.
UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS MORNING.
SO, UH, MR. CHAIR, I TAKE QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANNA, UH, EXPLAIN TO THE BOARD AS FAR AS HOW I SEE THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD OVER THE NEXT, PROBABLY THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.
UH, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, UH, COUNSEL HAS WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO FUND ADDITIONAL, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY ADDITIONAL OFFICERS.
UH, THAT'S ONE THING WHERE THE MONEY IS, IS A PRIORITY WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO.
TWO, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THE UH, THE UH, PROPERTY TAX CAP FROM THE STATE LEVEL IS AT 3.5% UNLESS THERE'S A, YOU GO OUT TO THE VOTERS, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN RAISE IT.
THIRD, THE PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE TO FUND THE PENSIONS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, I CHALLENGED MY STAFF.
WE GOING TO RISE TO THE OCCASION.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME, YOU KNOW, IN MY 30 YEAR HISTORY THERE'S BEEN THESE WAVES.
BUT WHAT I SEE DIFFERENTLY GOING FORWARD IS THOSE PRIORITIES ARE GOING TO RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT GOES TO THE OTHER GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PIVOT AND WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT BETWEEN BALANCING FEE AND FREE BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES, NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE BALANCE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE STAY FOCUSED ON THAT.
BUT WHAT WE CAN'T IGNORE ANYMORE, IF THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES AND TO BRING IN PROGRAMS THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD, WOULD LIKE, WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THAT.
AND WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON OTHER PARTS OF OUR BUSINESS THAT'S NOT CORE.
IF IT'S NOT CORE, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO, AS I'VE MENTIONED BEFORE, EVERY BUDGET YEAR, YOU SEE ME GOING AFTER THE NON-CORE STUFF, EITHER TRYING TO SAY, LET'S FOUND SOMEONE WHO HAS THE EXPERTISE TO DO THIS.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
SO I CAN KEEP FOCUSING ON THOSE CORE PROGRAMS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SERVING ALL OF OUR PARK PATRONS AND RECREATION PATRONS.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M ALSO CHALLENGING EVERY LAST ONE OF OUR OPERATIONS, OUR REC CENTERS, THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE BRINGING, THEY ARE OFFERING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF PROGRAMMING.
IN EVERY SINGLE CENTER, EVERY SINGLE UH, PROGRAM THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR AND THOSE WHO CAN'T, WE ARE GONNA MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PATH FOR THEM TO STILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.
BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE YOU ALL, IT IS NOT GONNA BE THE NORM OF MY LAST 30 YEARS WHERE THERE IS JUST MONEY AVAILABLE.
AND I HAVE CHALLENGED MY EXECUTIVE TEAM AND ALL MY MANAGERS TO MAKE SURE THEY GOING TO HAVE TO
'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO COME UP WITH MORE SPONSORSHIPS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT ARE WE RECOVERING OUR COSTS ON CERTAIN PROGRAMS BECAUSE OUR COSTS GONE UP AND IS, ARE THERE NEW PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN OFFER TO THE PUBLIC THAT THEY WOULD LOVE TO COME AND PARTICIPATE AT OUR, AT, AT OUR ALL OUR PROGRAMS. SO THAT BEING SAID, MR. CHAIR, THANK YOU SIR.
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP IT TO THE THREE MINUTE, TWO MINUTE, ONE MINUTE.
SO JUST HAVE, YEAH, NO, I SHOULD BE FINE.
UH,
[00:25:01]
WAS THERE ANY, UM, AND THIS MAY BE MORE YOU JOHN, WAS THERE ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT OR EVENT THAT HAPPENED WHERE, WHILE THE OVERTIME CAP WAS, OR WAS IT JUST A MERIT OF EVENTS? IT WAS BASICALLY LIKE EVERYTHING THAT COMES UP FROM MEAN, I DON'T HAVE THE LIST AND RENEE'S NOT IN HERE, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE LIST OF ALL THE STORMS THAT CAME UP LAST YEAR.UM, AND THEN YOU HAD SAID THERE WAS THE REVENUE WAS DOWN BECAUSE OF GOLF AND SOMETHING ELSE.
WHAT, WHAT THE TWO, WELL, I WAS SAYING THAT, UH, GOLF AND I QUALITY MORE STRONGER REVENUE GENERATORS FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND WE ON THE PROJECTED THAT WE SAW HAVE, HAVE THOSE NUMBERS BEEN ADJUSTED BASED ON THE DOWNTURN WE'VE SEEN? WELL I'M GONNA ANSWER THAT BECAUSE ONE, WE NEED TO GO BACK AND READJUST THE, THE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR THOSE PARTICULAR OKAY.
CORRECT? THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
SO STILL ACCOUNTING, OTHER OPERATIONS THAT'S UNDERPERFORMING TO BRING IN MORE PROGRAMS. CORRECT.
AND REVENUES IS JUST AN OUTCOME OF ADDITIONAL MAKING SURE YOU'RE PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS THAT PEOPLE WANT.
I WANNA MAKE SURE UNDERSTAND REVENUE IS NOT MY DRIVER QUALITY PROGRAM IS MY DRIVER.
SO MY COMMENT THEN,
EVERYBODY HAS THEIR EIGHT YEAR CAP AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I WANNA DO THAT TO BE HONEST.
BUT, UM,
UM, WE'LL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE, WE WANNA KEEP THE STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE NOW, LIKE A PARK, PARK BOARD DRIVEN PARK DEPARTMENT AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BRING IN REVENUE.
I DO THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RE, RE NOT EVEN REDIRECT.
THINK OF CREATIVE WAYS FOR HOW OUR PARTNERSHIPS WORK, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE OUR PARTNERSHIPS NOW THAT WORK WELL FOR OUR PARKS, BUT PARKS IS ONE OF THE FEW DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY THAT HAS A TON OF LAND THAT COULD BE USED FOR THINGS THAT COULD BE REVENUE GENERATED.
AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE, AND AND IT'S NOT THE DEPARTMENT'S PROBLEM, IT'S MORE SO JUST LIKE IN OUR DISTRICTS HAVE WE CREATIVELY THOUGHT ABOUT AND BEEN OPEN TO HOW THEY CAN BE REVENUE GENERATING PLACES.
AND HOPEFULLY WHERE MY TIME IS OVER, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING SOME OF THOSE THOUGHTS TO D THREE.
'CAUSE WE DO HAVE A TON OF PARK LAND AND I THINK IT IS ABOUT HOW DO WE MAKE IT AN ECONOMIC ENGINE AND HOW DO THE PARKS MAKE MONEY SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE CORE SERVICES.
BECAUSE THE CITIES, AS WE ALL KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT THE STATE IS DOING, PARKS IS KIND OF LOOK LIKE AS A LUXURY
SO I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE WE ARE ONE OF THE INDEPENDENT BOARDS, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CREATE MONEY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT AND REVENUES AND NOT CHARGING PEOPLE, JUST CHARGING PEOPLE.
AND YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE SO HOW DO WE TAKE THIS REAL ESTATE AND REALLY THINK ABOUT PUTTING SOME ECONOMIC ENGINE BONDING WHERE IT'S MORE SO NOT JUST COMING FROM OUR RESIDENCE.
DID I MAKE MY THREE MINUTES, TWO MINUTES AND 47 SECONDS.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE? MR. YOUNG, 15.6 MILLION FOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.
WHAT DOES THAT CONSIST OF? WHAT FOR CONTRACT MANAGEMENT, THE LARGE PORTION OF THAT, UM, IS THE ZOO.
THE DALLAS ZOO, THAT'S A LARGE PORTION OF IT.
AND THEN OF COURSE WE ALSO HAVE THE, OUR PURUM, UM, WE DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT CONTRACT FOR TRACK, BUT THAT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE TRACK, UM, CONTRACTED SERVICES ALSO INCLUDE OUR MOWING AND LITTER PICKUPS, WHICH IS A VERY LARGE PART OF OUR PARK MAINTENANCE.
UH, SO LET'S TAKE THE LAST, FOR, FOR AN EXAMPLE, THE ACTUAL COST OF PAYING THE VENDOR TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE WOULD FALL UNDER MAINTENANCE OR UNDER CONTRACT FALLS UNDER MAINTENANCE.
BUT THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT CONTRACT WOULD FALL UNDER CONTRACT MANAGEMENT.
UM, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THAT CONTRACT IN PARTICULAR FALLS UNDER PARK MAINTENANCE.
BUT, BUT HE'S ASKING ABOUT, OH, THEN THE 15.6 MILLION Y'ALL SHOW.
OH, THAT IS FOR, THAT IS, THAT IS FOR THE CONTRACTS.
THAT'S FOR OUR PARTNER CONTRACTS.
ANY PARTNER CONTRACT WHERE WE MAKE A PAYMENT.
BUT TECHNICALLY RIGHT NOW THOSE PAYMENTS ARE ONLY FOR THE ZOO.
UM, THE ARBORETUM PR AND CEDAR RIDGE PRESERVE, WHICH TO THE FOUR LARGE ONES.
UM, AND THEN THE PRESENTATION WILL ALSO SHOW, THERE IS A PRESENTATION ON MONDAY, UM, THAT WILL ALSO SHOW GRAMBLING PRAIRIE VIEW PAYMENTS AND TEXAS OU PAYMENTS.
UM, HOWEVER, RIGHT NOW THOSE ARE
[00:30:01]
BEING PAID OUT OF THE SPECIAL REVENUE NOT SET UP.WELL, LET'S BE CLEAR, WHEN WE SAY A PRESENTATION ON MONDAY, WE, WE, WE'VE BEEN REQUESTED, REQUESTED TO PROVIDE THIS.
'CAUSE OF THE CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE.
SO, SO THAT MONEY, THE, THE BULK OF IT GOES TO OUR STIPENDS TO THE ZOO AND OUR STIPENDS TO, UH, THE ARBORETUM AND A FEW OTHER SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, I JUST HAD A CLEAR CLARIFICATION AGAIN, I'M, I'M, I SAW MR. 22ND.
I JUST WANNA UNDERSTAND, IS THAT ALL GROSS MONEY OR IS THAT NET MONEY? 'CAUSE I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE ARBORETUM WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO A BREAK EVEN.
SO THE REVENUE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT? NO.
SO THE ARBORETUM, IT IS A, IT IS A FEE, IT'S A MANAGEMENT FEE TO THE ARBORETUM.
UM, IT IS IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER THEY EARN OR WHATEVER CAPITAL THEY RAISE, THAT IS JUST THE PAYMENT THAT WE MAKE.
THE ONLY THING OUTSIDE IS WE ASSIST WITH THEIR UTILITY.
THE ARB, WE AS RIGHT, BECAUSE MS. BARRY EXPLAINED, SO THE ARB HAVE, I THINK THEY BUDGET IS NOW 29 MILLION OR SO MUCH ABOUT 40.
AND THAT MAY INCLUDE THEIR CAPITAL AS WELL.
IT THEY BUDGET OF $40 MILLION AND WE GIVE THEM A STIPEND PAYMENT OF LIKE WHAT HUNDRED, 390,000? YEAH.
BUT IT'S THAT, BUT THE BULK OF THE MONEY IS REALLY THE ZOO.
SO THE ZOO BUDGET, I WANNA SAY IS ALMOST 30 SOMETHING NOW 35 OR 36, 38.
I THINK IT'S 38, HUH? YOU THAT SOUND RIGHT? YEAH, I THINK IT'S 38.
AND SO WE GIVE A STIPEND PAYMENT OF, UH, 15 OR SOMETHING.
I HAVE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THE BOARD KNOW WE BRINGING A BRIEFING WHERE THE ZOO AND RE COME IN.
I THINK IT'S NEXT MONTH OR IT'S APRIL, WHERE THEY WILL COME IN AND, AND PRESENT TO THE BOARD AS WELL AS PTE, UH, THEIR OPERATIONS AND, AND WHY THEY ARE REQUESTING THEIR STIPEND AMOUNT.
WHEN, WHEN IS THAT HAPPENING? UH, I'M NOT FOR SURE IF THE MARCH OR THE APRIL MEETING, I DON'T HAVE THE CALENDAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.
WE'LL SEND AN EMAIL WITNESS THE ZOO AN ARBORETUM THAT, THAT I HAVE COUNSEL IN TO COME IN AND BRIEF.
I BELIEVE IT'S FEBRUARY 19TH IN THERE.
I HATE TO HEAR THAT FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN I, I GUESS IT'S ALMOST LIKE, I WANNA SAY A BROKEN RECORD, BUT THIS SEEMED LIKE DEJAVU SOMETHING FROM YEARS AGO.
UH, TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR PARK AND REC.
I, I GUESS PHILOSOPHICALLY THINKING WHY ARE WE NEVER THOUGHT OF TO ADD REVENUE TO, FROM THE GENERAL CITY FUND? AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT AS A PARK BOARD MEMBER WE SHOULD ALL BE THINKING ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, LIKE IT JUST ALWAYS SEEMS TO MAKE MOST SENSE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY TO INCREASE.
BUT, AND Y'ALL TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, WHEN HAS IT BEEN AS MUCH, UM, FIRE BEHIND OUR DEPARTMENT GETTING AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET EVERY YEAR? UH, IT IS BEEN, UH, I WILL SAY SINCE 2012 THEY'VE BEEN ADDING MONEY, BUT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS WE'VE BEEN, AND I'VE BEEN COMING TO THE BOARD, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES AND I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I WILL TELL YOU PROBABLY THE LAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS THROUGH EFFICIENCIES, I THINK WE HAVE WHAT REDUCED $7 MILLION? WHAT? YEAH.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE EFFICIENCIES.
SO MY, ANOTHER QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH ARE WE PAYING FOR SECURITY THROUGH DPD ANNUALLY? WE COULD PROBABLY GET MORE EFFICIENT THERE IN A WAY.
HAVE YOU SEEN IN OUR TOP EXPONENTIAL, UH, OUR SECURITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT IS AROUND 4.2, BUT THAT INCLUDES DPD, THE MARSHALLS CAMERA INSTALLATIONS.
BUT WE CAN GET THAT NUMBER BACK TO YOU.
ALRIGHT, SO 4 MILLION, SOMETHING AROUND THERE.
IT'S ALL FOR SECURITY OVERALL FOR THE DEPARTMENT.
UM, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE DPD, UM, AS HIGH AS THE MARSHAL MM-HMM
UM, IT IS WHAT WE NORMALLY IT'S THE REC CENTERS MM-HMM
UM, AS OPPOSED TO, UM, THE MARSHALS FOR THE PARK SYSTEM IN GENERAL FOR SURE.
AND I, AND I GUESS EFFICIENTLY THINKING
[00:35:01]
THAT WHY PUBLIC SAFETY CAN'T, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT ON OR DPD AS A WHOLE, UM, WHY ARE WE PAYING ANOTHER CITY PARTNER TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE SAME PEOPLE THAT THEY SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING AND SERVING? WELL I WILL SAY MR. TURNER, THAT'S KIND OF A, KIND OF A DOUBLE EDGE SWORD THERE.THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE AT ONE TIME WE USED TO HAVE THE PARK POLICE MM-HMM
SO WE WAS ABLE TO HAVE OUR OWN SECURITY FOR THE PARK SYSTEM.
AND THEN OF COURSE IN WHAT, 1989 OR 90, THERE WAS A HUGE BUDGET CUT AND DPD AGREED THAT THEY WOULD ASSUME ALL OF OUR 90 PARK POLICE INTO DPD MM-HMM.
AND THAT THEY WERE GONNA PROVIDE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE TO OUR PARKS FOR OUR SECURITY.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU FAST FORWARD, NO, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
AND SO WHAT HAPPENED IS WE GAVE UP $10 MILLION AND STARTING IN 2000 AND, UH, I WANNA SAY IT WAS 2012, WE STARTED REBUILDING OUR SECURITY FORCE AGAIN BECAUSE EVERYTHING THAT WAS HAPPENING ON OUR PARKS, THE VANDALISM, AND THEN, UM, YOU AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT KNEW OUR PATRONS.
AND SO WHEN WE HAD TO CALL THEM, THEY WAS COMING IN FOR JUST STRICT ENFORCEMENT NOT KNOWING OUR PATRONS.
AND I'M NOT BLAMING THEM FOR THAT BECAUSE WE'RE JUST CALLING YOU BECAUSE WE GOT A REAL ISSUE VERSUS HAVING OUR OWN SECURITY FORCE TO GET TO KNOW OUR PATRONS.
AND SO WE'RE MORE ABOUT GETTING FOLKS IN COMPLIANCE AND NOT TRYING TO ARREST PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR PARKS TO GET 'EM IN COMPLIANCE.
AND SO THE MARSHALS, WHICH I GUARANTEE YOU PROBABLY MAKE THE BULK OF THAT MONEY 'CAUSE I WAS LIKE, INSTEAD OF US BRINGING BACK OUR OWN PARK POLICE, AND THEN I HAVE TO BE A POLICE CHIEF AS THE DIRECTOR.
AND IT IS MORE SMART FOR US TO CONTRACT THE MONEY OUT.
BUT THE MARSHES WHO WE CAN GIVE DIRECT INSTRUCTIONS TO ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR FOR OUR SECURITY IN OUR PARKS, TRUSTING THEIR, UH, THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERTISE.
AND IT IS BEEN WORKING OUT OUR LAST TWO POINTS.
EVEN IF WE INCREASE OUR REVENUE EVERY YEAR EXPONENTIALLY, I STILL FEEL THAT THERE WILL BE REDUCTIONS ASKED BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE DOING SO GOOD WITH REVENUE, WE NEED TO BRING MORE MONEY.
UM, AND THAT'S WHY I SAID IT'S A PHILOSOPHICAL THING FOR US TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT PARKS ARE, PARKS AND RECS ARE TO THE CITY OF DALLAS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND SAFETY AND ALL THOSE THINGS.
SO JUST, THIS IS JUST AS IMPORTANT.
AND UM, THE LAST POINT I MAKE IS, JOHN, YOU MENTIONED ABOUT, AND I I WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGREE WITH YOU, HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMMING IN THE REC CENTERS, THAT'S GONNA BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMMING.
AND I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANT TO ADD A BURDEN TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE FRONTLINE IN OUR REC CENTERS TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE MAGIC YEAH.
WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS HERE, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO FIGURE, I MEAN, IF THE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY OFFICE, THAT'S THE CONVERSATION WHEREVER IT'S GONNA GO, I JUST WANNA SUPPORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ALL WE NEED IN OUR DEPARTMENT TOO.
WELL, LET ME SAY THIS AND, AND THIS IS WHERE MANAGE WILL COME IN TO MAKE SURE THERE'S THAT BALANCE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME OVER PERFORMERS OUT THERE AND WE GOT FOLKS WHO PERFORMED AT THEIR LEVEL.
RIGHT? AND WE GOT SOME REC CENTERS THAT'S UNDERPERFORMING AND WE GOT SOME PROGRAMS THAT'S UNDERPERFORMING.
UH, NO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE HAD TO DO IN 2003 AND AL AND THAT WAS PART OF THAT OLD RESTRUCTURING, UH, WHEN WE HAD SO MANY FOLKS THAT WAS UNDERPERFORMING.
BUT WE STILL GOT POCKETS AND I GOTTA MAKE SURE I HOLD ALL OF, ALL OF MY 1600 TEAM MEMBERS ACCOUNTABLE TO MAKING SURE WE'RE OFFERING QUALITY PROGRAMMING.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT THE SPONSORSHIP CONCEPT THAT WAS MENTIONED AS A WAY TO GENERATE REVENUE TO INCREASE SPONSORSHIPS.
IS THERE A STANDARDIZED PROCESS THROUGH WHICH SPONSORS OR THOUGHT OR IS THAT THERE IS, YEAH.
SO WE, WE ARE, WE HIRE ONE GROUP, UH, SUPERLATIVE TO HELP US IN ONE LEVEL OF SPONSORSHIPS.
AND AND I DON'T HAVE ROBIN IN HERE AND RACHEL MAY KNOW ALL THE DETAILS, BUT I KNOW THE FIRST YEAR WAS THEM GATHERING DATA, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BOTTOM LINES.
WE DO HAVE A STANDARD, UH, BUT WE GOT SO MANY OTHER AREAS OF REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE MAY BE BRINGING ON OTHER EXPERTS, EXPERTS TO HELP US GENERATE ADDITIONAL SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
[00:40:01]
YEAH.I, AND I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF THE POINT WHERE I WAS GOING, YOU KNOW, AT THE RISK OF SUGGESTING THAT WE SLAP A CORPORATE LOGO ON EVERY SINGLE THING IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WE DON'T WANT TO END UP IN THAT POSITION.
BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD, I THINK, TO DO A IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF WHAT ALL THE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE FROM THE LARGEST OF THE SMALLEST CREATE LIKE, I DON'T WANNA SAY A SALES SHEET, BUT JUST A BOOK.
IT'S LIKE IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN JUST ATTRACT, OR IF YOU'RE SPEAKING TO A POTENTIAL SPONSOR THAT'S AT A $500 LEVEL OR A $500,000 LEVEL, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT COULD BE SPONSORED AND HAVE THAT JUST KIND OF READY TO BE SHOPPED OUT.
AND AND THAT IS THE LIST THAT THEY HAD PUT TOGETHER.
THEY HAD, THAT'S WHY I SAID THAT WHOLE YEAR THEY HAD ACTUALLY PUT THE LIST OF THOSE THINGS THAT, THAT THEY FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WOULD PAY FOR.
AND, AND I THINK WE DO HAVE SUPERLATIVE.
WE'VE GOTTA BRING A BRIEFING BACK TO THE BOARD AND I THINK I'M TRYING TO SHOOT FOR APRIL OR MAY TO GET THEM BACK IN HERE TO TELL YOU ON THEIR PROGRESS.
LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING NOTHING.
ANYBODY ELSE? MR. ERTA? UH, THANK YOU.
YEAH, I MEAN, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE'VE BEEN, WE'VE BEEN SEEING THIS FOR A COUPLE.
WE KNEW ALREADY KNEW THAT WE GONNA BE IN A SHORTFALL FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
I TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A NUMBER.
WE, WE ALREADY KNEW THAT WHEN IT'S, IT'S PROJECTED TO GO MAYBE THREE TO FIVE YEARS, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
UH, JUST DEPENDS ON TAX GROWS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
THE PENSION AND THE POLICE DON'T TAKE A LOT OF OTHER MONEY AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO SAY LET'S CHARGE MORE FOR PROGRAMMING, KNOWING WHAT KIND OF PROGRAM I RUN.
AND, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT OUT.
BUT, UM, WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOOD AT AND WHAT WE'RE NOT GOOD AT.
AND, AND IT'S OKAY TO CUT PROGRAMMING OUT OR SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
JUST SAY WE'RE NOT GONNA BE IN THAT ANYMORE AND FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN DO IT OR NOT DO IT AT ALL.
WE CAN'T FIND SOMEBODY THAT CAN REASONABLY DO IT FOR US.
SO WE JUST GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT IS.
EVERY DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT EVERY DEPARTMENT, NOT JUST YOU GUYS, THE LEADERS HERE TELLING YOUR GUYS FIGURE OUT, BUT LET'S GO TALK TO, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S KIDS SPRINGS, WHAT ARE WE GOOD AT? KIDS SPRINGS AND LET'S ENHANCE THAT.
NOT ADD OTHER PROGRAMMING TO IT OR MAKE 'EM DO A PROGRAM THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THEM.
ALSO X LINE AND, AND, AND EVERGLADE AND ALL 'EM JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE WE GOOD AT AT THAT REC CENTER THAT WE SHOULD ENHANCE OUR PROGRAMMING AND, AND NOT MAKE 'EM DO MAYBE BASKETBALL AS X XOP IS NOT GOOD AT BASKETBALL, IT'S NOT GOOD THERE OR SOCCER'S NOT GOOD THERE.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FIELDS AND ALL THAT THERE.
MAYBE THERE'S, IT'S NOT THE PROGRAM, BUT THE GRADE AT BASEBALL, LET'S ENHANCE THAT PROGRAM IN THERE.
EVERY REC CENTER, EVERYTHING'S GOTTA BE IDENTIFIED IN POCKETS.
AND THAT'S WHY WHEN PART OF OUR, OUR REGI OUR YOUTH PROGRAM, I WANT TO KNOW LIKE WHAT ZIP CODES ARE REALLY USED, OUR PROGRAMMING.
IS IT ALL THE SOUTHERN SECTOR? IS IT ALL THE NORTHERN SECTOR? WHAT, WHAT IS IT HOW WE, HOW WE, HOW OUR PROGRAMMING ARE DONE.
IS IT PICKLEBALL? IS IT GOLF IS GREAT? WHAT IS IT? WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
AND I KNOW WE GOT DISTRICTS NOW AND MAYBE A DISTRICT DOES SOCCER VERSUS NOT THE OTHER DISTRICT OR THE DISTRICT DOES ADULT SOFTBALL.
'CAUSE I, I KNOW WE TRY TO DO ADULT SOFTBALL IN A COUPLE AREAS OR YOU KNOW, ZUMBA IS GREAT AT THIS LOCATION.
CAN WE ENHANCE THAT WITH OUR, WITH OUR VENDORS? STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE JUST GOTTA FIGURE THAT OUT.
I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF WORK, BUT OUR, OUR, OUR REC CENTERS KNOW THIS INFORMATION ALREADY.
WE JUST GOTTA GO GET THEM TO TALK TO US AND TALK TO EVERY REC CENTER OR EVERY, OUR RESERVATIONS DON'T WHICH FIELDS ARE USED MORE THAN OTHERS.
DO WE NEED PRO PARK TO HAVE SOFTBALL FIELDS WE'RE NOT BEING USED.
CAN WE NOT MAKE THAT ALL SOCCER COMPLEX REP YEAH.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED IN THAT COMMUNITY.
OR MAYBE WE DON'T NEED THAT THERE AND PUT A PLAYGROUND THERE OR, OR WHATEVER IT IS.
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING INSTEAD OF USING MAIN INSTALLERS FOR, TO KEEP THOSE PILLS UP, DO WE NEED A PLAYGROUND THERE OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S DIFFERENT THERE? WE JUST GOTTA GO BACK AND LOOK AT ALL THE NUMBERS.
'CAUSE DATA IS THE PART THAT'S BEEN AROUND A HUNDRED YEARS AND WE KNOW DATA AND DATA'S THERE.
AND IF YOU'RE DATA DRIVEN, LIKE MOST OF US ARE IN THIS ROOM, WE KNOW WHAT'S WHAT'S BEING USED AND NOT BEING USED OR RENTED OR, OR OR WHATEVER IT IS.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S NEED TO BE WHOLEHEARTEDLY LOOK AT AND DISSECT THROUGH IT AND, AND IT IS GONNA BE UNPOPULAR CUTTING OUT SOME PROGRAMMING IN SOME DISTRICT.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHERE MY KID PLAYS SOCCER OR THAT'S WHERE I PLAY SOFTBALL OR THAT'S WHERE I USE CROWN PARK ONCE A YEAR FOR MY, FOR MY, FOR MY ONE EVENT WHILE WE CUTTING IT OUT.
BUT IT'S ONLY BEING USED ONCE, ONCE A YEAR.
I THINK, I THINK I HEARD, MAYBE YOU SAY THIS EARLIER, I WANT TO AMPLIFY IT.
DIRECTOR JENKINS, MAYBE THIS IS THE YEAR THAT WE REMOVED THE BANDAID OFF THE AGING COMMUNITY POOLS.
I THINK WE GOT HOW MANY LEFT SIX THERE AND, AND WE KNOW THAT THEY'RE 60, 70-YEAR-OLD YEARS OLD.
UH, IN SOME CASES, UH, WE KNOW THAT IT'S, THERE'S GONNA BE PUSHBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY.
BUT IF WE FLIP THE NARRATIVE, WHICH I TRIED TO DO THIS
[00:45:01]
LAST YEAR, INSTEAD OF LIKE COMING DOWN ON THIS DEPARTMENT FOR CLOSING DOWN DEPARTMENTS, MAYBE PRAISE THIS DEPARTMENT FOR KEEPING AN EXTRA 20 YEARS BECAUSE LET'S NOT BE FOOLS WITH ONE ANOTHER.SOME OF THESE POOLS HONESTLY SHOULD HAVE CLOSED OVER TWO DECADES AGO GIVEN THAT THEY'RE 60, 70 YEARS OLD.
WE JUST CAN'T KEEP THESE THINGS GOING IN, IN IN THAT KIND OF LEGACY FORMAT FOR ANY LONGER.
NOW EVERY POOL IS, IS AT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF EXPENSE OR $200,000.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE MATH HUNDRED.
SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT JUST FOR OPERATIONS AND THERE'S PROBABLY SOME ADDITIONAL SAVINGS AND, AND AND DISCONTINUING THE POOLS.
SO AFTER WE PAY FOR REMOVAL, SO THIS COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 600,000 TO A MILLION DOLLARS REINVESTED HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM WHERE WE KNOW THERE'S NEEDS PERHAPS OUR 40 RECREATION CENTERS AND THE HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT MR. TOY'S MENTIONED AND AND TARGETING THOSE ITEMS. AND WE KNOW THAT WE'RE TAKING AWAY SOME LEGACY POOLS, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THOSE, THEY'RE SERVING FEWER AND FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE EVERY YEAR BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE COLLECT.
WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE USAGE DATA AND IN SOME CASES IT'S QUITE ALARMING HOW FEW OF OUR CITIZENS GO AND UTILIZE SOME OF THESE AGING POOLS.
AND I GET IT BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A NEWER AQUATIC CENTER AND MAYBE AN EXTRA FIVE MINUTE DRIVE AWAY IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, TO TRANSPORTATION AN EXTRA FIVE OR 10 MINUTES AWAY AND MAYBE THEY'RE GOING THERE INSTEAD.
SO HAVE THOSE DOLLARS REINVESTED IN I VALUE NEEDS IS SOMETHING MAYBE WE OUGHTA CONSIDER PRIOR THIS OCTOBER 1ST.
AND ALONG THOSE LINES ON THE FLYERS, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL MAY RECALL, WE SENT YOU ALL A MEMO OUT AFTER THE, AFTER THE BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS A LAST MINUTE AMENDMENT ON THE FLOOR MM-HMM
TO SWAP OUT $1 MILLION FROM THE PARK DEPARTMENT GENERAL FUND MONEY TO GIVE US OPERA MONEY.
BUT THAT OPERA MONEY IS ONLY GOOD FOR ONE YEAR.
SO THAT MEANS WHEN I CAP THIS YEAR, I'M $1 MILLION ALREADY IN THE HOLE THAT I GOT A IN REDUCTIONS ALREADY FOR NEXT YEAR.
UM, MR. VICE CHAIR, BEFORE YOU MOVE AWAY FROM ME, I JUST HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION.
SLIDE NINE HAS SOMETHING ABOUT $5 MILLION REIMBURSEMENT.
WHERE DID THOSE REIMBURSEMENTS COME FROM? 'CAUSE I, I SHOULD, I'LL JUST SAY LET YOU KNOW BECAUSE OF THAT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO SPEED UP THOSE POOL CLOSURES.
THEY'RE ALL GONNA HAVE TO CLOSE OUT YEAH.
THIS MIGHT BE THE YEAR TO DO IT.
BILLION DOLLARS THAT I'M ALREADY IN THE HOLE BECAUSE OF THAT AMENDMENT.
I THINK WE CAN, UH, SUPPORT THAT NEED THIS YEAR.
UH, SO IF I GET JUST THE $5 MILLION REIMBURSEMENT, WHERE, WHERE'S THAT CREDIT FROM? JUST SO, UH, SO, OKAY, SO ON THE REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE, WE GET THEM FROM VARIOUS, UM, LOCATIONS.
SO, UM, WE DO HAVE MOUS WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
THOSE COME ACROSS AS REIMBURSEMENTS.
UM, WE HAVE REIMBURSEMENTS FOR OUR STORM WATER CLEANUP THAT COMES INTO THIS NUMBER.
AND OF COURSE AS WE GO THROUGH AND WE BALANCE OUT OUR SYSTEM REIMBURSEMENTS ALSO COME FROM OUR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.
ROUND TWO, UH, THE $4 MILLION PER SECURITY, THE BULK OF THAT COMES FROM, UH, PAYMENTS TO THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE? NO, THAT'S PAYMENTS TO THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
IT'S ALSO CAMERA INSTALLATIONS.
SO, UM, BUT A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THAT, THOSE A PORTION, THOSE PAID MARSHAL HOW MANY MARSHALS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 20 THAT ARE ALLOCATED AS FAR AS THE FUNDING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE UM, FOUR MARSHALS.
'CAUSE IT'S A REIMBURSEMENT PER SE.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT PROBABLY A MARSHAL, IT'S PROBABLY 70, $80,000 A YEAR WITH FULL BENEFITS.
WELL THEN MY SUGGESTION'S NOT GONNA BE AS TACTFUL AS I THOUGHT, WHICH IS THAT IN THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.
NOW LET ME ASK, DO THOSE MARSHALS QUALIFY AS SWORN PEACE OFFICERS UNDER THE CHARTER AMENDMENT? THEY ARE, YES.
SO TO SOME SMALL EXTENT WE ARE SHOULDERING THE BURDEN OF THAT CHARTER AMENDMENT AND WE NEED TO GET APPROPRIATE CREDIT FOR THAT.
AND, AND I WAS GOING AND I AND I WAS, I RUN OUT TIME.
UH, PIGGYBACK ON MS. TONY'S PROB UH, DO WE, WE REALLY GOT HIGH LEVEL OUR, IN OUR REC CENTERS AND REALLY BRING QUALITY PROGRAM IN THERE, WHETHER IT'S A STEM PARTNERSHIP, UH, THE, THE MEDICAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH WELL, UH, WELL, AND, AND UH, OH MY, WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE? YOU GOT IT MR. YEAH.
AND METHODIST HAS A, HAS WANTS TO DO PROGRAMMING LIKE THAT.
SO WE'VE REALLY GOT A HIGH LEVEL THOSE PROGRAMMING FOR OUR REC CENTERS SO WE CAN BRING QUALITY OF LIFE
[00:50:01]
TO OUR, TO OUR COMMUNITY.UM, BUT I AGREE WITH MR.
I MEAN, OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS IT'S CLOSED AND WE HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS OF THAT.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST GONNA FAST TRACK 'EM.
UH, AND THEN WE JUST GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO EVENTUALLY IF WE DO ANYTHING BACK THERE.
BUT THE, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE JUST GOTTA USE THE DATA THAT'S PROVIDED THAT WE HAVE AND JUST COME UP WITH GREAT PROGRAMMING AND WHETHER YOU NEED SOME OF US TO SIT DOWN IN A SMALL COMMITTEE AND, AND, AND, AND DECIDE THAT I'M PRETTY SURE THERE'S FOUR PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT ARE WILLING DO, THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH WITH PROGRAM THAT'S REASONABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN, THEY CAN ACCEPT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING, WE'RE GONNA BE CUTTING BACK EVERY YEAR OR SOMETHING.
AND, AND, AND WE DON'T WANT, WE DON'T, WE'RE NOT ON TOP OF IT.
WE'RE GONNA BE CUTTING BACK A LOT OF STUFF THAT WE DON'T WANT TO CUT AND, AND, AND EVERYTHING AT SOME POINT.
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE I'VE BEEN PART OF THE PARK DEPARTMENT FOR 22 YEARS.
AND I'VE BEEN, AND AND, AND I'VE BEEN HERE WHEN WE CUT IT TO THE BONE AND WE CUT A LOT OF STUFF, A LOT OF REC CENTERS, A LOT OF LIBRARIES AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE, THEY HAD LIBRARIES ON SHOPPING BLOCK RECENTLY.
AND, AND SO I'VE BEEN HERE AND IT'S NOT FUN WHEN YOU HAVE TO SHUT DOWN YOUR LIBRARIES AND YOUR REC CENTERS AND PROGRAMMING FOR THREE TO FOUR YEARS.
I THINK IT TOOK US FIVE YEARS TO RECOVER.
IT TOOK US 10 YEARS TO GIVE BACK YOUR TIME, SIR.
COULD I RESPOND MR. CHAIR SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED, UH, TWO THINGS, ESPECIALLY ON THE HISTORY YOU JUST MENTIONED.
AND, AND, AND I REMEMBER THE 2001 WHEN WE HAD TO GET RID OF PROBABLY ABOUT A HUNDRED EMPLOYEES.
I REMEMBER 2009 WHEN WE HAD TO GET RID OF EMPLOYEES.
I REMEMBER 2011 WHEN WE HAD TO GET RID OF EMPLOYEES AND 2012 AROUND NOW AROUND 2014 IS WHEN CITY GOT IN BETTER SHAPE.
AND THAT'S WHY Y'ALL HEAR ME SAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN 'CAUSE I SEE WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
I GOTTA POSITION THIS DEPARTMENT TO WEATHER THE STORM AND MAKING SURE WE'RE PROTECTING THE CORE PROGRAM.
SO THAT WE DON'T, WHEN WE GET IN THIS ROUGH PATCH, WE DON'T GO TO START CUTTING CORE PROGRAMMING AND THEN IT TAKES US 10 YEARS TO GET IT BACK.
AND SO I'M, I NEED Y'ALL TO TRUST US TO MAKE SURE THAT ME, ME AND MY LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE REST OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE GONNA MAKE THOSE STRATEGIC DECISIONS TO PROTECT THE DEPARTMENT POSITIONERS AS WE GO THROUGH THE ROUGH TIMES.
THE LAST THING I'M GONNA SAY IS ABOUT THE REC CENTERS AND, AND FUTURE PROGRAMMING.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT PARTNERS
FAST FORWARD TODAY IN 2026, WE HAVE OVER, I THINK IT'S 18 MANAGING PARTNERS AND WE HAVE OVER 130 SMALL PARTNERS WHO'S HELPING US MANAGE OUR PARK SYSTEM.
PROVIDE, WE HAVE TO DO THE SAME THING ON THE REC SIDE.
NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO FIND PARTNERS THAT ARE WILLING TO COME IN AND PUT CAPITAL AS WELL AS O AND M TO OPERATE ONE PART OF THE REC CENTER THAT THROWS OFF REVENUE SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE TRADITIONAL TYPE RECREATION PROGRAMS. THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED IF WE'RE GOING TO SURVIVE.
ANYBODY ELSE? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, AT $4 MILLION IN EXTRA PERSONNEL EXPENSE, WAS THAT HOW MUCH, WHAT WAS OUR HEADCOUNT BUDGET FOR 2025 VERSUS HEADCOUNT THAT WE ACTUALLY HIT IN 2025? SO IF WE BUDGETED FOR FOUR, FOR 1600 HEADCOUNT WHERE WE HAD BELOW, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD BUDGETARY NEEDS FOR THINGS, THE ICE STORMS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT DID WE, DID WE HIRE MORE PEOPLE THAN WE PLANNED TO HIRE IN 2025? SO QUITE FRANKLY, UM, WHAT'S, UM, HURTING US A LOT WHEN WE DO THESE OVERRUNS IS HISTORICALLY WE HAD A LARGE VACANCY RATE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T HIRE.
AND THAT HAS CONTINUED TO FOLLOW US.
WE'RE REDUCING IT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, YOU KNOW, YOU SAY VACANCY RATE, THAT MEANS THE POSITION IS STILL OPEN.
THAT MEANS THE POSITION WAS OPEN FOR TOO LONG AND THE BUDGET OFFICE NEEDED A POSITION THAT NEEDED MONEY NEEDED TO GO AWAY.
SO A LOT OF THE POSITIONS ARE THERE WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
SO YOU'VE BEEN, BUT DOES THAT COUNT AGAINST OUR BUDGET? IT DOES COUNT AGAINST YOUR BUDGETS BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE FULL FUNDING THAT YOU NEED FOR THE POSITIONS.
SO WHEN, SO SO WHEN, SO WHEN THAT, WHEN I SAY IT COUNTS AGAINST THE BUDGET, SO, SO IF, IF THERE'S
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A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS JOB THAT WE DON'T FILL, DOES THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THEN GET ADDED TO THAT $4 MILLION O BRIDGE? IT COUNTS TOWARDS THE VACANCY? YES.SO IT IT, IT IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN HAVING VACANT POSITIONS TO HELP US BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND NOT HAVING A VACANT POSITION TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GET A VACANCY.
AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU SAY 'CAUSE SOMETIME IF WE OVERRUN OUR BUDGET, BECAUSE I HIT THIS EMERGENCY, I HAD TO PAY $300,000 IN REPAIRS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE ANY BOND.
BUT THEN, BUT YEAH, BUT THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING SO OUTTA YOUR CONTROL.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, BUT THEY GONNA STILL TAKE OUR VACANCY.
SO, SO WHAT HAPPENED IS, RIGHT, I CAN, I CAN KIND OF HOLD OFF ON TURN BECAUSE I NEED TO TRY TO BALANCE MY BUDGET YEAH.
BECAUSE OF THOSE UNEXPECTED EXPENSES.
BUT I'M GONNA BE PENALIZED BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA TAKE MY VACANCY.
SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT NOW, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT, LIKE HOW MANY ADS WE BUDGETED SURE.
20, 25 AND HOW MANY, WHAT THOSE CATEGORIES ARE.
AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY HEADS YOU'VE ADDED SINCE 2020.
SO IF, IF, IF, IF WE COULD GO ON, UH, LIKE YEAR BY YEAR BREAKDOWN, HOW MANY HEADS WE AND WHAT DEPARTMENTS THOSE ARE IN, UM, WE CAN, WE CAN DO THAT.
AND THEN WHY DON'T WE ADD THOSE HEADS AND ANY OF THOSE THINGS CAN BE OUTSOURCED.
SO I KNOW LIKE RYAN O'CONNOR AND UM, ROBIN HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME OUTSIDE OUTSOURCED MARKETING GROUPS.
AND HAVE, HAVE AND AND WE'RE ABOUT TO, I'M TALKING TO RYAN WHEN HE GETS BACK ABOUT HAVING A BRIEFING FOR THE MARKETING COMMITTEE, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME EFFICIENCIES.
UH, ADDED TO THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT.
UM, BECAUSE WE'RE HIRING A, A LESS EXPENSIVE OUTSIDE SOURCE.
WE HAVE TO PAY FOR BENEFITS AND ENGINE EVERYTHING ELSE.
WHERE ELSE? THAT WOULD BE MY CHALLENGE.
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT MR. POINTS AND MR. CORRECT.
EVERYBODY ELSE HAS SAID, WHERE ELSE CAN WE HAVE MORE EFFICIENCIES AND HIRE AN OUTSOURCE GROUP TO NOT HAVE 10 PEOPLE IN THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT? I THINK AT ONE POINT WE HAD, I THINK PEOPLE, WE HAVE ONE THERE WERE AT THE HEIGHT, THE HEIGHT OF PARK, I MEAN OF OUR MARKETING DEPARTMENT IN, IN, IN, IN HOUSE.
I THINK RENT THREE FULL-TIME, BUT WE HAD PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE PART-TIME.
SO I MEAN, WHERE ELSE COULD WE GET EFFICIENCIES THAT WAY? AND I DON'T KNOW.
UM, AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AT COUNCIL, UM, WHEN, LAST, LAST WEEK WHEN, UM, AND SCOTT'S NOT HERE, SO YOU'RE NOT GONNA YELL AT ME AND SEND ME NASTY TEXT MESSAGES, BUT
MS. MENDELSON BROUGHT UP THAT, HEY, WHY DO WE KEEP BUILDING REC CENTERS IF THEY, WE CAN'T STAFF 'EM AND THE COUNCIL SHOULD STAFF THESE THINGS APPROPRIATELY.
AND SHE WASN'T TRYING TO KILL FOR SELIA, SHE WAS SAYING, LET'S BUILD REC CENTERS.
AND SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WANT REC CENTERS AND THEY WANT, BUT THEY'RE CLOSED AT CERTAIN TIMES IN THE WEEKEND.
HOW, HOW DO WE AS A PARK BOARD DO A BETTER JOB? BUT OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS AND GIVE UP THIS OVER HERE.
I MEAN, YOU BREAK UP VERY GOOD POINTS.
I MEAN IT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S, YEAH.
I MEAN YOU HAVE ONE CONVERSATION WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD AND AND MYSELF GET PRESSURE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN FIND MONEY FOR THIS AND FOUND MONEY FOR THIS TO BUILD THIS AND THIS.
BUT THEN YOU EXPECT ME TO FIGURE OUT A WAY HOW I CAN FUND EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, WE GONNA HAVE A BALANCE
AND, AND I JUST, THERE HAS TO BE A HARD DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, I, I MEAN I, I'VE BEEN AROUND, I DON'T MIND.
IT GOTTA BE A HARD DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S CORE AND WHAT'S NON-CORE IN THE CITY.
UM, LAST COUPLE QUESTIONS FOR, FOR YOU GUYS.
THAT WAS A, THAT WAS A RHETORICAL QUESTION FOR US TO THINK ABOUT, BUT, UM, THE MULTI-YEAR FUNDS FOR THOSE INTEREST BEARING, YES.
AND HOW HAVE THOSE PERFORMED IN TERMS OF INTEREST? ARE THOSE, ARE THOSE INVESTIBLE ACCOUNTS OR ARE THOSE INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNTS? JUST SITTING IN A BANK ACCOUNT? SO THE CITY DOES, UM, ALL OF THAT AND THEY BASICALLY, IT'S LIKE A GROUP INTEREST.
SO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE CITY HAS IN THE BANK THAT EARNS INTEREST, THEY PART, THEY PUSH IT OUT TOWARDS DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE THOSE FUNDS.
SO WE, WE GET THOUGH THAT INTEREST, RIGHT.
THEY DO A SHARED INTEREST WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.
SO THAT SHARED INTEREST, WE DON'T SHARE.
SO IF WE PUT $10 MILLION IN THAT FUND AND IT'S A 3%, DO WE GET $30,000 AT A MILLION DOLLARS OR, OR IS THAT $30,000 SHARED BETWEEN DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS? WE WILL GET WHAT THE CITY HAD LESS ANY FEES OR IF THERE WAS A SHORTAGE.
SO, SO, BUT WE DON'T SHARE THAT WITH A FULL AMOUNT.
SO I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE FEES THEN, BUT WE DON'T SHARE THAT WITH LIKE PUBLIC WORKS OR WITH DW WELL, IT'S A PORTION TO HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAD AT THE BANK ACCOUNT AT THE TIME.
SO THAT'S WHY I SAID LIKE, IF WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS INTEREST, 3%, IF WE MAKE $30,000 LESS FEES, WE DON'T SHARE THAT WITH DW WELL, TECHNICALLY NO.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE, WELL, NO, NOT DW BUT IN GENERAL, NO.
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YEAH.UM, THE, UH, REIMBURSEMENTS THAT YOU GUYS HAD, UM, WAS IT 6.6 MILLION AND YOU HAVEN'T BUDGETED FOR 5 MILLION IN, IN 2026? WHY ARE THAT? WHY IS THAT $1.6 MILLION GOING DOWN? YOU HAD IN, IN 2025, THE REIMBURSEMENTS WERE 5.5 OR $6.6 MILLION.
AND YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE BUDGETED $5 MILLION FOR THE REIMBURSEMENTS OF THE FAIR PARK UTILITY.
SO THAT, WHAT I'M BEING TOLD WAS JUST THE FAIR PARK UTILITY REIMBURSEMENT.
WE DID RECEIVE SOME, PAY SOME MONEY BACK ON FAIR PARK FOR UTILITIES.
UM, JUST FROM 6.6 TO 5 MILLION, CLOSE TO 2.9.
BEEN WHAT WE RECEIVED LESS, UM, THE SHORT THAT THEY DID NOT PAY.
AND THEN THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR 20 FOR 2025 WAS 123.
BUT YOUR, YOUR, THE BUDGET FOR 2026 IS 117.
SO THAT'S A $7 MILLION REDUCTION.
SO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT A PORTION OF THAT REDUCTION.
UM, AND IT, IT'S JUST THE WAY THE CITY DOES THE BUDGETING.
UM, IT WAS ALREADY SET FOR THE YEAR THAT COMES UP.
THOSE BUDGETS ALREADY SET, BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE ADDING SACRED CODES, EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE SUBTRACTING THEIR PART.
UM, SO ALL OF THOSE, UM, TRANSACTIONS HAPPEN IN THAT NUMBER.
UM, KEEP IN MIND THAT FAIR PARK DOLLARS ARE IN THAT DROP IN OUR BUDGET.
THAT'S THE, IS THAT 5.3 MILLION GOING TO 5.9? YEAH.
IF YOU ADD THE 5.9 TO THE 7 MILLION.
22, 5 0.9 FROM THE ORIGINAL 1 22 WAS OUR ORIGINAL FUND.
IF YOU SUBTRACT THE 5.9 AND THEY GIVE BACK WHAT THEY GIVE US MERIT MONEY, THEY GIVE US, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMMING MONEY, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
'CAUSE I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE IT BEFORE YOU, BUT THE EFFICIENCIES WE GAVE UP LAST YEAR AND WHAT WAS THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT? IT'S LIKE A WASH TO ME.
I GO FOUND $3 MILLION WORK FOR REDUCTIONS.
AND YOU SAY YOU GIVE ME BACK $3 MILLION.
WILL YOU GIVE ME BACK FOUR? THAT'S FINE.
AND I NET A MILLION, BUT I'M GONNA BE HONEST HERE NOW, I DON'T
WELL, I THINK MR. YOUNG'S SPOT ON WITH HIS, HIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POLICE, THE, THE MARSHALS, THAT'S A, SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE THROUGH THE CHARTER HANDLED BY SOMEBODY ELSE.
I MEAN, AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, THE EFFICIENCIES ON OUTSOURCING AND SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS WOULD BE REALLY GOOD TO INVESTIGATE AND HOW WE CAN DO THAT.
I'VE, I, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT BRIAN'S DONE.
I'VE HEARD A LOT OF GOOD THINGS WITH THAT, THAT ARE COMING WITH THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE BUDGET FOR 2026.
ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? UH, WHERE'S MY, HERE WE GO.
ANY STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS? STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS? UM, ANY LIAISON REPORTS FOR THAT? MR. WHERE? UH, YEAH, WE GOT A KID SPRINGS REC CENTER.
SORRY, I DON'T KNOW THEIR NAME.
UH, I, I SHOULD KNOW DAVID, THE PREACHER.
THEY'RE COMING OUT TO CLEAN THE PARK AND THE LAKE AND THE, AND HARD WASH, OUR BUILDING AND ALL KIND OF STUFF.
SO IF YOU WANNA JOIN US, IT'S FROM 10 TO 12 THIS SATURDAY.
SO BRING YOU GLOVES AND BRING YOU YOUR, YOUR CLOTHES.
OH, THERE WAS A OMMUNITY PARK CLEANUP AT UH, CRAWFORD THIS SATURDAY.
I'LL BE OUT THERE FROM 10 TO 12.
ALL THE CLEANUPS HAVE BEEN SAVAGE.
THEY ARRIVED WHILE WE WERE TALKING.
AND ANYBODY? UH, ANYBODY ELSE? YEAH.
ALRIGHT, HEARING OTHER ITEMS, UH, 11.
WE WILL ADJOURN THE PARK BOARD MEETING AT 11:52 AM IT WAS TWO HOUR MEETING, FOUR HOUR LATE.