Board Meeting Minutes

LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT
4444 East Ave.
LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA 94551-4931

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, February 23, 2005
5:45 p.m., Council Chambers
3575 Pacific Avenue
Livermore, California

MINUTES

LARPD BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Steve Goodman, Scott Kamena, Dale Turner and Chair David Furst (4)

LARPD BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: Maryalice Faltings (1)

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Barry, Pat Kasberg, Lora Cohen, Brian Tibbetts, Jim Carlson, Rich Lange Barbara Kraybill, and Mike Nicholson

1. CALL TO ORDER—ROLL CALL—PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Meeting was called to order at 5:48 p.m. by Chair Furst, who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Director Kamena was absent at the time of roll call, but arrived at 5:50 p.m.

2. BUDGET WORKSHOP

Directors and staff participated in a budget workshop which consisted of: 1) A review of

Fiscal Year 2003/04 ending balance; 2) A review of Fiscal Year 2004/05 mid year operating

budget status; 3) A review of Fiscal Year 2004/05 Capital budget status and proposed

changes; 4) A review of Robert Livermore Community Center budget and proposed changes;

and 5) A review of Fiscal Year 2005/06 budget process and calendar.

General Manager Barry stated that the staff recommends no change to the 2004/05 operating

budget. The property taxes are projected to be $250,000 higher than budgeted due to a larger

than expected increase in assessed values and additional ERAF calculation based on Fiscal

Year 2001/02 rather than Fiscal Year 2003/04.

Administrative Assistant Cohen explained that the increase in tax revenue is offset by a

reduction in revenue of $258,883 related in large part to the delay in the opening of the

Robert Livermore Community Center. The results is a net reduction in projected revenue of

$109,000. Staff is also projecting a net reduction in the salary and benefit budget of

$172,000. The mid year revised projection results in a net increase to reserves of $165,000 or

1.2% of the operating budget. These changes are not significant and require no Board action.

Due to unknown variables in the operation of the community center, staff recommends no

changes to the operating budget and a “stay the course” approach to the remainder of the

fiscal year.

Board discussions included the topics of property tax projections, the Murray Township tax

sharing agreement with EBRPD to operate the district’s regional park system, increasing

salaries and benefits for staff, criteria for spending in-lieu fees, and park restrooms.

General Manager Barry reported on the RLCC expense breakdown and Measure L funds. The

total projected funds available as of January 2005 is $5,877 but the future anticipated

construction expenses are projected to increase by $762,888 due to construction delays.

General Manager Barry recommended revising the Capital Improvement Budget and funding

the increase in construction expenses for the RLCC by using in-lieu fees of projects funded in

2004/05 totaling $513,000, $144,815 from the Gardella Plaza Developer Agreement

previously not allocated, and $110,950 from City funding allocated for equipment.

General Manager Barry listed the projects budgeted for in FY 2004/05 that he recommends

moving to FY 2005/06.

Director Kamena stated that he agrees with the list of projects to be moved to FY 2005/06

except for the Bothwell Center Park redevelopment. The district has promised the Bothwell

Center neighbors a new park after LARPD vacates the building and new tenants move in.

Director Kamena feels that if we postpone construction on the park it will appear that the

district is reneging on the deal. Director Kamena would like to see staff engage in hiring an

architect to design the park and meet with the neighbors to get their input. He would like to

see this process begin to demonstrate the good faith commitment that we made.

General Manager Barry stated that there are two architects that the district has hired in the last

couple of years and he would like to look for a few more architects to get a variety of design

ideas into our system. It will take some time to do the interviewing of the architects and get

proposals from them for the design of the park.

Directors Turner and Goodman stated support for leaving the Bothwell Center Park

redevelopment in the 2004/05 budget.

Chair Furst asked what impact delaying a fence around the Garaventa Ranch Wetlands

Preserve will have on the protected species in that area. Naturalist Supervisor Nicholson

stated that most of the impact right now is from the neighbors going into the area but as the

neighborhood grows it will become a bigger problem. Currently he has not seen any negative

impact on the site and the fencing could be put off for another year. Chair Furst recommended

putting the fencing off another year but keeping it as a high priority.

Chair Furst asked about the South Livermore Avenue Trails connections and what is going to

be sacrificed if the project is delayed until next fiscal year. General Manager Barry stated that

expenses in 2003/04 were for appraisal studies done on certain properties and the EIR on each

of those locations by the City staff. Currently staff and Legal Counsel are working on

approaching the owners of the properties to gain easements for the trails.

The Board unanimously agreed to keep the funding in the Capital Improvement Budget for

FY 2004/05 for the Bothwell Center Park redevelopment.

General Manager Barry also recommended revising the Capital Improvement Budget to

include the cost of replacing the fuel tank at the Maintenance Service Center. This is a project

that the City is executing but LARPD has a financial responsibility for a portion of the cost

and the City is requesting $25,000 from the district as our share.

Administrative Assistant Cohen reported on the FY 2005/06 Budget Development Schedule.

General Manager Barry reported that he had met with staff and suggested that a salary survey

not be done this year and they agreed. General Manager Barry also informed staff that he will

suggest to the Board to consider a cost of living increase when they are developing the FY

2005/06 budget.

Chair Furst recessed the meeting at 6:37 p.m.

Chair Furst reconvened the meeting at 6:45 p.m.

3. CONSENT AGENDA

3.1 Board Minutes

3.1.1 Regular meeting of February 9, 2005.

On a motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director Kamena, approved the Consent Agenda, passing 4-0.

4. OLD BUSINESS:

4.1 FACILITY RENTAL POLICIES

General Manager Barry reported that there is a need to adjust the facility rental policies by applying the same policies adopted for the Robert Livermore Community Center to the other district facilities that we manage. Community Center Director Lange addressed the Board and explained that in February of 2004 the Board approved new procedures for rental of facilities at the Robert Livermore Community Center. The new procedures have worked out well and are more effective and less cumbersome. Staff would like Board approval to umbrella the Veterans Building, Ravenswood, Carnegie Building, the Barn, and Bothwell Center and have them all fall under the new procedure.

On a motion by Director Kamena, seconded by Director Goodman, approved the changes to the district facility rental policies, passing 4-0.

5. NEW BUSINESS:

5.1 ROBERT LIVERMORE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT CONTRACT CHANGE ORDER

General Manager Barry reported that OVERAA Construction and their sub-contractor for heating, ventilation and air conditioning N. V. Heathorn, have met with District representatives and come to terms with issues concerning additional work, construction delays and increased costs. This amount of $233,129.00 is within the Community Center budget. This change order formalizes an agreement between the parties at the conclusion of the project and has been reviewed by District Legal Counsel.

No public comment was received.

Resolution

On a motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director Kamena, adopted and approved Resolution No. 1949, approving Change Order #19 for the Robert Livermore Community Center, by the following roll call vote:

AYES: Directors Kamena, Goodman, Turner and Chair Furst (4)

NOES: None (0)

ABSENT: Director Faltings (1)

5.2 DISTRICT AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003/2004

Cory Biggs, of Maze and Associates, presented the results of the District audit, Extended Student Services audit, and GOLFA audit for Fiscal Year 2003/04. The GOLFA (Governments of Livermore Financing Authority) audit is not requested for approval since GOLFA has its own board. Mr. Biggs stated that all three opinions are clean of findings and are unqualified, which is the highest form of assurance you can get. There are no compliance findings and no question costs. Mr. Biggs did recommend dissolving the GOLFA which was created to construct the Maintenance Service Center and is no longer needed.

No public comment was received.

On a motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director Kamena, accepted the Fiscal Year 2003/04 District audit, passing 4-0.

5.3 EXTENDED STUDENT SERVICES PROGRAM AUDIT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003/2004

On a motion by Director Turner, seconded by Director Kamena, accepted the Fiscal Year 2003/04 ESS audit, passing 4-0.

6. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

APPROVED:

_____________________________________

Chair, Board of Directors

ATTEST:

______________________________________

General Manager and ex-officio

Clerk to the Board of Directors

Livermore Area Recreation and Park District
4444 East Ave.
Livermore, California 94550-5053
(925) 373-5700
Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. M-Th.
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday
9 a.m.-noon Saturday
E-mail: info@larpd.dst.ca.us
© 2001