Board Meeting Minutes

LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT

71 TREVARNO ROAD

LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA 94551-4931

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, July 28, 2004

5:45 p.m., Council Chambers

3575 Pacific Avenue

Livermore, California

MINUTES

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Alice Quinn, David Furst, Scott Kamena, Dale Turner, and

Chair Maryalice Faltings (5)

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT: None (0)

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Tim Barry, Gail Sloane, Barbara Kraybill, Felix Errico, Rich Lange

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

Meeting was called to order at 5:45 p.m. by Chair Faltings. Director Furst was noted absent at the time of roll call.

2. LIVERMORE AREA YOUTH ADVISORY COMMISSION

No action was taken by the Board of Directors.

Director Furst arrived at 5:47 p.m.

3. FISCAL YEAR 2004/2005 OPERATING BUDGET

General Manager Barry announced that the District would be losing an additional 10% of property taxes to the State over the next two years, as opposed to the expected 25%. Accordingly, he had revised his recommendation for balancing the final budget, which would require making up a shortfall of $473,538. General Manager explained the philosophy under which his proposed cuts were being made: a) to retain core services and provide for maintenance of parks and facilities; to identify services that could be suspended and re-instituted at a later date; reduction of overhead in subsidized programs and functions; retaining staffing and supplies in self-sustaining program areas; retaining front line worker positions.

General Manager Barry reviewed his proposed budget cut measures and reported that he was able to balance the budget without borrowing from reserves. He noted that in fiscal year 05/06, it was projected that the District would be able to add to reserves.

Director Furst requested that a discussion take place on the budget amounts set for Board travel and Board payment for attendance at meetings. He suggested that the Board not travel for a year, which would save the District approximately $14,000, and that the amount of $25,000 for Director meeting stipends be cut in half.

4. FISCAL YEAR 2004/2005 WORKFORCE REDUCTION PLAN

General Manager Barry presented his workforce reduction plan. The plan included the layoff of six full time and two part time designated staff identified on the “Proposed Measures to Balance the 2004/2005 District Budget” that was distributed to the Board of Directors. Employees would be given the choice of early retirement, demotion, or severance pay and layoff.

Director Turner questioned General Manager Barry regarding the effective date for the reduction in force, and if employees on the staff reduction list would be retained if other eligible employees chose to retire, thus saving the District money. Director Turner expressed concern that the cost of the retirement program was an unknown at this point. General Manager Barry reported that the information he has is that there would not be many employees taking advantage of the program and it would not generate enough savings to make a significant difference in the District budget.

Public comment was received from:

a. Kim Whichard, Altair Avenue, Livermore. Ms. Whichard addressed the Board on the value of the ranger and naturalist programs. She indicated that as a third grade teacher, she had relied on the school programs. She urged the Board to keep the education component with the schools in place.

A motion was made by Director Kamena and seconded by Director Quinn, to approve the amended workforce reduction plan. An amending motion was put forth by Director Turner to reduce the monthly work hours by eight hours per month, equivalent to $153,679, to be applied towards the jobs that had been eliminated. Amending motion died for lack of a second. Vote on the main motion was 5-0.

5. FISCAL YEAR 2004/2005 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET

General Manager Barry presented the staff recommendation for prioritization of capital development projects and requested Board feedback on his proposal.

Board discussed with General Manager Barry: planning expenditures for Oak Park; inclusion of a bicycle street course in the budget; the cost of the monument sign for Ravenswood Historic Site; not expending the full amount of capital project funds available; the ranking of projects; the District’s capability to manage the projects scheduled for the upcoming budget year with the staff available; continuing to investigate ways of putting projects out to bid so as to get the best bids possible, and creation of a history of each park facility relative to needed maintenance.

Public comment was received, as follows:

a. Diane Kavener, Linden Way, Pleasanton, informed the board that she was looking forward to the equestrian center arena cover.

b. Kathy Burgle, Coronado Way, Livermore, LARPD employee at Sunset ESS, addressed the Board on the need for park renovations at Karl Wente Park. She asked how the Board prioritized parks for renovation.

c. Carolyn Hendrickson, Tracy, California State Horsemen’s Association, spoke in favor of the Equestrian Center arena cover. She informed the Board that she had conducted an informal survey of who used the site at the Spring Stampede event in 2004, as an illustration of the wide geographical area from which the event drew participants.

6. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 7:03 p.m.

APPROVED:

_____________________________________

Chair, Board of Directors

ATTEST:

___________________________________

General Manager and ex-officio

Clerk to the Board of Directors