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Commission set workshop date for budget priorities; consent calendar approved unanimously
Summary
Staff notified the Community Services Commission that the city will convene a joint commissions workshop on Feb. 25 to inform the FY 2025-27 budget and highlighted park safety, vandalism and demand for amenities such as pickleball; the commission approved the consent calendar unanimously.
Laura Hunter, speaking for city staff, told the Community Services Commission that the city operates on a two-year budget cycle and that the fiscal 2023-25 budget ends June 30, 2025. She said staff is preparing the FY 2025-27 budget and invited commissioners to a joint commissions workshop at City Hall on Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m. to weigh in on major projects and funding priorities.
"It's important for everyone to make this joint commissions workshop if at all possible because it's the best time for the community services commission to weigh in on important projects to be funded," Hunter said, relaying an email from Sean McGovern.
Hunter said staff's strategic-plan input had identified recurring themes that will inform budget recommendations: park safety, maintenance of 31 parks, a focus-group study that found service gaps for specific age groups, and continued high demand for pickleball as a frequently requested amenity. She said the commission will receive more detail at the Feb. 5 staff report.
Vice Chair Shear and other commissioners raised park-safety concerns, citing repeated vandalism in parks with restrooms and parks near the freeway. "We've had a lot of theft there," Shear said, and asked staff to consider options that may have a budget impact. Hunter said staff will propose projects tied to the strategic initiative plan and encouraged commissioners to send ideas to Sean McGovern ahead of the workshop.
At the start of the meeting the commission considered the consent calendar. A commissioner moved to approve the consent calendar and another seconded; the chair called the vote and the motion "passes unanimously," according to the meeting record.
Commissioners used the member-comments portion of the meeting to note community programming and volunteer needs, including an announcement that Lake Forest Little League's opening day is scheduled for March 1 at Heroes Park and that organizers are seeking volunteers for concessions, bounce-house supervision and setup and cleanup.
