Board trims disaster reserve, directs senior day consolidation and sets $1 million initial allocation for Pollock Pines park

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors on April 22 approved updates to budget policy and several program-level budget directions for fiscal year 2025—6, including a proposal to treat discretionary transient-occupancy tax as general revenue and a lower target for the county's disaster expense designation. The board voted 5-0 to adopt staff's recommendations.

Chief Administrative Office staff presented three primary budget matters: policy clarifications for transient occupancy tax (TOT) and disaster reserves; a proposal to consolidate the county's two senior day sites; and direction on Forebay (Fort Bay) Park in Pollock Pines.

On policy, staff proposed removing a separate board designation that ring-fenced discretionary TOT, treating that revenue as general fund instead. Staff also recommended lowering the county's disaster-designation target from $5 million to $1.25 million after reviewing recent disaster costs and unreimbursed exposure.

On senior day services, Emma Owens of the CAO office summarized a fee study and operational analysis. Owens said the fee increases staff proposed "would result in a 97% cost recovery after 3 years." Staff also recommended consolidating the two senior-day centers by closing the El Dorado Hills site and using the Placerville facility for day services. Owens told the board staff does not expect total served capacity to decline and described transportation coordination options with El Dorado Transit for participants who would otherwise travel to Placerville.

The proposal prompted questions and opposition from El Dorado Hills residents and other community members. Speakers said the El Dorado Hills site serves an area with a large older population and asked whether Placerville has physical capacity and accessible transportation. Residents, including several who said they had helped raise funds or had served on park groups, urged the board to consider alternatives such as keeping the El Dorado Hills site open or better publicizing programs.

On Fort Bay Park in Pollock Pines, Deputy CAO Jennifer Franich presented three options: (1) stop further construction and close out contracts (highest short-term savings but could forfeit donated senior exercise equipment and require repayment of some grant funds); (2) a middle approach to build a restroom and gravel parking (allowed use of Prop 68 grant dollars, but could still forfeit some donated equipment because of surface requirements); and (3) build the full park as originally envisioned (highest cost).

After public comment from many Pollock Pines residents and fundraising volunteers, the board directed staff to include $1,000,000 in the recommended FY 25—6 budget for Fort Bay Park and return with a plan for an "initial phase" of the park that would include restrooms, parking and options for senior fitness equipment installation. The board asked staff to explore funding and cost-reduction options (grants from AQMD/CARB, community fundraising, donated labor and lower-cost surfacing) and to return with a detailed plan and cost estimate.

Board action: a motion to approve the CAO's package of policy updates, the senior-day consolidation direction, the fee study path and the Fort Bay Park direction (including the $1,000,000 allocation) passed 5-0. Staff will return with fee resolutions for formal adoption and a plan for Fort Bay Park implementation.

Ending: Staff said it will include the $1,000,000 Fort Bay Park allocation and senior day fee changes in the recommended budget; the board will review the recommended budget at a public hearing when it is returned in June.