Parks & Recreation and Public Works present 2024 accomplishments and priorities; staffing and aging infrastructure flagged as key challenges

Parks & Recreation and Public Works delivered annual reports to the Victoria City Council on Tuesday outlining accomplishments from 2024 and priorities for 2025, with both departments highlighting achievements and common challenges including staffing constraints and aging infrastructure.

Parks and Recreation presented additions to the city's programming and facilities, including expanded golf course amenities, a new short‑game bunker at Riverside, new playground installation at Bronson Park, and the city’s first citywide Halloween and other community events. Parks Director Lisa (last name in packet) noted increased tournament rounds, continued promotion of the Riverside Golf Course (AJGA preview), and the department's efforts to increase facility rentals and community center use. The department has begun CAPRA (Commission for Accreditation of Parks & Recreation Agencies) accreditation work as a two‑year initiative and is pursuing volunteer programs such as Adopt‑A‑Spot and Tree City USA to help with maintenance and beautification.

Public Works Director Ken Gill reviewed utility operations, reporting that the surface water treatment plant processed roughly three billion gallons in 2024 and that the wastewater plants and collections crews performed extensive maintenance and repairs. He cited metrics including water distribution repairs, lift station work, televised sewer lines and thousands of service calls. Gill emphasized ongoing capital work — including filter replacements at water plants and planned headworks screening design (discussed elsewhere on the agenda) — and noted the city still has large quantities of aging cast‑iron water mains and concrete/clay sewer mains that require ongoing investment. Staffing, licensing requirements for utility staff, and retention of specialized employees were noted as continuing operational challenges.

Both departments flagged opportunities: Parks & Recreation pointed to increased weekend and evening programming, contractual instructors for specialized classes, and community engagement as ways to address program gaps; Public Works cited ongoing CIP water and sewer main replacements, meter replacement programs, and grant opportunities for traffic signal and drainage upgrades.

Council members asked clarifying questions about trail mileage, golf membership caps and CAPRA accreditation steps. Parks staff said the city aims to maintain a golf membership cap (2,250 listed in materials as 225) to preserve tee time availability for both members and public play and described CAPRA as a quality‑assurance process that would improve recruitment and best practices. Public Works provided a list of miles of cast iron and clay mains and described lining options that avoid full excavation for some sewer mains.

Both departments will continue to carry forward projects in the capital improvement plan and return to council with updates and funding requests as specific projects advance.