Rec & Park seeks to consolidate old bond balances, committee approves amended reappropriation

The Recreation and Parks Department presented a supplemental appropriation request on Dec. 11 to consolidate residual balances leftover from prior general-obligation parks bonds and to address escalating construction costs on several projects.

Navin, the department’s planning and capital director, told the committee that reconciliation of many small remaining appropriations produced roughly $5.6 million available and that $3.2 million is proposed for reappropriation to a master project to make remaining funds easier to manage. He said funds would be prioritized for shovel-ready capital work and to close project gaps caused by recent bid escalation; specific candidate uses included the Telegraph Hill landslide and an elevator project at Civic Center.

The department also requested two permanent Project Manager I positions to handle a higher workload triggered by new bond issuances. Budget analyst Mr. Rose recommended approving the supplemental appropriation but recommended continuing the annual salary ordinance (the two positions) to the call of the chair until Rec & Park provides more detailed workload and staffing justification.

Supervisor John Avalos successfully moved to keep an $838,000 appropriation source reserved specifically for the Geneva Car Barn project pending a Rec & Park report on eligible uses; Rec & Park staff described immediate needs such as roof repairs (estimated ~$250,000) and asbestos/lead abatement (estimated ~$300,000). The committee approved the supplemental appropriation as amended and continued the staffing ordinance for later review.