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Council previews budget requests: recreation master plan, ADA assessment and wildfire preparedness funding
Summary
Council considered budget requests that would add a recreation master plan ($350,000), an ADA transition plan ($100,000) and up to $250,000 in Measure H funds for emergency/wildfire preparedness projects; staff will return with firm scopes, cost breakdowns, and a two-year timeline for major studies.
City staff presented three substantive budget requests as part of the fiscal-year planning discussion: up to $350,000 for a comprehensive recreation master plan and needs assessment, $100,000 for a formal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan, and up to $250,000 in Measure H funds for emergency-preparedness/wildfire projects.
Parks and recreation staff said the recreation master plan would replace a 2009 facilities plan, include a community needs assessment, and likely involve outreach and possible architectural evaluation of the community center. "This will allow us to address community needs for fields, neighborhood parks, and the community center in a coordinated way," a parks director told council.
Finance staff said Measure H revenues have strengthened the city's fiscal position and that the five-year forecast still maintains reserves above the 60% minimum even if the requested items are funded. Council members asked staff for clearer phasing: several suggested funding a portion up front, and carrying unspent allocations forward because master-plan work often spans multiple fiscal years.
The council also discussed a $25,000 proposal from AARD for a pilot downtown recreation presence; staff said a limited downtown pilot could be structured once terms and a lease/usage agreement are finalized. On wildfire preparedness, council asked staff to circulate the emergency-preparedness project list used by the emergency commission, including rough costs, so the council can prioritize projects and coordinate with any state funding proposals.
What happens next: staff will return with detailed scopes, a request-for-proposals schedule for the recreation master plan, the emergency-preparedness project list with cost estimates, and options for phasing or partial-year budgeting.
All budgetary figures and program descriptions in this article are taken from staff presentations to council and from the meeting transcript.
