Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department Capital Maintenance Municipal Services Taxing Unit - No Funding Required

1:26:31Okay. So I got a motion and a second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion passed 4-0. That ends the public hearing part of our meeting today and we'll move back to regular item, uh P thirty-eight.

1:26:50All right.

1:26:53Thank you. Jim Lou. R

1:26:55thirty eight.

1:26:56R thirty eight.

1:26:56R thirty

1:26:57eight.

1:26:58This is when you're ready.

1:27:00Good afternoon, Commissioner. Christina Cordone, Assistant Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources. I'm gonna pinch hit here for Mr. Keith Wiley who couldn't be here today.

1:27:12So um I am here um to present a uh capital maintenance MSTU for the parks department. So during the fiscal year 25 budget workshop, uh our department received um recommendation to present a capital maintenance MSTU for parks. So this is what I'm here um to do today. A little bit a little bit of history. Um in 2016 the board approved our parks master plan. And that master plan identified $14.1 million in deferred maintenance, $22

1:27:42million in improvements that needed to occur in existing park facilities, and $185 million to new capital maintenance projects or capital projects. Um in 2018 we went out for the Go Bond referendum, the uh general obligation bond. So the public approved $22 million um for parks deferred maintenance. That was a ballot initiative and it passed by 73% margin. That funding source uh is not a recurring funding

1:28:12source, it was for one-time capital maintenance projects. Um last year the board approved the increase to the parks impact fee. So that increase went from approximately $900 per single family dwelling and um $627 for multifamily to $3,450 per dwelling unit cost. That fee increase was approved under a plan-based approach. So there's approximately nine. projects that are

1:28:42going to be occurring countywide for a total of a for a total of about 267 million and that's anticipated to be completed by 2045. These projects are essential to maintaining our level of service standards that is outlined by the comprehensive master plan as the population of the county continues to grow. Um The parks master plan that was adopted in 2016 um Did not

1:29:13contemplate a long term um operation. It didn't contemplate the long term operation maintenance uh needs for our existing and our proposed facilities. So on this slide you'll see this is currently what our department manages. So 23 active parks, 14 passive parks, rec complexes, community centers, swimming pools, athletic fields, boat rams, multi-use trails, conservation land, park land. We have approximately 200 employees, Hundred

1:29:44and eighty seasonal positions that are coming here soon to help us with summer camp and and all of our summer activities. Uh weekly, monthly, annual programming. We also do community events and special events. And so to kind of manage and oversee all that, this is currently our operating and maintenance budget. Um I think I uh went one over. Um so during the um FY twenty two uh we received one million dollars

1:30:14for non-capital improvement projects. So that amount was added to our operating um our operating budget. Um Based on that information, um Our department compared to the size of other jurisdictions across the nation, compared to the national recreation. The National Parks and Recreation Association. We've been able to establish a benchmark of about $58 per capita. Currently, with our $22 million budget, we have about $31 per

1:30:44capita for operating and maintenance. The GOBON that was approved in 2018, that funding is either going to be expended or encumbered by the end of this fiscal year. So starting in fiscal year 25, the Parks Department does not have any funding for capital maintenance. Um So our department has created a standard asset replacement schedule. So we have 20-year plans for all of our facilities. When

1:31:14you add all of our amenities that we have, that and and when we need to replace them, that's on average about $8.2 million that we need a funding every year to upkeep with the replacement of our capital projects. So some of the capital maintenance examples that we need are replacing playgrounds, replacing fencing, repairing irrigation, doing park renovations, things of of that nature. Um so we are here um basically

1:31:44to recommend um that we have a dedicated capital maintenance MSTU for park. Um If we are to do the $8.2 million, that equates to about .1768 millage, so about $27 for an average taxable house home value of $150,000. As I mentioned with our 20-year plans, what we've done is we've taken the asset value of all of our amenities and parks. So we estimate approximately $500 to $700

1:32:15million in asset value. So if this dedicated capital MSTU for maintenance is established, what we're asking for results approximately 1.3% six four percent um the of the replacement value. The standard business practice is about two to five percent for the replacement value of all the assets that you have. So um for a quick reference for our execution, um the 2018 uh general obligation bond, we've done

1:32:45an annual um execution of expenditures of about $3.6 million. Um so these are some examples of projects that could be completed with a capital maintenance MSTU. These are projects that we were able to complete with a general obligation bond. So this is the Lake Lisa Playground. This is what it looked like before it got replaced. This is what it currently looks like now. Little bit different also.

1:33:12That's good.

1:33:14Yeah. Um this is Strickland Boardwalk on the north end. Um on the left side you'll see what it used to look like, what it currently looks like today.

1:33:23Very nice.

1:33:24Uh the Cruise Lake Tower.

1:33:29Uh this is what it currently looks like today and with the Cruise Lake Tower we did add a a sidewalk leading to it so that way it'd be accessible by all.

1:33:37Nice. Good, yeah.

1:33:39It's a beautiful view up there. Um this is the Land O' Lakes fishing dock that's in the back part of the of uh the park. This is what it currently looks like today.

1:33:53Um and this is the Sarkey Wilderness Park, the resurfacing of the multi use trail. We don't have a before picture, but this is what the pr uh trail looks like after it was resurfaced. And I've ridden it as bad it's bad news. With general navigation bonds. I've rollerbladed it a lot.

1:34:10Um so this is an example of what the potential millage rate could be for a dedicated capital maintenance MSTU for parks um based on the total budget amount um what each um taxable household value would be. Um

1:34:29So one of the benefits for the Parks Department to have a dedicated MSTU is that it will allow us to address the future maintenance needs of as the basically the county population and the tax base grows. It will also reduce the future needs for the parks maintenance to be coming out of the general fund. And in addition, it'll remove competition with the public services branch for new funding through the BPIs for the general fund. So currently for the FY25

1:34:59budget, we have approximately $2 million in BPIs that we are requesting that could come out of that list and go into a parks capital maintenance MSTU.

1:35:14So the next step potentially could be for the Parks Department to prepare an MSTU ordinance for BCC consideration. Then set an MSTU assessment, and then the MSTU would be included within the standard fiscal year 25 county budget approval timeline. So in conclusion, we're basically here to receive guidance from you guys on how we address the capital maintenance needs for the Parks Department.

1:35:45Mm Mr Chairman M I have been waiting for this day for a couple years. Um I've been asking and asking for this. Um uh you know, I can show you pictures of Starkey uh Starkey Regional Park or whatever we call that. Um where the grass now in the fields is gone because such overuse use because we don't have enough. And um Christina Fitzpatrick sent

1:36:16me the photos because her kids were out there playing soccer and she said it was almost at dangerous levels that the kids are gonna twist their ankles because they've overused over loved the soccer field. So um I know that we have a little league c um charter in Starkey Ranch that I know Keith asked them not to charter it because we don't have fields for 'em. They're gonna be in your district. No, in Bradford's district,

1:36:42um,

1:36:42in Bexley, but we don't have the money to build it yet. Um so the last time we added a Little Leagues complex Holiday Wreck?

1:36:50Mm-hmm. Yes, man.

1:36:52In the eighties?

1:36:52Yeah.

1:36:53So we are way behind um on on getting these projects out of the ground and and the mainten and then we need to maintain it. I can tell you that the trail going up Starkey Boulevard, which is part of the Coast to Coast Trail It needs to be repaid.

1:37:08Well when I came when I came on board as county commissioner in sixteen We were twenty years behind on maintenance for all the parks.

1:37:16Mm-hmm I don't think

1:37:17And that was the reason for the bond that came about. Commissioner Weightman. And you've got to be very, very thankful. It wasn't this group or the group prior commissioners that were here before we would have done it and approved it. But the fact of it is, our citizens approved that bond issue that brought us out of that. Of course COVID came along and actually helped us finish a lot of that work quicker than we could have otherwise.

1:37:45Commissioner Oakley, um

1:37:46Commissioner

1:37:46Weightman wasn't here, but I remember when um your constituents came here. I don't know the name of the ball field up here.

1:37:54Parks

1:37:55uh the Little League parks. The little yeah, the Little League parents came to us from that field and said they were turning the lights on and off with the eight foot two by four so they didn't get electric.

1:38:10Some Premier County we are. I'll never forget the Bayonet Point. Oh my gosh. So I hope that was the first thing we got fixed. But I am uh remote controlled. I think you know our parks are integral to providing a quality of life and um and grateful that I know it took a lot of work to get here and I'm sorry Ke Keith couldn't be here. I know he wanted to be here to present this, but um I'm all for moving forward.

1:38:38We're not

1:38:39taking any action today.

1:38:40Can we go back to the slide where it showed the rates, I guess it is? So and one day in the future we'll be asked to approve some rate on here? You'll be asked to

1:38:52approve an ordinance first.

1:38:55Yeah, the order of operations is you'll you'll you'll what we're asking for direction today is is to go ahead and prepare the ordinance and hold the public hearing. Um if all that goes in advance of the budgeting process, then we would we would budget appropriately and then bring a the the MST will be established and then in July when you set the trim you can decide at what rate, if any, the board would like to like to select on that for the upcoming for the upcoming tax year.

1:39:22I don't w wanna speak for each and every one, but I I can say the majority of us feel that We definitely need this for our our citizens in Pasco because they're growing and growing and and more being born in our our county and more hidden fields. So it's it's well needed and we've got a great parks department and I commend all of y'all for the work you do and to bring about all the successes we have through our sports area and in our park. Marks uh Yeah.

1:39:53Any other questions or

1:39:58Yeah picture. Yeah. We hear our office hears it. daily just about. We need more fields, we need space, we need land, we need this, batting cages, we turp you name it. Uh and I think

1:40:15I like to see this MSTU go further. I like I think we need to we can look a little bit longer, longer term and evolve this MSTU to where the parks really has its its own funding source and its own uh funding mechanism through the MSTU and not rely on general fund should times get tough. And eventually I'd like to see the vast majority of the parks budget tied into an MSTU and pulled off the general

1:40:46fund. That way essentially the parks budget, they don't have to worry about Uh I mean there'll be a public hearing process so there'll be processes if the MSTU were reduced or increased or what have you. They don't have to worry about our citizens and our the folks who use these fields so often have to worry about general fund budget wars, right? So just something to think about as we go further, maybe expand the MSTU, the role of this MSTU, and while while while funding that MSTU to the

1:41:16right number pull the burden of parks off the general fund and then parks have its own long-term standalone budget source. That way our parks team can really think long-term and really think 20 years ahead, maybe 30 years ahead. Um 'cause you heard her say twenty

1:41:34forty five.

1:41:35We're further than that.

1:41:37And I mean well that's what I mean that some of the money from the bond they're not gonna expend it. But the bond

1:41:43the bond is got I don't wanna have to with parts of the labor growing. Like what's our average? Forty six is our average age now in Pasco? So I'm getting young. We see So we see we see our demographic changing and the need changing. So um just something to think about as we move forward on the MSTU process here and fully supportive of MSTU for our parks, our residents are clearly demanding it and wanting it and um happy to happy to work through

1:42:13this process and and find a healthy number.

1:42:19Twenty forty five date is build out of the facilities plan. Oh and that's that's tied that's tied to impact fee. Your bonds have to be done in three years.

1:42:30Three years.

1:42:31Okay.

1:42:31Um another advantage to doing this this way, I believe, is that this can be bonded. Where impact fee can't really

1:42:40No.

1:42:40No?

1:42:41Well you can And

1:42:41MS D you can be bonded, right?

1:42:44You s would have to have a referendum. You ha to bond any taxes you'd have to go up to a referendum.

1:42:49Uh up to any amount or a after a certain amount?

1:42:53The the general law is that if you are going to pledge ad valorem taxes of any of any kind, you have to have a referendum. That's why the bonds were done by referendum.

1:43:07Okay. What what would it be required of this MSW to take over all the needs of parks?

1:43:15So if so the parks budget I I don't know it's probably roughly twenty to thirty million twenty-two million. Twenty-two million annually. So you if you were to back that math out, I I'm gonna speak rough order magnitude, probably half a mil um on under operating revenue is what that what that's currently what that is what that currently looks like. Thank you. Yeah point four six two five.

1:43:39So that that is what the current share, if you will, of the parks budget is of the general operating millage. So there's not necessarily a one-for-one correlation in terms of millage, just because you're cutting cities out and and there's there's definite ways to look at that. But right now in that millage there is no allocation for what we're talking about here today. Right? We talked about the impact fee if I use the house analogy. The impact fee builds the house. The general operating millage here sort of funds the operations of the house, right? Pays the light

1:44:09bill, buys the food. This here is for replacing the air conditioning, the hot water heater, the roof when when those times come. Um so that's the piece that's currently missing and Christina hit on that. You know, we've we've we've been managing to take about a million dollars of general revenue, we've been able to put it towards that, but that that can't be guaranteed. So as Commissioner Weightman puts out, you know, wanting to try to guarantee a dedicated funding source for parks uh is something. But what this MSTU currently today stands before you is to do the do

1:44:39the maintenance. capital repair. So we're not looking necessarily at doing any the the entire operation of the parks budget unless the board, you know, wants to direct us to to move in that direction. But that could also be a longer term vision as well or a subject of of budget workshops or however the board wants to proceed.

1:44:58I think this phase we're in right now is gonna move in the right direction because we haven't been able to have monies like this to to do that maintenance, keep up with it.

1:45:09Mr Mariano? Thank you, Mr Chairman. And I was on the boards that were Struck by the recession way back when oh six oh seven and we had to cut our buds budget from parks and libraries and they even put fees in parks, et cetera. So uh it's a long battle back from that. Right. Um I am very optimistic from what I'm hearing from the board. Um and I think parks is doing a phenomenal job with everything they're doing. Um the inflation caught us from some of the project we want to get done but what we

1:45:39I would caution the board though from getting too heavy to putting all the parks budget to the MSCU and too much into that. You've got two cities on the uh west side that are blighted to like ninety percent, one's ninety nine, one's probably ninety percent. Those people aren't paying into that. And I don't think this MSDU is gonna be paid by the city of Shuwale. No. So you're going to throw all of the burden on just the county when everybody uses this thing. So I think we need these conversations about what's really blighted, what's not, and let's go re-look

1:46:10at that again. Because it's not right for the county to have to pay for all of it when the cities cities are using it as well. So I think you gotta kinda look closely where you're going if you want to get caught up, that's one thing. But again you're throwing that burden on all the county residents, not the cities as well who do benefit from it. So as we take the next steps, I think you need to to really look at

1:46:30that. I think we need to I agree with you and need to be careful of how we move towards something like that, but at the same time you gotta remember um I had a call from a couple of my citizens here around east side of Pasco and And actually they were concerned about the uh impact fee that was coming out on the parks. He said, Oh, I I don't know if I can afford to pay that. Well he's already living here a couple of three years and fact of it is he was kind of elated when I told him I said, Well that's

1:47:00not gonna be charged to you. You've already built your house, you've already paid your impact fee. This is for future homes that are coming in that are gonna have to pay this fee. So he was glad to hear that because he was assuming that we were putting a big burden of tax on our citizens are already. Here and we're not doing that at all. So Uh all we're doing is adding something that will help maintain our fields for the future. Yeah.

1:47:29So any any other questions or direct any more direction? I think this is the right way to go. I uh I'm not quite sure of the number right now. So

1:47:40Well I think if the board would just like to formally vote, direct us to bring back uh an ordinance uh for public hearing, we we certainly can do that. Yeah. Move

1:47:48to bring the ordinance back to the county. Okay, got a motion.

1:47:52Um like that much?

1:47:54I got a motion. I got a motion I need.

1:48:01Uh all those in favor, does this have to be roll call or not? Yeah. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Motion passed 4-0. Okay. Um thank you for your presentation. I took it. Very good. Now we'll go to old business. I believe that's where we're at.

1:48:23You are correct.