Parks Funding Threatened
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BACKGROUND:

On September 20, 2010, the State Supreme Court denied hearing an appeal ruling to remove the assessment funding for the City's park operations. This final court action has caused the City to divert resources immediately to develop plans to avoid the eminent closure of the parks due to this loss of funding for park operations.

The City faces two challenges; (1) develop a plan to deal with the immediate impacts of no funding for current park operations (Now) and (2) develop a long term strategy to provide recurring funding for the city parks operations (Forever).

On September 29, 2010, the City held a well attended Town Hall style meeting at Marna O'Brien Park. The purpose of the meeting was to provide a brief overview of the immediate and long term fiscal issues and to seek the resident’s thoughts and ideas to deal with this latest challenge to the City.

Of the 300 attendees, over 40 residents came forward with their ideas for keeping the parks open "Now" and "Forever.” A listing of ideas are provided as attachments "A" and "B". Additionally, 10 residents came forward during the meeting and pledged or donated a total of $2,756.00 to the Save Our Parks program.

Ideas that came out of the Town Hall meeting:

PARKS: NOW

  • Keep parks open!!
  • Get Reduction in Utilities
    • Edison donation?
    • EVMWD Fee
      • Reduction- Reclaimed water
    • EZ Turf donation?
      • Less water
    • Solar Energy
    • Gas Company
  • Raise Money
    • Recycling Bin
    • Yearly Fundraiser Event
    • Dispensary
    • Stand
    • Education
  • Get Demographics
    • Senior Fee Reduction
  • Education
    • Meetings
      • Weekly? Monthly?
  • Fundraisers
    • Dog show
    • Parks fund- $28 Donation + commercial at park
    • Advertising on back stops
  • Save our parks T-Shirts
  • Donation challenge- $1000
  • Recycling

PARKS: FOREVER

  • Have SCE DROP RATES, donate
  • Natural Gas Generators
  • MWD Drop Water Rates
  • Examine Turf Fields (easy turf)
  • Solar Panels
  • Annual Fundraiser
    • Chili cook off, etc.
  • Funds from additional taxes (dispensaries)
  • Organized recycling effort
  • Solicit senior inputs and ideas
  • Steel pylons to keep autos out
  • Reclaimed water
  • Dog type fundraiser
  • Set up ongoing donation fund
  • Bid out/ Rent out food services
  • Advertising on backstops
  • Find existing well and bring online
  • Block captains for recycling
  • Make resident benefit greater than non-resident
  • Programs through schools and churches to raise funds
  • Donation envelopes in utility bills
  • Paypal account on website
  • Wildomar Football Donation Letter concept
  • Get the word out
    • Email
    • Media
  • Donation Thermometer for status

The plan to develop a strategy for the Save Our Parks program focuses on four action items which should be reported back to the City Council the October 27, 2010 meeting.

Action Item #1

Establish a Blue Ribbon Parks Advisory Committee for the sole purpose of advising the City Council on two items:

Action Item #2

Direct staff to continue working with groups and/or individuals who are interested in assisting in educating the public or establishing fundraisers to help provide the necessary funding to keep the City parks open.

Action Item #3

Authorize staff to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to qualified firms specializing in long term parks financing (capital and operations/maintenance).

Action Item #4

Direct staff to work with the County Supervisor Bob Buster’s Office to assist financially in bridging the budget gap between now and the time that we are able to reestablish a new assessment and bring a revised budget to the Council based on progress with cost cutting measures, recommendations from residents, and progress with the County request for assistance.

CURRENT FUNDRAISERS

Friday, October 15
Spaghetti Dinner and Art Sale
5pm-8pm Fire Station 61 32637 Gruwell St

October 23 & 24
Girls Softball Tournament at Marna O’Brien Park

Friday, October 29
Harvest Festival at Marna O’Brien Park 4pm-8pm

Donations can be made by Cash, Check, or Credit Card at City Hall or by calling City Hall at 951.677.7751