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Accept a report on the Department of Resource Management Parks and Recreation Division FY2020-2022 Work Plan
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors accept a report on the Parks and Recreation Division’s FY2020-2022 Work Plan.
SUMMARY:
The Parks and Recreation Work Plan includes the major projects and initiatives that the Division plans to start or complete through FY2021/22; several of which are already underway. The Work Plan reflects an ongoing effort to expand park services to the public and improve and preserve the quality of the park facilities and natural resources under the Division’s stewardship. The Work Plan also includes efforts to address incidents of peak-day overcrowding, promotion of healthy lifestyles, staff training, and update operations and maintenance management programs. The Division continues to seek ways to improve financial sustainability, both by improving revenues and finding more cost-effective ways to provide public services to the parks. This includes efforts to seek grants and build partnerships with related agencies, maintain park fees at market rates, and seek concessionaire and vendor opportunities, all with an emphasis on achieving long-term stability. The Division continues to support the Regional Parks Subcommittee on working towards the formation of a Regional Parks and Open Space District with current efforts being focused on working with local agencies for public education and input.
The Division continues to feel the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. After initial closures of all county park locations, the Division has now implemented public access plans to allow varying levels of use compliant with state guidelines to reduce the potential for COVID-19 transmission at all four parks. Currently, access to the parks includes a return to normal operations for Lynch Canyon Open Space, boat launch only access at Beldens Landing Water Access Facility, day use and campground operations with reduced occupancy levels at Lake Solano, and reduced access hours for boat launch at Sandy Beach. Installation of new assets or modification to existing assets and operations is necessary to increase the public’s access at the parks during restrictions necessary to protect the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staff continues to seek methods including asset installation, exploring potential use of a day use reservation system, and adjusting staff hours to accommodate safe and appropriate access for the public during the pandemic and the work plan includes actions that support this effort.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The FY2020-2022 Work Plan projects and initiatives are funded by a combination of grants, park-generated fees, property taxes and the General Fund. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2020/21 Preliminary Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Parks and Recreation Division (Division) is one of seven operational divisions within the Department of Resource Management. In a typical year the Division is responsible for providing park services to approximately 190,000 annual visitors (or 31,667 visitors per permanent field staff) at Solano County’s four park locations: Belden’s Landing Water Access Facility, Lake Solano County Park, Lynch Canyon Open Space Park and Sandy Beach County Park. For FY2019/20, use of the parks significantly decreased due to closures and then limited access due to COVD-19, resulting in 139,258 people accessing the parks during the fiscal year. Demand for outdoor recreation and park access continues through the pandemic, and it is anticipated that the number of park users will rebound as more access to park facilities is provided, eventually returning to pre-COVID-19 levels of approximately 190,000 annually once the pandemic is over and more typical operations resume.
The primary functions of the Division are to ensure a high level of customer service and safety for park patrons, proper park facility maintenance, park revenue fee collection, and protection and promotion of the parks’ natural resources. The Division consists of one park manager, one park ranger supervisor, and five permanent ranger staff, which are supported by up to nine seasonal extra help park aides. These staff are responsible for operations and maintenance of three campgrounds, two picnic areas, one sand beach, two motorized and one small craft boat launches, two fishing piers, one trail access and staging area and the Lake Solano Nature Center. Additional responsibilities include ongoing cleaning and maintenance of over 200 acres of turf, landscaping, paved roads and parking lots, restrooms and shower buildings, a fishing pond, water wells, sewage systems, exhibits, and other park facilities and assets inclusive of the equipment utilized in those maintenance activities, construction work and installation efforts. From tree trimming to cleaning restrooms to performing spontaneous interpretive programs for park visitors, the diverse variety of duties requires ranger staff to be versatile in their daily duties and to balance priorities that do not always mesh well. During closures and subsequent reduced public access to the parks from COVID-19, staff have been performing maintenance to the parks’ facilities that has been deferred from peak use periods.
The Division, working closely with several partners such as Solano Land Trust, Putah Creek Council, and Solano Resource Conservation District, administers Park Volunteer programs that provide interpretive programs including docent tours, camp hosts and volunteer labor for trail and environmental restoration projects to improve the public’s enjoyment of the parks and to maintain and preserve the parks. During COVID-19, interpretive tours and programs are continuing using virtual methods and restoration programs using volunteer labor are occurring by limiting the number of participants and implementing proper social distancing and sanitation protocols. Working with partner organizations has proven to be incredibly valuable towards increasing public engagement in the parks. These partnerships have also provided mutually beneficial outcomes, including identification and implementation of grants such as the Belden’s Landing Restoration Grant (currently funded and work is in process), and increasing public access to currently inaccessible lands, such as the Cordelia Hills-Sky Valley Enhancement Project (in final stages of property transfer), while also providing potential partner opportunities for new access locations such as Rockville Trails Estates (owned by Division partner, Solano Land Trust). The Parks and Recreation Commission assists the Division with outreach efforts with partners, both existing and potential, and makes recommendations related to the promotion of recreation within the county. Longer-term projects include building public awareness through marketing efforts, establishing a social media presence, offering park activities that bring in new visitors, and updating older park planning documents to keep them relevant. These projects are in addition to daily park operations and regular, annual projects such as park asset replacement and administering the Fish and Wildlife Propagation Fund grant program.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose to not accept the FY2020-2022 Parks and Recreation Work Plan. This is not recommended because the proposed work plan addresses adopted budget goals for FY2020/21, continues efforts to meet budget goals from prior years, and reflects achievable levels of production with available staff and funding.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department developed the Work Plan with input from the Solano County Park and Recreation Commission.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION