Budget Debates Focus on Aquatics & Ballfields

Walnut Creek city leaders are making sure everything is shipshape as they try to bring the 2012-14 budget into port by June 19.

There's another City Council meeting June 5 at which the public will have an opportunity to comment on budget priorities. The council is aiming for final passage on June 19.

The city's tentative budget projects expenditures of $67.4 million in fiscal year 2012-13, and $68.0 million in 2013-14. A chart accompanying the budget plan takes note that the city peaked with 391.5 staff members in 2006-08, falling to 363.51 in 2009-10, 339.25 in 2012-13 and a projected 340.5 in 2012-14.

Many members of the public, including representatives of arts and recreation programs, advocated for their activities at a long budget hearing Tuesday night. Afterward, council members gave direction to city staff to fine-tune budget priorities.

Mayor Bob Simmons advocated a change in allocations. He suggested continuing funding for a permanent rink site in Civic Park, with bocce courts in the good weather, plus the installation of a statue, the 'Hand of Peace' sculpture by Benny Bufano; Simmons further proposed putting off funding the reorientation of paved walkways in the park and shifting that money — perhaps $600,000 to $700,000 — to renovations of the Larkey Park pool.

Simmons received verbal support Tuesday from three other council members. On the other side, council member Gary Skrel said he didn't support a move on Larkey Park until he saw a more comprehensive report on cost recovery for aquatics; he added that he was not in favor of the ice rink and bocce project in Civic Park.

Council member Cindy Silva asked staff to prepare cost-benefit scenarios if the city closes aquatic facilities for the winter. The current budget proposal envisions closing Clarke Memorial Swim Center in Heather Farm Park on Sundays from October to April.

The tentative budget projects the city Arts, Recreation and Community Service staff no longer handling schedules and rental of two community meeting rooms at the downtown library. Barry Gordon, director of ARCS, said the move would allow the reassignment of staff to better address the department's core services. Library representatives have indicated they do not intend to take on the administration and expense of scheduling, rental and cleanup.

Sports fields

Council members questioned Gordon about the fee schedule for teams and leagues using sports fields. The budget shows a cap of 120 hours of use of a field in a season at a maximum of $4,320. This in effect gives heavy users free use if they exceed 120 hours, Mayor Bob Simmons said — he asked city staff to draft a rationale of that policy for the next meeting. The maximum users sometimes have fees added to that for lighting the fields for nighttime practices and games, Gordon said. Silva asked for comparisons of ballfield pricing models in area cities.

That discussion occurred in the context of the city potentially allocating $2 million for an all-weather field at Heather Farm Park. That cost won't be firmed up until a consultant reports on the city's overall need for ballfields, with the consultant planning to meet with user groups in June, said city Engineer Steve Waymire. A plan to meet the needs should go before the city Park Recreation and Open Space Commission in August and thence to the City Council, Waymire said.

Representatives of local soccer, lacrosse and softball asked the council to carry through with plans for the all-weather field. Kevin Erwin, president of the Walnut Creek Soccer Club, said the club now turns away kids, families and teams because of field space limitations. Some kids go play with teams in Concord and Pleasant Hill, Erwin said.

"Having an all-weather field would bring more people and business to our city," he said.

Several speakers talked of rumors of cuts to the Civic Arts Education weaving classes and praised its excellence.

"There's nothing in the budget that suggests the weaving classes will be discontinued," said Gordon.