Memorandum 15-178 Community Recreation Budget Information

Memorandum 15-178

TO:                                      Mayor & City Council Members

THROUGH:                      Katie Koester, City Manager

FROM:                                Mike Illg, Community Recreation Manager

DATE:                                 10/22/15

SUBJECT:                        Community Recreation Information

The City of Homer Community Recreation program continues to be very popular service for our community members.  Our activities through a partnership with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District are located at Homer High School, Homer Middle School, West Homer Elementary and the city owned HERC building.  Our mission statement is:

“The City of Homer Community Recreation will promote community involvement and life-long learning through educational and recreational opportunities for people of all ages. This will be accomplished through maximizing usage of all community facilities and resources, while utilizing, expanding and uniting local business and school resources and expertise.  Our program shall be designed to recognize cultural diversity and to address social and community concerns.”

The City of Homer Community Recreation program is a high interactive and multi-dimensional program that has many players and entities involved.  There are many tangible and intangible benefits that the Community Recreation program provides.  As identified in the City of Homer’s 2015 Parks, Arts, Recreation & Culture Needs Assessment, community members identified these intangible benefits of recreation.

Health benefits:  Community safety; mental and physical health
Family and social wellbeing: Networking, role modeling, having places for people to interact, as an extended family, especially when many people have family far away.
Education: Opportunities for young people to spend free time and/or to develop their vocation; contributes to a great school system.
Economic wellbeing:  Generates business opportunities and is a visitor destination. 

There are many proven studies that show how municipal recreational services directly provide many important and beneficial results including; increasing property values, attracting businesses to a community, reducing crime, extend life expectancy, improve quality of life, reduce childhood obesity, strengthen neighborhoods and sense of community and attracting new residents to a community. 

I will also provide you Community Recreation’s tangible benefits and value from FY2014.

2014 BUDGET

2014 Budget                                                   $138,580 (The city’s smallest division budget)

2014 Actual Budget                                        $125,542 (9.4% unexpended)

2014 Revenue Collected                                $  40,280

2014 Total Cost to provide CR                      $  85,262

2016 BUDGET (projected)

2016 Budget                                                   $132,291

2016 Actual Budget                                       unknown

2016 Revenue Collected                                $  35,000 (estimated)

2016 Estimated Total Cost to provide CR    $  97,291

PEOPLE

There were 50 individual volunteers who have donated 4,576 volunteer hours and this equates to a monetary value of $119,765 ($26.59/hour).

There were 30 individual contracted instructors that generated approximately $23,000 in revenue that are essentially part time jobs contributing to our local economy.

There is 1 full time employee (Recreation Manager) and 3 (.03 FTE each), on-call, part time employees to fill in or assist with the many programs and events.

PROGRAMS

There have been many increases in 2014:

Provided 97 Programs and 6 Special Events
Total participants increased by 25% (4,138)
Total youth participants: 1,795; Total adult participants: 2,343
Total estimated visits increased by 98% (26,273, repeat visitors)
Total revenue collected increased by 32% ($40,280)
Total increase of volunteer hours by 56% (4,576)
Total increase in donated volunteer value increased by 86% ($119,765)
Offers programs 7 days a week!

Community Recreation spearheaded the collaborative community efforts to create, design and help fund the popular “HOMER TRAILS Map”.

PARTNERSHIPS/PLACES

The ability to utilize existing public infrastructure through a significant partnership with the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District allows the Community Recreation program to operate very frugally.   The City of Homer Community Recreation pays $6,000 annually to the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District to use Homer High School and Homer Middle School for educational and recreational programs and events. This fee also includes office space, use of copy machines, office supplies and custodial fees.

The current rate to rent a classroom is $20/hour and $30/hour to rent the gymnasium. There is also a $30/hour custodial fee in addition to the rental fees. If CR were to be charged the standard rental and custodial fees the estimated annual cost for existing programs would be in the range of $130,000-$140,000.  The estimated annual custodial cost would be $30,000.  The estimated annual office supply value is $500.

For the $6,000 annual fee, the CR program receives an estimated value of $165,500 in services in return.

FISCAL SUMMARY

In 2014:

The total cost of providing the CR program:                                                                        $  85,262

For this investment CR received:                                         

From KPBSD:               $165,500

Volunteer Value:        $119,765

For this investment CR created part time jobs (contracted instructors) valued at:          $  23,000

                                                                        Total In Kind & Monetary Value:       $308,265

For every $1.00 invested in Community Recreation, there is an estimated Return Value of $3.61.