Sanchez, I'm calling uh the special committee uh ways and meetings to order.

Uh won't call, please.

Chair Sanchez.

Present.

Vice Chairman Taylor.

Absent.

Counselor Andrew Rock.

Present.

Councilwoman Grace.

Councilwoman Peter Sanders absent.

We have three present into accent and four.

Awesome.

Um I know humorously, so I think she would be joining us.

Uh well recognized staff here, some of us and clerks.

Thank you all for your service.

So notice a motion to wave the readings of items one through six.

All right, Crystal.

Excellent.

Nothing but the truth.

So we can handle that these different benefits of parts.

Sure, all the director of recreation.

They're not the director of procreation.

Sure, but I just director to our purchasing.

Awesome.

Alright, Chair, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to start with the purchasing department and then move to parks and rec with that we're going to do.

So we're doing purchasing and then wires and rec?

Yeah.

That works for me.

Okay, perfect.

All right.

So I Dr.

Torado to join me if there's people.

Uh the director purchases here.

Lovely.

Yeah.

RPH 69 is the budget book?

So 269?

269.

Well, I think we're ready, Crystal.

Excellent.

Mr.

Chair, do you want to answer this as an example?

Yes, we uh we're not ready.

Uh motion to answer exhibit uh 13 into the record.

So second.

Uh may you share motion made by councilwoman Craig, seconded by councilwoman Innerwell.

All those in favor.

Aye.

Uh any's eyes have it.

Thank you.

We're ready now.

Wonderful.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh the fiscal year proposed budget for the department of purchasing.

Uh purposeful year 2027 is 717,812.

This represents a 31,333 decrease from the fiscal year 2026 adopted budget.

The bulk of this decrease is um in the benefits category, and that has to be with the change in how we've allocated the active medical cost across groups, and so we tried to show it up to be more indicative of the actual expenditures.

Uh there's no changes in a budget SCEs.

Fiscal year 2026 salaries or budgeted $398,999.

We have a projected cost of an increase of 10,972.

Step increases of $3,19 for proposed fiscal 2027 salaries of order $13,161.

Additionally, at no cost, the department is requesting to change the title in compensation of the unfunded uh title, formerly known as the purchasing strategy manager, which was compensated out of A12.

They would like to change the title to procurement strategist and the salary range from A12 to A16.

This is done in concert with work that we've been doing with Bloomberg and Harvard to prepare for the eventual return to local control of the school district.

We're acknowledging that procurement is going to be a very, very important piece of returning to local control, and we want to make sure that anything that happens when this department is prepared to staff up appropriately.

Um and the director's done a lot of work in looking in the job description and what would be needed.

I'm sure he can elaborate a little bit more on this change.

Um, but I do want to you know be transparent about that and know that it's done with an effort to make sure that if and when the schools come back to province, we have capacity to continue to procure their written services without experiencing delays in that process or any sort of operational convergences as we change.

Um what's there's no funding tied to that position?

There's no funding tied to the position now because we've not resumed local control, and we don't necessarily want to hire someone and then not have any work for them to do, but we do want to set the precedent and the ability to hire someone should the school district return to the city and funding become identified.

Again, they've made tremendous strides in in shortening their cycle times, and one of the things we've been really trying to figure out is the best way we can ensure that they're not having delays in procurement by bringing them back.

Their purchasing is about it is equal to ours.

So we're talking double the volume that we're typically seeing at Board of Contract and Supply.

Um, particularly in spring, when they're looking at doing curriculum or really getting ready for the next fiscal year, there's a tremendous amount of capacity, and I can remember when we were with the school district, board of contract required a separate table just for all of their bids.

Um so it's it's going to be a lot of work that comes through us.

We're still not sure of timing, we're still not sure what the final results will be.

Um, but we do only open these ordinances up once a year, and so we wanted to make sure that if this does happen mid-year, we have the ability to be involved.

Um what if like it's announced next month that the schools are coming back next year?

What?

So I think we would have to sit down and have a really frank conversation about what that looks like.

I do think that we would be recommending for financial funds position.

Any questions for the question?

Of course, council.

Um for the orchard?

I think it'd be the small chart.

Yeah, the property, not the thing.

So you see, public properties is actually a division of purchasing is a division of public properties.

Okay, then you didn't okay cool.

So it's not the inappropriate work.

Yeah, usually they're on the same night, so it's still makes sense.

So yeah, okay, it's all the way to the right.

Okay.

Correct.

Yeah, they were split in this budget cycle, and by the time I caught that, we had already had the calendar pretty locked in, and so I thought it would make sense to just continue with purchasing and then hear public property on it.

So are we keeping that potential position off the org chart for now, but it would be underneath Director Dorado?

Correct.

Okay.

Um their departments have a very modest service and supply budget.

It's been broken into fixing discretionary costs.

At the first discretionary cost is $29,000 and fees not classified.

This is a reduction of $5,900 from the fiscal year 2026 budget.

All of this reduction is attributable to the change in parking contract, so there's no changes or reductions in translation funding for fiscal year 2027.

Do you think subscriptions have been level funded at $1,100?

There's a modest increase to professional development, again, to help train up and bring capacity into staffing within this department.

Um and under the supplies category, office supplies and copy or leaders maintenance have been unchanged and are supported by historical funding.

That wraps up the operating budget.

Should there be questions or any comments that to share with the group?

The floor is yours, Director.

Well, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh so um uh deputy director member is mentioning our budget is pretty simple.

Um our goal for next but yeah is basically before the goals of the administration of council.

Um the main priority uh between the schools back, and that is perhaps the more significant budget.

Um that's why we're requesting one additional uh staff member that would be dedicated uh to support that particular function.

Uh we review, we revised the the we updated the job description to reflect that particular um uh goal, uh supporting the schools.

Um that's um uh in addition to this uh that our data we have been working together with the state of Verizon.

We're trying to implement the procurement system, and that also requires capacity and particularly a person dedicated to support the transition uh and uh with the school department.

So that's uh that's that's one of the things that we've been working on.

We've been working together with uh uh the procurement team of the school department.

Uh we set up already uh monthly meetings to account to understand the processes to find the facilities in which we can uh remove inefficiencies or redundancies in the process and to better understand how they procure so and also for them to better understand what process uh in the city.

When did you start those meetings?

Uh we studied those meetings uh I think uh February, yeah.

And I said that we've been cooperatively working with school procurement since National Diddy File application last year.

It's been a year at this point.

Right, it was uh at the end of the floor, beginning on November.

Uh so since then we've been working with them uh more closely to before.

Cool, awesome.

Um, before we continue, uh Madam Clerk, can you let the record reflect the council reversing joined us?

So noted.

Thank you.

Um any are you are you also directly?

Um any questions, committee members?

Okay, okay.

Uh we have sure anything I would have votes real quick.

Uh Director, what um is there any ongoing efforts on in your department to increase uh WMB and MDE contracts?

Can you do speak on that?

Right.

So this is something that we work in coordination with uh Department of Economic Development, particularly our coordinator for the MBW.

So on our end, what we do, uh we uh our team, uh the participant, I think we they do the reach out, um, they look at who had the certification to the state, and then they they reach out when there's an opportunity for them, depending on the type of contract.

Um currently, for instance, we're working on uh uh we're expecting to have our own contract for uh construction renovation so there are different traits.

Um we think that that's a great opportunity uh to you know bring more um vendors with that certification supportable and uh of the ordinance.

Uh uh that's that's what we can do.

We on our end also what we do is we track um how much uh goes like when it comes to POs, we're currently tracking who has which vendors have the certification and what percentage of those POs actually of the value of the PO goes to those vendors.

Uh the same thing we do when it comes to the web, we track uh who gets a contract and what percentage of the contract uh goes to vendors with the certification.

In some cases, uh it's more common to see SOS, uh, but in some cases, um, and this is really sort of like inspiring to see brand contractors actually got the certification and they get the free contract.

So uh that's what we do is uh we got in that role.

Um is there any like very clear barriers that you heard from vendors in the city uh when it comes to uh getting contracts with the city, and can you speak on those a little bit if any?

Right, so ones that we have control of uh at least.

You know, obviously there's contractors out there and companies that don't meet certain requirements, and there's very little that we can do about that, but various other R and Right.

So we we constantly work together with the chambers uh in Chamber of Commerce or for their uh business associations, and we meet with them, we set up trainings, we go and talk to uh their members so they can understand it further.

We are aware that when it comes to procurement, just the word procurement is a great like what is that, right?

So it's it's it's a little bit uh sometimes difficult for someone who's not familiar with the process.

Um so what we do is to sit down with them and explain the process, uh, what are the requirements so they understand um that what are the things they need to have in order in order to do business with the city?

Um another thing we've been doing uh for the last three years actually is to retranslate uh our weeks into Spanish.

Um we have received actually, I was uh speaking on the phone the other day with one of the vendors, and she expressed uh that her gratitude.

Um it's really good to see that uh or to hear that uh what we are doing uh is actually perceived uh by the end of the community.

Um so that's that's another thing when it comes to uh simplifying things or making um the process more accessible for um everyone in the city.

Awesome.

Um also any any other questions?

Awesome, nice and quick.

Thank you, Director.

Thank you for working.

I can uh I can do that.

Yeah, it would be mighty backwards.

Uh motion to enter exhibit 14 into the record.

Uh so moved by council, second by councilwoman Peterson, all those in favor.

I aye.

Um mine shannon.

Please turn our pages, or there are about books to page 229.

Uh, there's a multiple vision department.

So we can go to mine and go both of the all of the divisions on them.

No, we can do that with any questions.

Yeah, we'll ask in a moment.

Sounds great.

Oh, yes.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Wonderful.

So the superintendent reminded me that she did bring uh some handouts for you all that are very lovely and printed on wonderful paper.

So we need two additional documents.

And some as exhibited.

You want to call it legal 1450.

You want to include it all in the same.

We can do that, yes.

So we'll group it together.

Alright, okay.

That's all used to put it on.

Okay.

Sorry.

And since I ran off last time to go for the volunteer event that you were all invited to, I brought the swag, which is free.

Parking.

Okay.

So those are there for you.

They are not advocating for free parking in the city of Providence.

It's free park.

You got actually a larger one.

They are adjustable.

Wonderful.

Okay.

Okay.

So the first division again is page 229.

It is the botanical center.

This is a department that only has salaries and benefits, so there's not a lot of service and supply line items to look in.

The total year fiscal 2027 budget is proposed at $732,269.

This is a $32,000 or $32,154 decrease for the fiscal year 2026 budget of $764,423.

Again, the bulk of this increase is related to the tuition of those medical expenses for active employees.

We're budgeted at $359,549.

We are expecting approximately $15.15,500 in possibility of increasing the steps.

And that completes the budget for the botanical department.

Next up is the forestry department.

This department does have focus and supply line items, and their budget begins on page 232 in the budget book.

Total proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 is $1,853.

$1,853,545.

This represents a 3.31 decrease over fiscal year 2026 budget of $1,897,307.

Total salaries in this budget are $976,456.

This is a change from the fiscal year 2026 budget of $940,509.

All of these changes equals cost of living increases in steps for eligible employees.

It is a membership forester and any sort of applicable training you may need or they may need.

Private contractors is considered a fixed cost.

This is part of the province neighborhood planting program, block tuning, hashboard treatment, and tree situation is needed throughout the city.

Under the supply line items, there is a discretionary budget for small tools and shop supplies.

This is chain thaw, replacement chain, full thaw, safety equipment needed by the forestry department.

Maintenance and service is considered a fixed cost, and this is the yearly maintenance agreement for the tree keeper.

What's that?

The tree keeper?

Yeah.

It's the program where all of the followers are treated based.

No, no, no.

I was like, what are they doing for two?

It does sound like a fun topical.

Um the next department is the Museum of Natural History.

This I believe is also a department by a shelf made up of salaries.

Yes, it is.

Um their budget line items are on page 235.

Again, it's mostly salaries, so not a tremendous amount to see here.

Oh no, there is two.

Um total proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 is $613,492.

This is a $53,067 decrease from the fiscal year 2026 budget of $666,559.

Total salaries are budgeted $368,769 in fiscal year 2026.

Cost of living increases in fiscal year 2027 bringing the proposed salaries in fiscal 27 to $370,218.

Museum's budget has been broken into fixed discretionary costs.

The first discretionary line item is under decent prescriptions.

This is the fee for their annual reserve.

There is also one fixed cost, and I don't know how I forgot this one because it always stands out every single year.

This is maintenance and service for the planetarium equipment.

There is a specialist who needs to come out from Germany on an annual basis to maintain the planetarium in the museum.

Oh yes.

The next department is neighborhood parts.

Their line items will be found on page 238 of your budget books.

Total proposed salaries in the budget are $8,570,23.

This represents a hundred $165,150 decrease for the fiscal year 2026 budget of $8,735,353.

Total fiscal year 2025 salaries, the budget of $3,767,922.

So we factor in fiscal year 27 cost of living increases and eligible step increases.

It brings proposed fiscal year 2027 salaries to $4,157,974.

The services and supplies have been broken into fixed and discretionary costs.

The first batch of fixed costs are private contractors.

This is perk improvement, playground equipment, and repairs for the parks.

We also have $165,000 budgeted for refuse processing.

This is a $40,000 increase over last year's budget and is tied to additional cash pickup in our parks.

Just a quick question as well.

Is that a contract we have with the vendor or how does that we have different vendors that fall under that line item?

So it'll be the vendors that we have a board of contract rewards for for playground equipment or and things like that.

So they're just larger specified costs.

We keep it separate for the playgrounds.

But for refuse, it is an art being process.

For refuse, it is for trash.

It is a contract.

Okay, so I'm sorry.

Councilman agrees.

The $20,000 increase from fees.

Oh yes, so this refuse processing is not just trash pickup, but it's also tipping pieces for that resource recovery.

And then you can see that the fiscal year 2025 actuals were $153,000.

So we are we are certainly needing to budget this additional cost.

Do we forgive me if I don't know if they don't know all the parts?

I'm just thinking of mine.

Do we have recycling and trash in all the parts, or is it just everybody's throwing?

Because that's what it is at Google and get a little in Ward 14, but I'm just wondering if it might be better for us to have recycling, or is it just something that would be onerous for somebody else to do?

It would be really onerous for us to do until the entire city moves over to the land because if we have any kind of contamination in recyclables, you have to pay for that as well.

So it's really really hard to do in a public space because as soon as you throw something in that, it's no longer viable for recycling.

Right.

We did a pilot project a few years ago, but we had grown university picking up some of the trash and even that.

Um large recyclable.

Okay.

Thank you.

This town has quite a few supply line items.

Most of them are considered discretionary costs.

Office supplies have been level funded at $4,1200.

There are modest increases to small tools shop supply funding and construction maintenance supplies, which have been supported by increased costs and trends.

Rubrics have been decreased by $4,000, which again are supported by historical costs and trends.

So we have level funded gravel stand and housekeeping supplies and tires.

However, we've seen a modest increase in auto parks and electrical supplies and a small decrease in lumber and hardware and uniforms and wearing apparel, which is considered a fixed cost.

This is contractually obligated.

These are their security systems, water treatment, fire suppression, peace control, and backflow testing prevention or testing.

Repairs to other equipment is considered a uh discretionary cost and is level funded from the fiscal year 2026 budget.

And there's been a small reduction to the repairs and buildings budget of $35,000.

The next department is burial ground.

Oh my little tab didn't skip down.

Um the North Burial Brown is a revenue generating department.

This is generated from a portion of the serial of burial costs.

So we budget of that amount, $340,000 to come in as revenue through fees collected in the year, and then we budget a transfer from the perpetual care fund equal to $260,000 to bring us to our total revenue of $600,000 annually.

Should actual revenues exceed $340,000 in the fiscal year, we would proportionately reduce the transfer of that $260,000.

So at no year are we receiving more than $600,000 in revenue related to the North Carolina fund.

Total expenditures in this budget are proposed to be $834,183.

This is a decrease of $56,112 from the fiscal year 2026 budget at $890,295.

The total salaries in this budget are proposed at four hundred and sixty-eight thousand dollars, two hundred and four hundred and sixty-eight thousand two hundred forty-eight dollars.

This is an increase over fiscal year 2026 budget of $427,196, and 100% of this increase is attributable to cost of living increases and staff increases for eligible employees.

That begins on page 245.

This is another revenue rate generating department.

The revenue from this uh or for this department is generated as a reimbursement for the cost of the parks conservations program coordinator, and this reimbursement comes from the partnership for Providence Parks in fiscal year 2027.

This payroll reimbursement is budgeted at $56,092.

Total expenditures in this department are budgeted $2,086,805.

This is a $107,000, $107,056 reduction from the fiscal year 2026 budget.

Again, this reduction is primarily attributed to the allocation of active medical expenses.

Total salaries in this budget in fiscal year 2026 were budgeted at $1,065,881.

In fiscal 2027, we're proposing cost of living increases of $37,306, step increases of $1,599 for total proposed fiscal year 2027 salaries of $1,104,786.

This budget has been broken into fixed and discretionary costs.

The first large fixed cost is building insurance.

It is well funded from fiscal year 2026 and is estimated to be 219,650.

Additionally, there are no changes in any of the budget line items, but considered discretionary for this department are postage program expense and professional development.

Additionally, under the supply line items, office supplies are considered discretionary where copy and lacing and escaped are considered fixed as we're under contracted recall for runs of our copy or that wraps up this department.

And last but not least, two questions.

The program expense, the City Cargo and Welling Park Houses.

I don't want to be hard to speak more about this.

Um why is that program uh expense under the superintendent's office?

Uh it's where it generated from.

So it was something that I brought in when I became superintendent, and uh so it's just we don't based on our other um our other departments or other divisions uh is the best fit for it.

It's something that we do.

Um we do a lot of community engagement out of the uh superintendent's office we do the meals program outside the community of how just to be headed office, so it's also something that I like to have in mind.

Awesome.

Uh thank you.

Um just a super quick question.

Um what is the building insurance?

I'm sure I'd asked this entire years, I can't remember which buildings are being insured.

All of them.

Oh, that's all yeah, it is all of them.

And that is it, except for rank of technical insurance.

Um it is uh but incredibly important that we have that.

It's take what's up uh 10 times over and then some uh do know we lost the carry tops in the ground a few years ago.

We've had some incidents at Skyline over the years, um, Pizza Cosby and Towns, so these have all been um played before we were very glad that we have that insurance for the first time.

And it is it's very, you know, we have 13 historic buildings, so it's just very important that we are able to do that.

Um I think that's different.

Well last but not but not least, we have the zoo.

Uh this is primarily it is all actually salary fringe, but we do have some changes in this budget.

There are my negative details to be found on P248.

Fiscal year 2027 proposed budget for the zoo.

It's $4,075,167.

This is a 276,320 increase over the fiscal year 2026 budget, but $3,598,847.

Total salaries in fiscal year 2026 is like a $1,851,691 in fiscal 2027.

We are adjusting the salary line items for the following uh changes.

We have cost of living increases for all zoo employees for two or 1,242.

Step increases for eligible employees for $92,585.

There is also a proposal to fund one additional rookie per annual salary of $60,133.

For total proposed fiscal year 2026 salaries, $2,205,65.

And that wraps up my version of the parks department.

Uh Consulman Indewalk.

Thank you.

Um, the additional zookeeper is one the right number, or do they need more than one?

I know that they are adding a whole bunch of new exhibits and animals, and that was just a question.

I know budgets are tight, so I can imagine if one is all those are coming over the years, so you know there's an opportunity to come back next year and ask for additional zoo keepers to um you know it uh you know as those additional um open up.

Um before you begin, um, just to confirm, so that digital zookeeper is the only new position across parts of our group.

Right.

Oh well.

I um I'll keep my comments myself for that one.

It just seems like we should be expanding, you know.

Obviously, there is uh uh limitations that are presented to us, but I feel we're not expanding, it's just my own beliefs, uh not in the committees.

Um yeah, it just seems like we're we're not progressing.

Um and this is obviously no not to to you uh superintendent.

I know you guys do amazing work and make magic happen.

Um but just as a as a city uh parts and rec are our departments, we should always uh be expanding, whether that's programs, uh personnel, uh spaces.

Um these are the places that make Providence so special, and um yeah, I mean if we're not progressing or expanding, um not to say you guys aren't like I said, you you made uh magic with the resources that that you are allocated.

Um it seems like we're not we're not prioritizing.

That's just my my own rules.

Sorry to say that before you're about to speak just for quick thought um just not ready yet.

The floor is yours if you want to share a few words under you've passed out some really good literature for us.

Yeah, I think this is you know, this is we just had our directors' meeting this morning where all of our division directors get together once a month and share ideas and cooperate and collaborate and do all those kinds of things.

And I guess I am just so incredibly proud to leave this apartment and all the work that is happening, and we have folks who just work tirelessly and really carefully.

And I think you'll see in the annual report, um the work that's been accomplished in a single year is just really um outstanding from programs to playground design and expansion to all of those things that you just mentioned.

Um so I think that we're just incredibly proud of the work that we're doing, and we're getting better and better at it all the time.

I'm really excited about some of the small changes that are coming downtown that you'll be seeing over the next few months, and it's um it's just uh an honor to leave this department.

Um what are your biggest challenges right now?

Um getting it all done before World Cup.

Councilwoman Peter Sunday?

Yeah.

We can go back and forth with a bunch of scattered stuff to try to hold it all over things work.

So first, thank you.

General Street looks excellent.

I see people really taking advantage and thank you for the extra benches.

I went and I just happened to take a look um the other day.

Um, and I got a thumbs up from a couple of kids playing basketball, so everybody's happy, I'm happy.

Um I do have a quick question with regards.

We received as a council um we received a report on uh overtime that was uh given to parks employees that were non-union.

And what I want to understand um is it how many non-union employees are receiving or have received um uh overtime in are we trying to figure out how not to do that, or is there was there a justified reason for it?

Um, and also just trying to understand the rule.

I know that you guys work on so many different things extensively.

We ask for um for work to be done in our parks on off time, so I can certainly understand it, but I don't I just want to be able to reconcile it with sometimes a question that is get that does get asked.

So I just wanted to have a little bit of an understanding.

Um this is probably this is also the same question I might ask other departments that had the same issue.

So I think the administration is best voice to answer that question.

Um I think that where we are standing um that in the charter there were positions that have morphed over time into other things, but the responsibilities are essentially the same.

So if for instance an event coordinator that's actually Frank Roberts who runs the rank and does all of our events and manages all our event systems for we don't have an event coordinator anymore because all things have uh have condensed and changed into into that, but essentially the role that he does is that, and so when he needs to be at a concert for you know 16 hours to make sure that the the city's um requests are uh um are maintained, yeah, that's that's really important and to have non-union management on sometimes um in those situations.

So I think it's um you know, but I think a lot of that is relative to the others are relative to Snow, and my again, my understanding is that there's been no increase in positions, just titles over time change and more sort of responsibilities for some sort of time.

Do you have any recommendations of what we can do?

Because one of the things that we obviously as stewards of the findings is we want to make sure that we're um keeping up at the same time with the growth that we need to have.

Is there do you have any recommendations of what we should be doing differently or how we should be changing the titles year to year?

Not maybe not year to year, but um just trying to be able to sustain the growth that you're also having.

Yeah, um I think it's a good question.

I I honestly have not given that much thought to certain well things.

Uh councilwoman.

Oh, thanks.

I more just had a comment, and that is to just shout out Wendy and her team because they do such an amazing job.

And just like a few things that will embarrass you, but like just the breadth of your work is stunning, especially with the quantity of staff you have.

But like just this like really stunning, and it's in every corner of the city, and like the breadth of like both, you know, you figured out how to fix the fountain at Liquid Park when no one would do it, and then you also do history tours at the North Barrow Ground and all the things in the other boards that I spend less time thinking about.

But um, just the importance of what you do for the city is also um it's just huge and incalculable.

Like I've shared this example with folks in the past of like, and but I don't think I've shared it with you, Wendy, is like people reaching out to me in these troubling times.

I feel like I'm the one who keeps bringing up fascism in these meetings, but sorry, so crystallizing stuff.

But this past summer I had a lot of folks reaching out to me, and the the difference would be some folks would be like, hey, do you know what's going on with the parks at Billy Taylor or the benches at Billy Taylor Park?

And the next one would be like, what are you personally doing to fight fascism in our community?

And a lot of times it's like spend more time in the parks, like meet your neighbors, get to know your community.

It was though it was that it was like Wendy's fixing the benches, and that's how we build community, and that's how we uh continue on.

So I just wanted to give you uh a real shout out, and um you're always so quick to respond not only to our questions but to constituents.

Um I know the volume you get from ward three is quite high.

I can only imagine the other wards, and just how quickly you and your team respond is stunning, and um just this real can do attitude, and like I hate to keep calling out the same thing, but with like the Libit Park Fountain is such a good example of like nobody would bid on this.

So you're like, guess you gotta figure out how to fix a fountain, and your team just figured out how to fix an ancient fountain and got it turned back on in time for Memorial Day last year.

And everyone was so excited, and that kind of attitude of just like, well, no one will bid on it.

I guess I get to do it myself, is amazing.

So I just wanted to say that on the record, but you guys do amazing work with not enough resources, but like the most stellar staff and just like the breadth and quality of what you do is amazing.

So thank you.

And thank you.

And if any of my committee members can guess which person on the first committee was photoshopped in one person on here is photoshopped, you can tell me you think it was afterward.

The prize is high five.

Okay.

Yeah, not a low price.

Oh different council?

No, no.

Consulwal Giveson.

Um we talk about forestry a little bit.

Um, just want to understand if there's a backlog currently, and if there is, what are we doing to kind of mitigate that?

I know that um Sam and that team do an incredible job, and there's thousands and thousands of trees.

Um, but we have um we always have the the continuing conversations of like when are they coming?

I've submitted a 311, can I know sort of an estimated timeline?

Um, so I want to be able to try and help mitigate that for some of my neighbors.

Um he's certainly um responsive to our considual services team, which is fantastic, but sometimes um expediting certain situations that might not necessarily be um on that roster of quick things to fix has become a little bit of a concern.

So I just wanted to understand um if there is a backlog, if there is a backlog, what's kind of our next steps and things like that.

And um one other ask is actually um because I feel really strongly that DPW and the Forester have to work together hand in hand for so many things.

I would love to make the ask of having the forester be here when DPW comes and presents.

I think it helps us be able to answer some things.

At least I know that I have a breadth of questions that are related to those both at the same time, if that's a possibility.

I agree.

But understanding backlog, that's really that's my main.

Well, I am happy to say that it is the at least it's been in many many years.

I don't know the exact account of it, but it's they've done really, really good job addressing many of those things.

We did a lot of that through some really creative work with contractors to get those done when we did the block pruning.

We did some really strategic moves there so that we could at the same time take care of the backlog.

Um, I don't know the exact number on hand, but it is the lowest that it has been in my tenure here, which has been 11 years of COVID.

That's great.

Um, and then my last question is I know that you have a um, I know the forester has a location where we have um is it still available where people can come and pick up mulch and does oh yeah.

So we do have pictures of it in the um in the books here too.

It's called the Wood Depot and uh the wood lot, and it is open um on Saturdays from eight to four, and anybody can come and get mulch from City Province, mulch, firewood, um other kinds of things there, and hopefully soon he'll start doing artisan classes, which will be you know how um he's gonna make yet to keep the place going so you know you know stuff some of the um wild edge pieces.

Um really incredible.

One of the coolest things that's happened there is the fire department actually trains there.

So on the days that's not open that the fire department goes in and they do trainings, they put out brush fires, they talk wood, they talk you know through things and through what fire folks do.

So it's um it's just been tremendous the amount of feedback we get from the community on that, it's really great.

But also if you've noticed some of our reduction in waste for forestry has actually gone down.

Yeah, because we were spending about $90,000 a year having that removed.

So it's it's it's really been super helpful.

And a lot of that um the book info ends up back in our parks as either benches or play features.

Um there's one that's coming up in the Galilean park that's gonna be hopefully opened up in the next month or so that um uh was from a tree that fell right on on that uh came down with construction, they were able to repurpose that into uh play feature for kids.

That's wonderful.

I'm really happy to hear that.

Um neighbors can go and be able to actually figure that they would have to normally buy that open to be made and have upkeep.

I think when we offer these opportunities, I think it's really great.

And we any opportunity that we have, any chance that we have to promote these things, I think that we should.

So if anybody's listening, or the people that are listening can know that this is open on Saturday from 8 to 8.

What's it?

What time is it open?

And as there is a website, I don't remember it offhand.

But if anybody would like a tour, I'm happy to arrange that.

It's just when they talk about the only thing that they make there is biochar, which is something that is used in stormwater uh bio retention sites, and so it is uh it's something that we don't have to purchase that we have access to now and put the messaging around it.

We also have a lot of school groups that come out to learn about this uh circular weight system, and so that works out really nice.

Thank you very much.

And in which of these um things is it?

Uh I I believe it's in um the I think before and after pictures and the larger one.

If not, it's in there somewhere.

I don't remember the page.

Um do text me that information because I know a lot of people um the rainbow garden, and I'm sure that they'll be loving that.

Thank you.

Um the only other question I really have is just to confirm, uh so the North Bayer Ground fees, is that the only revenue that the parks receives?

Uh there's also the reimbursement revenue for the position, but the the bulk of the parks revenue generated in the parks are retained in special revenue funds for the purpose of supporting those park activities.

So, for example, the botanical center, any sort of admission fees collected by the botanical center are recorded in the special revenue fund for the botanical center to provide support for the operating costs of the uh does that fund so that parks has one special revenue fund?

Multiples I believe there's one for you know better than I do, but there's one for the Satin of the And is it just managed completely by the superintendent's office or do you guys manage that as well?

We assist um we started a budget process with the parks department a couple of years ago where they prepare an annual budget to us.

It's usually largely based on historical spend.

Um, and then when we have our monthly budget reviews, we're reviewing where that budget is secure to actuals.

Okay.

You um can you share those reviews at some point with the students?

Certainly, yeah, definitely.

Thank you.

Do you guys have any other questions?

No, no, no.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh my gosh.

Uh sorry.

I'm sorry, no, we've got some gives us one last question.

Um yeah, when we were about two weeks out from what we call the punch list, which is the last thing like to make sure the bold tech covers and things like that, and the water's working correctly, then what we do is we get some dates from Mayor Laura's office, um, and we um we then contact your office and we get some dates that you're available.

We marry those dates.

Um we work with the community any of the community folks in this situation, my collin and the recenter folks who are really big and involved in um that process a lot, and then we um create a date and we have a roof for it.

So it should be coming up soon.

We have a lot of projects coming on um on online this spring and summer on figure water parts.

Okay, well thank you.

And you can sing it.

Okay.

I will expect you.

That's why we're requesting it.

Okay, no problem.

We do the room hunting for George A.

West.

Can we make sure that Councilwoman Graves also has inside so she's going to be able to do that?

Oh, okay.

I'll put it on my calendar.

Standing up invitations.

Oh, okay.

Okay, no problem.

I didn't know about that.

Thank you guys.

Thank you guys.

Okay, you guys are ready.

Yes.

Thank you.

Oh, here we go.

Thank you.

Motion to enter this as exhibit 16.

I'll take that.

Okay.

Okay, so move.

Motion made by Councilwoman Green.

Second by Councilwoman Peterson.

All those in favor.

I've gained eyes have it.

Can you give me a second because I just got way too many papers on the other hand?

Wonderful.

The line and details can be found on page 336.

And today by Director John Colley, Deputy Director David Any M.

Did I say that right?

Oh my goodness.

I am very proud of myself.

That was a tricky one.

And we can get started back to the that's why I call directors by the first thing.

Excellent.

Wonderful.

So we'll go through both the recreation and recreation seasonal budgets.

They're fairly straightforward, and there's not as much seasonal budget.

So if we have questions, please feel free to stop me as we go through taking.

Recreation seasonal expenditure.

So this is primarily summer camp for province youth.

Our budget is $2,072,716 and are unchanged from the fiscal year 2026 budget.

This is about a $37,000 decrease over the fiscal year 2026 budget of $1,819,360.

There are no proposed changes to FTE funding in this fiscal year.

The recreation budget has been broken into six of discretionary costs.

The first discretionary line item is program expense, which has been budgeted at 155,000.

This provides all of the funding for seasonal programs, field trips, tournaments, and awards in our rec centers.

We have a small increase to rubbish removal of $9,300, which is supported by historical trends and additional usage of our facilities.

Medical and chemical lab supplies, stationary, miscellaneous expenses, and housekeeping supplies have all been level funded from fiscal year 2026.

We have a modest increase in food of $5,000 to support additional cooked outs, holiday events, and special events in our rec centers.

And maintenance and service, which are not tied to individual contracts, are we level funded at $75,000?

And that wraps up really the entire operating budget.

Certainly, I uh prepare a statement, but I'll I'll make it brief.

Um good evening, Counselors.

At the outset, I would like to thank you for the invitation to appear before you on behalf of the recreation province recreation department.

Uh as you're aware, I recently completed my six months.

In my position, and I am currently working with a budget that I have inherited.

Have an amazing team that has helped guide me through executing and carrying out the charge of that budget.

The team consisted by Deputy Director David, Director of Support Services Jackie, the main office, along with the recreation center, directors and respective staff.

As I enter my first budget cycle with the tremendous guidance of Deputy Finance Director Chris for Lindbergh.

I have before you a budget that is um that is modest with no significant changes nor increases.

Uh to move forward in such a manner that it's seamless and offered the opportunity to experience operating recreation while analyzing what changes might be warranted that we report.

Boosting the local economy and increasing overall quality of life.

With that, I welcome any questions.

Thank you, uh Director.

Uh Councilman Frames.

Um Charco enjoyed us.

So no counselor pro type.

You guys know what I mean.

You said that.

I don't know, yeah.

I'm gonna have quite a few questions, so um, I'll give that I will really break it up for everybody.

Um like you said, you only did half a year.

Um and I think you've only been in here about a year or two.

So um basically basically you're still newbies.

So how has it been going so far?

From your point of view.

How has it been going so far?

Have you seen what have you seen or experienced from there?

Are you asking myself or should we?

I'm not both here.

Okay, thank you.

How has it been going?

This is one great.

I've um I've before I entered into this position.

I really recognize the importance of the uh recreation department in terms of the fabric of uh moving forward a successful city, um, and having been in this position, I'm experiencing uh my experience bolsters my my feelings might be important.

How important the city of province recreation department is in terms of the importance of the control and plays for the city as a whole.

And also we're going well working with uh various departments.

Um various departments have been very uh supportive.

We've worked cohesively in terms of getting a number of different projects done, uh including uh facilities improvements, uh so it's been a great experience.

Yeah, I can definitely echo a lot of those points.

Um I think Sean coming on to this department and fall previously sort of right.

Um has been a really good transition as well in regards to just how our department has accepted that transition and then also to set up some more of those points.

Our support that we've received from our community members, council, uh internal departments.

Like it's been really, really great being able to have a team that is obviously exceeding this recreation that helps us to understand exactly how we need to operate and how we get to work together to get to provide the best service.

So again, I think it's been it's been a really good opportunity, and it's been a really really great to work with um everybody that's here and obviously our staff internally as well.

Okay, now for the high questions.

How many of the um recreations will be closed over the summer?

How many will be closed over the summer?

That would be um well David Mopes is projected to be open um at the end of June.

Okay, so that would be open.

That's a good thing.

That would leave uh Jocelyn as the uh only center that is projected to be closed for the summer.

Okay, Fox Point will be open box board.

Sorry?

Is Fox Point open?

Fox Point?

Is it brown?

No, Vince Brown's open.

Yeah, that's about it.

It wasn't, that's why I or wasn't going to be as well.

Right, right.

No, you said Fox 4.

Right.

It's always gonna be Fox Point.

I thought you made the voice.

I thought you were thinking about the voice for the football.

No, no, no.

It's always gonna be that.

Okay, I just want to know.

So is this gonna be that once?

Right.

Okay.

Um what's happening with those kids over there?

What are you gonna do with that group of children?

Um well, Jocelyn, we have uh a plan in place where uh it's already been put in place where uh the youth that we're projected to go to camp at Jocelyn or we dispersed around to other recreation centers throughout the uh city.

So the other we are still looking uh looking after the kids over there at Jocelyn.

Okay, so has the numbers went down for the kids going into camp.

At Jocelyn is um citywide.

Citywide, no.

No, I think no, it's a priest problem, yes.

Okay.

That's not right, but I'm just wondering, okay.

I just want to that the numbers have gone down in some places, so I just want to make sure that the numbers are where they're supposed to be.

And we have places um where where they can go.

No, when I when I came aboard, I was made aware of I think some of the numbers may have gone down.

I think it was intentionally last year, last summer, uh the numbers went down, but when I came aboard, we already had a discussion about the need to um increase the numbers for for summer campus.

So that's something that we take very seriously.

I followed them up.

Sure.

Director, I'm uh I'm not understanding.

So last year uh enrollment for summer camps was down a little bit.

For my awareness, yeah.

I guess you're right.

That is not questioning.

Yes for David.

That's correct, yes.

Um for this year uh those numbers are higher.

Correct, there won't be a moments or are higher than what we're gonna do.

What change, I guess, or what do you guys do to get those numbers higher?

So from what I understand, um the we had we had an initial group last year where we needed to kind of be eliminated just with the amount of allotments we had for for summer camp just based on what we're gonna be allotted for our seasonal budget, um, because again the setup of summer camp and the facilitation requires us to have a certain amount of staff.

So we need to make sure that we have that allocated within our within our line for that seasonal amount.

Um but I think that was something that was being worked through why simultaneously as we were beginning summer camp.

So in an effort to kind of adhere to that, we had minimize the amount of um or shortened the amount of camp slot allotments for that year, but again, this year that has increased.

Very good.

Oh, there's a continuous thing with 665 for uh enrollment for the camps.

Right now that's what it is for this year for for summer camps, yes, and then uh 588 for sports camps.

Wonderful.

Okay, and that the sports camp will be next one.

I was trying to get to so were you able to procure the uh space that we were talking about uh earlier for the um sports camp?

I know they're gonna be closing out soon.

For PCTA, is that what you did?

Um we still hope to have PCTA, but uh as of now that's not guaranteed just yet.

Okay, so if you don't it's certainly our preference to have PCTA, but that's out of our control as to whether we actually get PCCA.

So if we don't get them instead of 150, you're gonna go down there to Hope, which is probably about 50 kids.

I think what the breakdown is for how much that would have to be preached, but we would have to uh certainly put it.

Okay.

The use of PCTA is essential for us to be able to have that number of enrollment so it would drop if we don't get it.

I just want to make sure that we put that on record because it's really important for neighbors, it's really important for parents in the summertime, and the fact that we can't utilize it.

Um does make it more difficult for the families in our in our cities, in our neighborhoods.

So I do want to make that um do you you don't know if you said I greatly appreciate you pointing out that is that is significant.

Um, athletic coordinator Shannon Perry does a hell of a job with that sports camp.

It's uh uh something that a lot of families look forward to, a lot of the youth look forward to year in and year out.

Um so I appreciate you pointing out that point.

Can I follow up on that?

Oh, don't you mind?

Why is it follow-up to the follow up?

Yeah, follow up to the follow up.

Why would might we not have access to PCTA?

What's the hold up if you don't mind sharing?

Well, I really want to speak for them, but I mean they they have construction or something that plans to work, but I don't think that's appropriate for me to be there.

So we'll uh follow up with PPS to staying on the same subject.

Um I think it's very important that we make sure that they try to have that at least every year.

And the reason being um we all know that hope has no year in there.

And they did it last year, and kids were almost well passing out of the of the small amount that they had.

Um it's a citywide thing, it's not uh side of town thing.

So we're we're talking about kids from all over the city.

Um so it's not an east side thing, a south-south side thing.

We gotta make sure that we get our kids in here.

Um for us to be just selecting a few is really bad because now it is like a lottery again.

We our kids, we gotta stop doing it up to our kids.

Um preachers inquired because again, we need to make sure we put this on the record.

Right.

Um personally hurts me does another tremendous job to share because to one that a great job in all the effort she puts into it.

Um it makes a difference for our meeting.

Yeah.

So I think we need to stop working on it.

So instead of later.

So if we can't get it this year, let's make sure that we get it for next year, or a suitable place that we can have the air for these children.

Um I was concerned when I was hearing that the place rects were going to be closed and this, that, and the other because we don't want these kids running around with nothing to do.

Because we all know what happens when kids are left with time on their hands, they tend to get into mischief.

I don't care how good they are.

You know, we all know our sweet little innocent children can find some things to do that they have a business doing.

So um, so I'm glad to hear that that's going, that that this is going to go on, and I hope that we get all of them in there, that we have a place for each and every last one to go.

So I'm I'm happy to hear that.

Um the other thing I want, you know, we I would think.

When does um think becomes wonderful?

When does that when is that game supposed to begin?

June 29th.

June 29th.

Yeah, I would say we uh as a city councillor should try our best to use our collective efforts to make sure that PCTA is an option for this year.

Thank you.

Uh Councilwoman Peterson.

I agree, thank you very much.

Um first off, I want to give you um some feedback on the directors at that represent Kennedy that are now currently at Music Hopkins.

Um both Allegra and Derek are phenomenal with our families and the adjustment in the transition from Kennedy over to Ethic with the change of space and limited space and resources that we have.

Um they've been able to really make it make it home for for Nick for students and kids and and in the in the after school program.

Um I love their attention to detail for all of our families in my neighborhood, and I very much value that.

So if they're not watching, please make sure that you give them that because it's I I think um I'm a person that gives credit where credit is due, and it's really important to highlight.

Um I believe, and I think I referenced this last time.

I believe that our ref directors and our assistant directors are probably some of the most important positions that we have in the city.

Um they are the people that meet our families exactly where they're at and are able to understand our families in ways that we can't.

And if there's something going on with our families, they're kind of a first line of defense for so many um in so many instances, and I I really value that as um as a person who um as a person who grew up going direct and in as as a younger person, these these programs and this division of what a city does matters.

It matters to the families, it matters to the students, it matters to the people that work there.

Um I really wish that there was a better compensation structure for our directors and our assistant directors.

I'm gonna say that again.

I said it last time and I'm gonna say it again and again and again.

Um I to me these are some of the most valuable um assets that we have, and I really and I want to make sure that I'm consistently saying that.

Um last year we had um some discussion, and I think it uh if I remember correctly, most some of that discussion was for that here where the recs were um they were expected to generate some revenue and I had a I took issue with that because to me that's an extra layer of a position uh some of us do that as a profession, and I think it's really important to be able to provide professional development on that.

And so I what I would like to know is how have we pivoted from that?

Are the recs actually still doing that?

And if they're doing that, how is that being administered?

Um, because I'd love to be able to understand if if it's something that has been continued or um we found a different way of doing that.

That's stuff that I've put a pause on.

Okay.

Um we have that move forward at uh to your point.

I don't think it's stuff that I would build for.

Um I think uh fundraising or that sort of thing takes a particular skill set.

Um I'm not say that our directors, assistant directors or staff is like qualified to get that, but they have a lot of them in play as it is to manage their various facilities.

Um so that's something I put a pause on for now until I do more do geologist myself and understand that more.

Um certainly we're we're in favor of fundraising raising more when appropriate, but I don't I do not want to take away from the focus on programming, the focus on engagement with our youth, the focus on engage with our families, the focus on engagement with our constituents around the various uh rec centers that we have.

I appreciate you um saying that and I do want to pig back on your comment about a library and they're definitely very phenomenal.

Um very intensive and uh definitely blessed to have them.

There are people that and I'm sure all the rec directors and SSC directors are like that, but I speak to the ones that I know um and they very much think outside the box.

And for me, I mean for parents too, it's part of what in the feedback that I get from neighbors, especially as we've transitioned into Isaac Hopkins while Kennedy's under construction.

The main part is to make sure that the kids feel safe and pay attention to and have a space where they can actually come and and be supported in a variety of ways, and they make do with what they've got.

Easy is a little bit of a different, um, it's a little bit nuanced in the way that it's set up, but um, where this is a band for many cultures.

This is a bad trick.

Um people make their recreation that they could go about rolling out of basketball, rolling out all employment.

Um we need to pivot.

And they're a perfect example of the maybe favorite and address um some of the difficulties that they've had to face with being uh transported from Kennedy to where they are at least at Hopkins um and they've done a great job.

Yeah.

And um just the last thing for me for now is um in my prior um employment, my full-time employee employment, I was able to work with high school students, and some of those high school students came in and did the youth summer program in RECs and parks and recs parks as well as recs.

And um just some additional feedback on that is I think that it's really great that we take Providence youth and give them an opportunity to make some money.

Um again, these are really great uh chances that kids get to stay out of mischief as Council Homer said, but it is these are these are the steps forward, right?

Like how do we um develop our youth and have a hand in it as a city?

These are the these are the steps, and I think that um but that should also be um recognized.

I've heard nothing but positive things from the kids as well.

Um, and so I just wanted to make sure that we highlighted that.

Councilwoman McGraves.

Because um whether the recs is close, are we still gonna hire the same amount of kids to work this year?

Because a lot of kids look forward to getting out of school so they can get their first summer jobs and they use their first term jobs, which I would get hired through the recommerce, you know.

Um so where are we gonna place them?

Do we have we're gonna be able to hire them?

If we're gonna have the same amount of kids.

Well we we expect to be have a very uh robust uh application process for for summer camps.

Um I don't know what's envisioned, it's sort of table off if at all.

Um we expect to have a very aggressive uh enrollment process for for people to apply for jobs for the summer.

Okay, and something totally on another side.

Uh all the pools and water pots going to be open this year.

All the pools and the waters of flashbags and all of them, are they all gonna be open this summer?

They're all projected to be open once again.

Davy Lopes will also projected to be open.

Good.

Um, as well as as David Lopes uh facility um right now David Lopes is uh operating out of uh Elware Community Center.

Um I'm looking forward to Elwick Center having its own vibrant life uh with David Lopes moving back to uh David Lopes' recreation.

Wonderful because you want David Oaks open, otherwise you'll have uh in your hand.

Um the other thing is um there's been something talking about people hiring relatives who work directly under them.

Is that going on?

And if so people what hiring people to work directly under them, you know.

Are they hiring relatives?

Yeah, and that's not wrong with hiring routers, but they shouldn't be working directly under you.

Well, I have not made a hire since I've been here, so um are the relatives working uh I'm sure they are.

Okay, I just want you to have your cousin Leroy working for you.

That's all right.

We have a problem a lot of people are so um I have not made a hire of any relatives or okay.

I just want to make sure that we're not going down a slippery slope because we don't want people to stop pointing in.

But um, out of all those kids that come, we want everybody to be able to get a job.

So if we do hire you got a lot of places that we can put them that sort of we don't fall under that and there won't be any comments.

We want people to be hired based on the capabilities.

Yes, yeah.

Well, their kids are a lot of capabilities, but they will after they get under you.

Um that's a good question.

No, I think you answered that question.

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, you you're amazing.

Um I have a quick question.

What when's the estimated opening day of the pools and splash pads?

Is one come before the other?

No, 29th of June.

June 29th.

Uh Councilwoman Peterson?

This is more of a comment slash ask.

Um we talk about our youth often, but um I was hoping that we can find a way to facilitate some time for our seniors at the pools.

Um it is it is a we have a lot of um senior communities in the city, and I think it would be really helpful to if there's a possibility of doing so.

Um opening early hours to be able to facilitate some of the um some of them as well.

I think um a little bit like that goes a long way.

And uh I champion something like that if we were able to do it.

Right.

Well that that's definitely a focus.

Uh senior programming in general is something that we are looking forward to uh increasing for the recreation department.

Um we already had a great event over uh at work community center uh with healthy aging program uh that went well and looking forward to to doing more of that.

But back to the point about senior uh swim, we definitely will be doing that.

Uh Zoo does that, uh Rogers will be doing that, but that is something that we want to incorporate with all of our recreation set of pools to set aside time for seniors to have uh time to swim a book.

Please let me know because I'm happy to engage the seniors in my community to let them know that that's available.

program uh that went well and we're looking forward to to doing more of that but back to the point about senior uh swim we definitely will be doing that uh zooklow does that uh rogers will be doing that but that is something that we want to incorporate with all of our recreation center tools to set aside time for seniors to have uh time to swim a group please let me know because I'm happy to engage the seniors in my community to let them know that that's available um it's uh oftentimes we lose sight that they're also part of our um our demographic that we need to take care of and um that would make me happier than being able to facilitate small things to be which and I think we lose sight too on the importance of um the need for the interaction between the seniors and some of our youth too as well yeah um is important conversation without having that uh engagement so that's something we look forward to doing um yeah I just want to comment my my grandma um lives in a in a different community and she's retired and she goes to uh whole year around um a couple times uh a week and that's literally outside of seeing her grandsons of course uh that's part of her life right now anything that that we can do to to support those efforts um you know especially if there's some funding needed uh please let us know in the very near future uh councilman roll yeah um just a pilot thank you and that was dormable and to my a lot to council with the years that even if the recs in our neighborhoods don't have pools if we could find out about this the opportunities for seniors and let seniors in our neighborhoods know because I hear a lot from folks in Ward 3 that the splash head at Billy Taylor is awesome for kids but there's no place to cool down for seniors until they do and you could go hang out at the listing station at Lipett Park but like which is awesome and everyone should come hang out in the listing station with the park but nobody really hangs out there you just kind of walk through on your way somewhere and cool off a little bit but if there were a way to like swim and see other seniors that would be great and they'd they'd be able to get there if you have to and also utilize the seniors services that we have already available with the city through our um seniors across the city can know each other community than just the ones in your neighborhood and great.

Well maybe if you have um a digital seniors that you know that have expressed an interest in a daughter please reach out and we'll make sure they're accommodated.

Cool thank you um kind of thing um over here yes how are you going with meeting with with your directors are you guys meeting on a regular basis um together because I really think that that helps a lot because I think you all have great ideas and um we don't know just like the size of the city they all each rec has its own different flavor you know and I think you can learn from one another and and pick up all these different things.

So one of my uh important visions for me uh in sitting my seat is to re-engage with the uh directors to raise them up to empower them to uh make sure their voices are heard um because to point each center itself has a different life has a different culture um so it's important for me to be deep into each community to hear what they have to express um so yes there's constant engagement as we're sitting here waiting to uh come up to the table where we're texting uh the group text to a director that had some things going on and so we're in constant contact okay we'll go to uh conflictro and then we'll circle back with committee members thank you Mr.

Chairman uh thank you director uh for being here uh Shanali and also deputy director David Iomi uh the past six months have been uh a real uh engagement process for us uh with your leadership in the forefront I know I can speak directly uh for my ward uh which has uh the community center and uh recenter um I've had the opportunity to work with uh as a rector and even David um and uh trying to address certain uh issues as I've uh constantly visit the rec centers and the M community centers that comes online uh but I've also had the opportunity to visit the eleven other uh rec center right into uh all these years and and I continuously go there um and uh I appreciate your communication and also keeping me abreast of what's happening in uh at least in my ward and one of the uh things are placing one of the things that I observed and I brought it to your attention was that uh I think that uh as a an entire department uh needed some training uh all uh in terms of dealing with uh the population of this serving and that is the young people because one of the things that I've noticed is that uh we hire summer um seasonal workers uh but also uh perhaps even the staff need to have uh uh more refresher and and I brought that to you and I bring that to you is because uh one of the things that I uh as I did my out and about uh

uh rec center prior to uh all these years and and i continuously go there um and uh i appreciate your communication and also keeping me abreast of what's happening and uh at least in my ward and one of the uh things are placing one of the things that i observed and i brought it to your attention was that uh i think that uh as a an entire department uh needed some training uh all uh in terms of dealing with uh the population uh discern and that is the young people because one of the things that I've noticed is that uh we hire summer um seasonal workers uh but also uh perhaps even the staff need to have uh uh more refresher and and I brought that to you and I bring that to you is because uh one of the things that I uh as I did my out and about uh was that some parents have uh reached out to me uh from different communities um that they were inappropriate people around these rec centers um and uh I I think that uh I've asked uh to come up through your team uh with a plan and I hope my so my question a plan to address the the sort of uh awareness of of uh dealing with one the children two the parents and then three um around personnel and who is actually come around uh the children so I'm looking for uh an uh a plan at least commitment for us uh to address those things and I would I would love to um hear from you uh is that in the works or and what are the plans in terms of uh uh training for these type of refresher as a new leader in the department and going into six months and and we and by this time assessing the department and what are the needs of the entire department of of 11 rec centers and I believe 41 uh employees and certainly from what I understand a list of a waiting list of uh kids that are uh waiting for other jobs and opportunities so the question is it um in terms of addressing those issues uh do we have a plan are you working on it can you just uh elaborate on this first of all I would like to uh thank you for your engagement with me personally uh Silly's been uh a great teammate to work with uh I appreciate your attention this and um how important your your ward is to you and um work with the centers that are in your in your uh ward um and yes we have talked about the the safety concerns and we're we're looking at safety concerns on a number of different levels uh certainly with the issues you raise is uh something we don't take lightly at all uh and then particularly going into the summer we will have some different trainings for our staff uh last week we just had an active shooter training um but there's a number of different trainings that we look forward to having with our staff and terms of preparing them as we get to into uh summer season so um I will circle back to you with a definite definitive plan on that but that is something that we we talk about frequently uh the need to make sure that our youth are safe um and to protective from those that are round them um and to make our our staff vigilant in terms of uh identifying these potential risks that our youth may be in yeah so it is something uh extremely important uh yeah and that and I asked uh through the chair that uh that plan be submitted uh what are the actions that's uh is the summers is just a month away that at least that uh we're gonna follow through uh and that we have something in place in terms of that plan uh retraining and also uh bringing the personnel aware of all these policies that are affecting uh which is should be uh maybe also like the province school systems or the schools and so I want to make sure that that's uh through the chair that we can get a plan from from you as a record definitely uh submit that to you and I also ask if you to be um supportive and to be uh engaged with that plan too as well and also that message to the constituents that are attending the camps too as well but absolutely definitely will circle back to you yeah what's uh what what's your your time on anything on that director and all uh with the next couple weeks awesome thank you sorry thank you um I thank you for that um the other uh was in reference to uh two things one uh the emo community center had a uh director there and left has been out of uh the position for almost a year prior to you coming in uh probably uh eight months or nine months is there was there any savings uh based on that position because it wasn't filled and where does that is that reflected in uh as a savings uh to the department so um the city budgets what's known as attrition annually is part of the salary budget so we assume that a certain number of salaries will not be filled 100% of the time throughout the fiscal year so any savings from positions that are vacated are really tied to that attrition meetings that's not funding the department

Is there was there any savings based on that position because it wasn't filled?

And where does that is that reflected in as a savings to the fundamental?

So the city budgets what's known as attrition annually as part of the salary budget, so we assume that a certain number of salaries will not be filled 100% of the time throughout the fiscal year.

So any savings from positions that are vacated are really tied to that attrition savings.

It's not funding the department has the ability to respend.

So to explain it.

Do you have the main attrition uhtrition?

So it goes back to the budget.

Basically goes back to the bottom line.

Yes.

Bottom line.

Bottom line at the end of the fiscal year, any you know, excess revenues over expenditure, so excess you know, income over what we've expended goes into what's known as fund balance, so that's where our reserves are available.

Um what we do and what we will budget annually is we when we budget for positions, right?

We assume that 100% of the positions we'll be budgeting will be filled all year round, which is often not the case.

Um in fiscal year 2026, we have budgeted, I believe it was $3.5 million for attrition.

Um, and then in fiscal year 2027, we have budgeted uh four million dollars for attrition.

However, that's offset with a $500,000 allocation for non-union performance-based increases.

We had historically budgeted step what we're known as step increases or performance-based increases for non-union staff at the position level.

However, we're taking that down and making it part of the attrition line to make it more fair and equitable to departments in the city.

Um there was a few instances where, and quite frankly, you know, departments are submitting their budgets to the budget office the first week in February.

You may not know who will be eligible for performance-based step increase at that point in time.

And so there were many instances where people would have either did budgeted for an increase that they maybe didn't actually earn when it came time for their performance evaluation, or vice versa, we had only budgeted maybe one step increase with their performance demonstrated they should be going up by more than one step.

So to try to you know equitably distribute this, and it'll be quite frankly a little bit of work for me throughout the year to make sure we're managing maintaining this.

We have put one pool of funding for all non-union step increases in the non-departmental budget to again just try to be a little bit more fair and equitable throughout the year.

Um that was not the case for fiscal year 26.

We did budget step increases at the position level, so the budget um for attrition was just the 3.5 million dollars.

Um we are on track to to meet that budget number, so we're doing well this fiscal year, but again, um we do not typically unless there's some sort of direct outside expense, for example, in forestry.

Sometimes we may enable additional spending on private contractors for forestry services because we don't have forestry personnel in hand to psi who do the work.

Um, but in general, if there's a vacant position mid-year that is not funding, the department is able to repurpose for anything else.

Um and just to confirm, sorry, uh great questions.

The so going forward in this proposal that attrition uh total sits in finance.

It sits in what's known as the non-departmental budget, so that is where all the tax revenue is reported.

Um most of our like state revenues are recorded, any any sort of expenditure that is not tied to one specific department is budgeted in what's known as the non-departmental budget.

But you guys manage that we manage it, correct?

So just uh for an example, say uh a physician and finance, um, someone's in it right now, um, is in it for a couple months, uh that person leaves the department, doesn't want to uh rehire, doesn't see the need to rehire that funding goes to attrition, and then you guys could decide.

Oh, we got the schools back.

Uh this near new procurement person, uh we need an additional person, and you guys solely decide obviously with the mayor's administration to fund that position using attrition funds.

Assume yes, assuming that the ordinance allows for the position to exist.

At no point can we fund a position that is not included in the ordinance?

So just a quick follow-up on that, and so it's going back a couple meetings.

Uh that OSHA position and HR was in the ordinance.

That was in the ordinance, yes.

Thank you.

Uh Council Woman, uh Councilman Charlie, are you I still got a few is your question a follow-up on this question or yeah, I'll go ahead.

I just wanted to know.

Uh council woman uh council are you I still got a few is your question a follow-up on his question or yeah I just wanted to know do you have um do you have your budgetary um needs already addressed and do you know what you need to fund your department for this year and going back to next year.

We're comfortable with the request for the photos and but are you the one coming up with the the um because I see that you have requested a new position for weeks specialist what do you say recreation specialist and stuff like that the recreation specialist oh yes the recreation specialist is um is currently a position that is hired by it is is a current employee it's already a current employee yes it's already a current employee okay it's not a new position it's not in the position no it is a new I will say it is a new full time position the person is in that position a part-time capacity so we are requesting that we move them into a full time position but they're not earning additional salary my person with the incumbent is in a seasonal type position and so we annualized that salary and moved into full time position okay and they come under you guys or is it okay it's currently someone who's employed by vibration right okay earning approximately that salary okay so you have but you guys have a clear idea of what you mean for your budget correctly okay sure I'm probably I'm done no you know I'm gonna celebrate the very important holiday later but I'm so likewise we'll take our time here uh counselor Chardo yeah um along those lines and I'm sticking with the MOCU center but I also want to uh uh asking in reference to piggyback to the recreation specialist is it necessary for those position for that position uh uh in terms of uh recreation specialist um I see in that uh each each uh rectify has a a director an assistant and then you have other employees so what's that that's um John Bastian's position would you elaborate on how he supports the yes I'm sorry not asking that you can't sorry it was too John as one department how he is kind of he he posters our um our leads at the the main office uh the programming um data analytics um so there's a number of different aspects that we fill some uh significant gaps after the office what the main office we're programming data analyst um what other things yeah that's uh just forward coordination um things that we have to need from the department perspective can work sorry supporting uh what we'll need from a data management perspective um a lot of what we've done over the past few years it's regard to make sure we're collecting data and making decisions based on that data is is uh require somebody to be kind of focused on that all right so it's more specific on analyzing data and so forth versus sort of uh underground recreation with the kids that's why I wanted to include that okay um uh in reference to the uh wood uh community center when is uh the position going to be filled the position is currently in the process of being posted um and that's listed as one of the the center directors uh FTEs that you see there's that position will be posted very soon because it's in the process of being uh going for the pipeline we posted is there uh uh a goal of uh by when or is uh pending uh a budget approval meaning getting into the budget can you is there a specific month or thing I'm not aware of any budgetary constraints prohibiting that position being posted right now is there a date by by when we have that and I'm not sure what the by the person post the position post and then hire it's submitted to be posted so it's what the party allows to be posted then we will start to once it's officially posted we can start to interview the tools for that position make the best uh decision possible or that hire so any particular time frame certainly that is that higher person so we it would like to it coincide with David Lokes um segue and back to David's and Elvo having um its full regime so no particular date right now or month um and that's what I'm hearing so that's a judge wanna be clear on that

That hire so any particular time frame a month.

So we it would like to coincide with David's segue back to David Lows and Elvo having uh its full regime.

So no particular date right now or month.

Um and that's what I'm hearing.

So that's a I just want to be clear on that.

Um knowing how the centers take their uh completion dates move from one month to the other.

I mean, the Emo Community Center has been moving for we finally cut the ribbon after so many years, obviously, because we had that center had many many problems, but uh um that's why uh at least uh to have some predictability uh for uh within the ward in the center to know when a director's gonna uh I would like to hire a person if I bid you, however, that depends on uh the candidates that we have, yeah, yeah.

Absolutely.

Um thank you for that.

And uh then the last thing uh two things.

Uh the other was uh I noticed that one of the positions that um uh the media specialist, special project manager goes from uh pretty much getting a raise of a or my reading is wrong, uh raise uh of almost $10,000 from 66 to 74, 74, 75,000.

Um can you speak on that?

Am I reading that uh correct?

Um yeah, I can see that.

I don't have last year's personnel supplement in front of me, but I'm not aware of any changes to the compensation for that position.

Um what likely happened, you're saying it's a 10,000 dollar increase?

It seems like I'm just roughly uh guessing that 66 and 74,000, so under my 10,000.

Um that is a grade position, and so what like most likely happened is that I actually think that position was vacant when we proposed a budget office a year if I remember correctly.

When we proposed the budget if the position is vacant, I budgeted the lowest step of the lowest grade, assuming you know that's where we'll hire someone in and any additional um need to come out of attrition because usually again we're you're not filling things on immediately on 71.

Um I can pull the data, but what most likely happened is we hired somebody at higher than the lowest step of the lowest range, and so their increase looks larger because it's not true tied to the individual in that role, it's just tied to how we budgeted the position based on the current frequency at last year's budget submission.

And that position is filled already, or is that something that uh coming again?

Yes, according to org charts both by Lucy and West.

And she's currently earning $70,000.

So that to me, again, 74% seems reasonable for a step increase in that um if applicable or um poll up.

All right.

Um Mr.

Chairman, uh one more question.

Um has come to uh uh our attention that uh a director has to resign.

Uh you said earlier that the question whether people are working uh that are family members so forth, they said maybe there's some.

Is that something that uh the director should be looking at to ensure that that uh conflict of interest or it doesn't violate the policy uh uh from the city um effects uh perspective?

Um that at least people are hearing to uh not having family members supervise each other or work under each other.

Is that something that uh should be looked at?

And can you speak on uh uh recreation director that that was terminated?

Was it was there a terminator?

I I would just direct the director not to discuss the specifics or name the individual uh because it's not noticed and we're an open session.

Right.

Thank you, C Solicitor broadly uh director.

I'm not aware of anything directly in terminated or you no I'd like to know though, because now this seems like there's uh and that that's why we're here just to clarify whether that's if that's happened and so forth.

So um and then uh so yeah.

Uh seeing that the director uh just came in six months.

I want to make sure that at least it's a refresher and I've encouraged that uh because it is a uh a concerning um forecast that uh if we don't try to address it in different neighborhoods uh to make sure that uh personnel know how to deal with uh the the students and also parents and so forth.

So I think it's uh important that there's a plan uh to address these uh this issues.

I have a question.

Is there any department specific policy uh that speaks to uh relatives working in the same uh uh recenter?

There is a policy in human resources that specifically addresses that type of situation where city it's citywide, and it was just reissued uh I don't know in the past month or so, all of the policies.

So it's in there, I just don't know the specifics.

I guess my question is um uh seasonal hires.

Is that all the seasonal hires go through main office or do those go through the individual work centers?

Those all go through the main okay.

We have council reviewers and council agreements and then counseling the box.

Uh and then myself.

Different topic or similar to the topic.

Um I was just taking a look at the salary grades for our um directors and assistant directors, and I noticed that some of them did uh dependent, and I did both the assistant director and the director.

Um there are some people that are below the actual grades that are specified in our ordinance book, and so I just wanted to double check what how do we first how do we get them to at the very least the minimal set the rate, but also how does that happen and um yeah that's basically it.

Yeah, we'll have to take a look.

So the salaries that you're seeing on the org chart are what these individuals are earning currently, the compensation and prosecution ordinance will include colas, so that's already gonna be a differentiator off the yeah, right off the get-go.

Um but to the best of my knowledge, any time I find someone who's not being paid in accordance with their ordinances, we submit a request to the corporate department to request a change unemployed status.

Thank you.

Um so if you'd like I can take a look at all of our and just ensure everyone's in compliance if you'd like.

Yeah, what I essentially want to do is just make sure that these particular positions are reflection from last year and this year.

Last year's budget to this year's budget reflects um some sort of a um increase, obviously, but um also if there is any discrepancy.

If just I just happened to notice it as I was looking at it, because I made the proclamation about how much I think that they should be paid more.

So um that's that's I'm remembering that these are all in ranges, is that correct?

Yeah, everything is um assistant director is eight six through eight eight.

Yeah, the director is a 10 through 85.

Perfect.

So I'll take a look.

I have a bunch of what what's happening here is a combination of just like cool as and the way the math shook out.

Um but I'll I'll take a look and just double check and make sure that everyone's being paid in accordance to the left direct nomination same, I think.

Uh councilwoman groups.

Yeah, um I think well, for the um assistants last year there was a really big discrepancy, and now they're they're really close to where they should be.

Okay, so there is they had brought them up.

I I have noticed the difference in this.

Um and I I believe it's true with the um directors.

I think there might be I mean when you look at Jackie is I think it's the CR.

Of course, yeah, it brings them them up, but I think that they because we talked about this last year, and it looks like it has been corrected somewhat to me.

Say that one more time.

Jackie holds positions support services.

Yes.

So I I I I think it has been somewhat corrected.

You can always still check just to make sure, but I think you guys did do correct that.

Um I think what we're bringing up is we're all getting all kinds of rumors and phone calls and in the windows, and so we want to make sure that we bring it to the fore.

This is this is the place where we ask the questions and we find the answers.

Um and I I want to make sure that that everything is fair, it's all clear, it's all you this is your chance to to tell us what needs to be said.

And this is our chance to ask the questions or the people that that are out there.

Because sometimes let's be truthful.

Um people hear things and they run and say blah blah blah.

And some people feel they know things and it and it may or may not be true.

You know.

So I want to hear both sides and give everybody a chance to hear these things.

You know, and if I find out either way, one I'll go back to the other one and say, hey, that's not true.

I'll hope like I just said right now.

Or I'll say, Well, I found out that what you told me wasn't quite what it was supposed to be.

And I'm either side, no, you know, that's that's just me.

So I just want to let you know that we're not attacking anybody.

We just want to make sure that you're aware of of some of the things that are being said, and we're we're just putting it out there and we want the people out there to know that we are doing our due diligence by bringing it up.

I totally respect that.

Yeah.

Certainly.

And and for the state's not very tonight, it's certainly leaving me with a lot of questions.

Yes.

And and I I'm I'm gonna read you with you.

I love the recs.

And I told you last year the there are things that I will fight tooth and nail for.

And is one of them is the recs, because I love our kids.

We gotta make sure that our kids are safe.

We gotta make sure that our kids I have a chance to be children to enjoy their lives.

Right.

You know, and I will fight for them for the schools, I will fight for the recs, and I will definitely fight for um any any the libraries and and the homes.

We want them to have all those safety nets.

So if I come down hot on on any of those things, it's because of that, because they have to have a place to go and feel safe.

You know, the st these these streets are mean.

This life is hard.

And we gotta make sure that they have a chance to be true.

And we all know that, unfortunately, some of the places that they they don't even get a chance to eat in some places besides the wrecks in the schools.

Right.

You know.

They in some places that you know the recs in the school's own time, they get a chance to feel safe.

You sometimes they only get a chance to feel that in home.

So we gotta make sure that we do the best that we can where we can.

So I appreciate the recs.

Make sure you keep on bringing the programs, and you know uh my rec is the best rec, and the rest of y'all and the rest of y'all are doing okay.

Oh, I can say it was a great way.

That was at Rogers.

So I don't consider you coming down hard, I can see you coming down with passion.

Thank you, I agree with that.

Well said.

Awesome.

I have one question, which is total change, though.

I think Councilman Grace can come down hard if she needs to, so um, but uh the question I have is uh totally different than the ones we were just talking about.

So switch topic is um my first two years on council I worked pretty closely with Herlin to make sure we were putting in place uh because Herlin had been the head of the Vincent Brown rec um to make sure that the HVAC was functioning, and I know that's in process.

Also thanks to Kyle.

Oh, Kyle left.

Um I know Kyle's been working with you guys on that as well.

But can you talk to the functionality of the HVAC systems at all of the recs?

Because I know to Councilman Gray's point from like an hour ago, those recs get so hot in the summer and it it's a dangerous condition for any of them that don't have recs.

I mean HVAC and I know that's something you've been working on.

Anyway, long story short, we'd love to hear the status of where the recs are with HVAC and all their facilities.

Great.

Well, in particular to the ones that have going through the CPF uh grant process, which are uh they go to Jocelyn, uh JD's David Motes uh Elwood or the HVAC is in place um and they votes will be open and they should uh Jocelyn is uh scheduled for completion in October.

Um so it's a ways of ways of that update on the uh HR.

So we're expecting to see uh upgrades with H VS E systems up Vincent Brown, um PLZ as well, uh Zucolo, West End, and John Roth, if I didn't mention that so those are all underway and I would just go for for the start of summer camp.

Oh, great, so we those ones will be ready for the start of summer.

Fingers crossed, yes.

Okay.

Yes.

So for the ones where it's not done by summer camp, do you have measures in place to make sure the kids, there's fans or the kids are safe?

Because I remember going to visit Browns before there was HVAC in like July, and it was like even not playing basketball, I was like getting a little lightheaded, and I'm not a delicate flower.

Yeah, we can't do that.

Well, this brought them some great improvements that I welcome you to uh join me on particular tour over there.

Um definitely needed uh yeah, yeah, for real.

But there are some centers like uh Rogers I look forward to uh having some dialogue uh down the road with that.

Um we do have a meeting schedule of the public property to start that conversation.

Um so there are some that needs some level care.

Yeah, but there's like measures in place to keep the kids safe for the summer if they're still playing there because it gets so hot.

Okay.

Correct.

Yeah, that would be for Rogers, I mean I know we'll have that brand new water park, we have that pool that's right over there, and uh we do obviously give an inventory of um of vans for to disperse across locations as needed.

Yeah, and I'm sorry about that.

No, no, no.

I am um putting in the air conditioner from my rep.

Um I go there and I I refuse we can myself, uh so I take care of iron.

So we don't have to worry about it will be there this summer.

That's awesome.

Um just to quickly uh jump in on this topic.

I know there is plans uh you know for HRAC in certain recs, Jocelyn including one.

What's uh what's the plan for the rest of the rec centers?

Is that is that all through capital improvement and what there's a considerable amount of investments being done in rec centers through what's known as the CPF grants, which is ARPA that's passed through the state to us.

Right.

Um all of that work needs to be completed and we the state wants us to have that mostly substantially complete by June, um, with most of the work again completing by October.

Um I don't have my CIP book in front of me, but there's a current funding for recreation centers in the 2025 fund, and I believe there's additional funding for closing the new funds.

So um I know public property is taking a deep dive and looking at these work centers, it's been a priority frankly of the administration to do the same thing.

Um, Councilman, you mentioned libraries, that's a big part of the reason why there's funding in for libraries because they also act as warning and cooling centers, um, you know, in inclement weather.

So if you'd like, I can sit down with public property and have them you know give like a kind of a comprehensive, you know, maybe just a quick overview of what's on their agenda for the recreation improvements, and that would be helpful.

Absolutely first door.

Yeah.

Um sorry, council, are you also?

I'm also back.

Uh pro time for charter.

Uh yes.

Um question in terms of uh how many kids are I know 2026 you serve uh X amount of kids that were went through the summer programs.

Do you have those numbers and also how many are we servicing this year?

And how many are on the waiting list?

And then the last one through the uh budget, um understanding that the attrition, is there uh additional money that can be allocated or at least what or has it been requested to uh support more kids uh getting those summers opportunity?

Yes.

You want to go for uh well I can say from the budget perspective, um the bulk of the salary expense for these uh summer fances in the recreation seasonal budget.

We know that the fiscal year 2026 summer season has wrapped up and total expenditures were about 1.8 million dollars, 1787, 975.

They have a budget of 2 million dollars.

So from a financial perspective, it does look like there's capacity to expand beyond what was done last fiscal year.

How many positions that is is really tough for me to say because the seasonal positions are budgeted very differently than the rest of the budget.

Um so I'm gonna defer to the department on what sort of capacity that that would mean.

Um, but I can certainly say that you know it it does look like there is funding available for additional staff or programs if necessary as compared to what was actually done in the process.

Okay.

And were you asking the number of GIFs or a camp?

Last year, and also right now, what's projected?

For the camp, 585 for the uh sports camp.

Last year, the year for I can I can get you that number for last year.

And then how many are in the waiting list?

Please.

We don't we don't we don't know right now how many kids are on weight list?

On wait lists, not the not the total level.

Please get that to us as soon as possible.

Yes.

And then the last one is uh in terms of the uh baseball fields.

I know that it's always uh a challenge with the parks and also the recs, uh having the parks ready or um uh have that been already issued.

Uh is that uh can you expand on that?

Uh uh is there uh challenges that uh need to be addressed to ensure that uh soccer gets played, baseball gets played, uh volleyball gets played, um, who's responsible for um assigning those uh parts and and who stays on top of that in terms of administration?

So you speak from the charge of the permit process, um how they're going that that's we've really taken uh a look at uh kind of revising the permit process because it is um from what I've uh learned that what I've inherited has been kind of tricky in terms of the recreation is put in uh somewhat of a typeless job of uh issuing permits.

Uh we don't manage the fields per se, but we issue the permits for individuals to play uh athletic events on when it's a special event that's something that goes to uh Joe Wilson and his crew.

Uh but as far as issuing permits for athletic events, that's under our purview.

But the process is going well.

We're doing uh baseball going on, there's soccer going on, uh softball, a number of different athletic events.

So uh just the final problem.

Yes, uh so seeing that uh yeah, through your analysis is that uh two departments that are involved.

Um does it um conclude that in essence that it belongs with the road department, or should it be uh something to be conservative uh to be under the parks issuing uh these permits?

We're more capable of handling the job or issuing permits.

Um I think that's where the debate is going on has gone on for many years prior to me sitting in a seat.

Um I don't know what the exact size is to whether it'd be better with one department or another, but we're fully capable of handling the permit uh issue and process.

Thank you.

Uh quick follow-up question.

So the revenue of um rec center rentals does not sit with the rec department?

It is with the record, but it's not part of the general fund, it's considered a special revenue fund for the recreation department, not as a recreation support fund.

If you'd like I can give you a lot of things.

Yeah, Chris.

We get the balance of every uh special uh support revenue fund yes for parks and recs specifically, or we also have them for grants, which are like really not tied to city operations as much as they're tied to like certain program that is for grants.

Um I think parts and recs makes sense right now, just so we have our understanding of what's in there.

Yep.

Um other questions maybe have uh a couple to wrap us up with no one else has any.

Um what's the uh what's the timeline on the vacant assistant director position at Western?

Uh that meeting with uh Lynn Johnson uh soon on that, and that would be posted and um how long has it been vacated?

Well it was uh February when we uh person design.

Okay, thank you.

I'm not gonna say the uh the sentiment I said earlier with parks and gang.

Um but I also share it uh with Rec in terms of uh program uh funding uh staying um pretty much the same.

Um when we level fund uh programs and services or anything, um at the end of the day it's really uh cutting because expenses go up and if we're not increasing our contributions to uh those services or programming, um then I don't think we're doing uh just uh by what our uh residents um expects from us.

So I know you know this is the beginning of the budget proposal and full transparency.

And parks and rec's a very visible and common sense, I guess, uh place.

So there definitely will be follow-up conversations at some point.

So every every position, how many youth jobs are we?

How many people apply for youth jobs?

I guess is what I'm looking for.

That's typically year.

But we typically hire a range between 350 to 450, depending on the program that we're anticipating for that stuff for that season.

But like like how many applications like is it like what I'm trying to get to is how many youth in the city of Providence have applied to a job and are not obviously you know, some might have disqualifying stuff on the resumes or whatever schedules.

Um I'm just trying to figure out what what there's the need out there definitely is higher than what we're providing.

So what like how what's the percentage?

Like what I guess like how do we find that information out as a committee?

Um so a lot of that is hosted directly with either human resources or the department specifically, like summer camps, some academy information I know is something we were very interested in early during this budget season.

Um I'm not sure if this is like information they all have at the top of their head, but I'm assuming there's some sort of applicant tracking somewhere.

So I feel like I can again I what I've been doing after these meetings where I assign projects to everyone based on your your request.

Thank you.

Uh so that I can make sure we're following up with you in a timely manner.

Some of the ones from tonight I think will be hard to make that 48-hour mark on, but we'll do our best.

Um so if you'd like I can work with the department to have them go through their records, and maybe we can get a couple years of historical figures.

I know um the deputy director's finished say for this at least second cycle through this process, so we could maybe get last year's numbers to just give you kind of some history on how many people had applied in total, and then of that total, how many were hired.

Um I know last year I had a data request for I believe it was the number of Providence residents hired, so I can pull up that data from last year and share that with you to just refresh us of where we were at because that would give you some actual information for fiscal year 2025.

So then you know, again, we'd have a couple of a year's work to look at at that point.

Yeah, that would be um really really helpful, uh Crystal.

Um I know every year families in my neighborhood contact me, and you know, I try to speak to uh the directors nearby uh see if there's any availability.

Um but it seems like there's always uh a need out there, and you know, obviously if we can't fulfill that need uh in one budget cycle, but I think we have to as a city uh commit to to increasing those opportunities on a year by year basis, and um I just don't think we have uh these past few years.

Um so that's something that I uh personally am super interested in invested in.

Um the last question I have is um around program expense.

Director, can you give us a quick uh brief statement or overview of how much how much of that 155,000 is spent in, you know, I think basketball and the new soccer program use, but is there any other program through rec department that uses uh program expenses?

Well, there's a number of different areas for programming expenses.

Uh obviously uh basketball is the bulk of what we probably said a budget on a programming wise.

Um soccer is something that we look into given it needs really uh put a focus on developing our youth, uh, but also uh increasing the um youth program for girls too as well is something where we really need to uh drive our dollars towards as far as programming uh budgeting goes.

Just to kind of echo Sean's points as well.

Um introduced this year was a large swim PVD program, um, offering swimming lessons for for all residents over at a steaming pool, which is the indoor pool, which allows us to do that on a yearly basis, and it's not weather dependent.

Um so that's that's another another avenue that has been allocated for uh some of that programming.

What are we doing right now in specifics around programs for uh girls in the city?

What is the sports program?

But there's other programs like arts programming that we have.

We do a lot of work with also uh P3 in their programs.

Um there's a number of different uh areas of uh young girls programming that we do.

Thank you.

Um just to follow up on that point.

Um I said this last year, but I'm not sure you were here last year.

Yes.

I know there have been at some of the Rags Girls programming that is very jeattered uh different than the boys programming, and just my like annual appeal that girls also like sports and weightlifting and all the things boys like and boys also like art and dance and things that are gendered girls, so just to make sure that especially for the young kids, we're offering them both opportunities.

Speaking as a girl who never wanted to dance or do makeup or arts, but like have found later in life that darn, I wish I would offer opportunities to weight lift because that is my real passion.

So in physical activities.

Um just to put that out there, I just I don't want the kids to get too entered into like totally gendered activities from a really young age.

Um I think some of our girls and some of our boys want to do the activities for the other that are gendered by society in certain ways.

Absolutely agree with that.

Um what I've mentioned are set in the world.

Oh, yeah, I think you were saying that you meant the boys are involved in the two as well.

Yeah.

However, it is something that the girls tend to do priority works for.

So I only have one more question.

Do any committee members you guys are all set?

Um, is any of the program expense uh line item used?

Um, I guess I'll just answer my point question for uh for seasonal programs.

I guess the question is is any of the program expense used for any of the summer camps?

Yes.

So in the operating budget, the recreation seasonal budget is really only covering uh temporary salaries, which would include any referees we need, um that actually is year-round referees, not just summer referees, um, and then the applicable uh you know payroll taxes we need to pay appropriately.

Um, but all of the like service and supplies, the bulk of the funding available is either in here in the recreation budget, so that's 155,000.

And that's why if you look at the actuals for this year, we're only at 45.

Like I think there's a certainly seasonality in the spending of that program line, and now that we're getting into spring, we'll see an optick in expenditures.

Um but there is some funding that is used for the recreation support fund because you know, again, the summer camp tuition is not a tremendous revenue generator, but some of that revenue does offset the program costs.

Yeah, and I think that's why it's important that we have those, you know.

Obviously, we're not asking to have complete oversight over that fund.

I think whoever is doing it, but if we're aware of you know this money and it's being spent, um because we look at the budget, and my neighbors look at the budget, and they're like 155,000 is being spent on programs, and that's it.

So if we're aware at least um and have better understanding that there's this pool of money out there that's being used for our kids and our recenters, it would uh equip us a little better in those conversations with our constituents.

Yeah, I totally agree, and I would say that is something that we have been working on.

Um, you know, again, we started with parks because they have seven of them to kind of keep track of, but um we really are trying to take a more active approach to like monitoring and managing what happens with these side funds.

Um they can consider they grow pretty considerably here over year.

Um, and I think it's important for us to look at departments holistically.

Um, you know, again, to your point, Chair, um there is another funding source that is supporting our programs.

It may not be appearing here, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, and I think we should be telling the public about those resources so that they understand when decisions are made, that perhaps it's not necessarily that we don't want to support recreation programs.

There's another opportunity we have to support them for that resource.

Thank you.

Um director and deputy director, um, I appreciate the the work that you and every single staff member of our rec department does.

Um I've said it before, I mean, you guys are a lot more uh than just directors and and rec directors, um you guys are mentors, you guys are uh teachers, you guys are our are life coaches uh to a lot of the to the youth, uh therapists, uh councilwoman Peterson said, uh guidance counselors.

Um and unfortunately there is uh uh a trend in the youth uh of the city sometimes when it comes to uh participating in activities uh that aren't the best choices.

So anything that we can do as public servants as uh for the city of Providence to uh support our youth by giving them resources and opportunities.

Um definitely have uh 15 allies on the council, so please uh always keep us uh in mind when um doing this work.

But appreciate you guys.

We appreciate you.

You're here.

Um with that being said, I will entertain a motion to continue item one through six.

So moved.

Second.

Sorry, thank you.

Uh motion made by councilwoman in road, second by councilwoman graves, all those in favor, aye, any nays, eyes have it.

This time I will undertain a motion to our journal.

Second.

So moved by councilwoman uh Peterson, second by Councilman Graves, all those in favor.

Aye.

Meeting is uh adjourned.