FORPD Board Approves Cost-of-Living Increase
Sep 12, 2024 09:13AM ● By Shaunna BoydFAIR OAKS, CA (MPG) – During the Aug. 21 Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District (FORPD) Board of Directors meeting, Parks and Facilities manager Sean Ventura discussed efforts to address safety concerns at the Miller Park disc golf course.
The concerns were spurred by recent incidents involving discs not staying within the designated course and hitting other park users. Ventura said the district contracted with a disc golf designer, who walked the course, and will issue a report with new safety recommendations. Updates could include engineering fixes such as natural or manmade barriers, as well as possible course restructuring.
“The district is ready and willing to fund changes needed to make a safer space,” Ventura said.
District Administrator Mike Aho suggested scheduling a public meeting to share the report findings and to get public input.
The board considered the final revised offer for the sale of the district’s cell tower lease at Miller Park. Aho described a few changes to the sale contract reached during negotiations, such as changing a 99-year lease on the land to a perpetual lease with no designated end date and the land remaining under district ownership.
A price reduction was requested of $54,000 (from $2,055,000 to $2,001,000), which Aho said “primarily is due to Dish Network,” which is a “co-locator” on the tower. “They are actually a liability right now.”
Aho explained that Dish Network is currently “not financially secure,” so the sale price has been adjusted accordingly to cover that liability.
“It’s based on a reduction in revenue that they’re going to see because more than likely, in their estimation, Dish Network will no longer be on that tower,” Aho said.
After fees and closing costs, the district is expected to receive $1.879 million from the sale. With approximately $904,935 of that revenue already allocated to new seating at the Amphitheatre, Aho said the remaining funds will be strategically invested for “potential revenue enhancements.”
The board voted 4-0 to approve the sale to TPA VII, LLC, with Vice-Chair Delinda Tamagni abstaining.
Administrative Service manager Jennifer Larkin brought forward a recommendation for a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 3.9% for full-time staff. The adjustment would increase the operating budget by $53,000 and Larkin said there is enough existing funding to support the request.
Larkin also suggested the district issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to conduct a comprehensive salary study, because a cursory review showed large variations, with some positions at market rate and others well below or above. The cost of a salary study could be approximately $100,000 but the benefit would be to “make sure we’re using our resources appropriately,” Larkin said.
If they defer a compensation study, Director John O’Farrell said, they run the risk of falling far behind in setting reasonable salaries, which can then hurt the budget in the long run.
Chair Ralph Carhart said that they wouldn’t be obligated to immediately act upon the results of a salary study but it would help them see what adjustments are needed and which ones could reasonably be made.
The board voted unanimously to approve the Cost-of-Living Adjustment and to request proposals for a salary study.
The board then considered whether to add Juneteenth as a recognized holiday for district employees. Currently, staff have 13 paid holidays, which includes one floating holiday. Director Raymond James Irwin said he wouldn’t support adding another paid holiday, since the district was already in line with other agencies on total holidays.
Irwin suggested adding Juneteenth to the list of approved holidays for the floating paid holiday or allowing employees to take it as an unpaid holiday.
“I think it’s really important to recognize Juneteenth,” O’Farrell said.
O’Farrell would support adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday and said, “It’s not a matter of money, at least in my opinion.”
Carhart said the “floating holiday is there for whatever is dear to your heart.” He suggested revisiting this issue after the salary study.
Irwin made a motion not to add a holiday at this time and to revisit the item at a later date, which passed 3-2, with Vice-Chair Tamagni and O’Farrell dissenting.
Arts and Entertainment manager Jen Schuler brought forward a proposal for a new full-time technical supervisor position to work in the Arts and Entertainment Division. With Measure J renovations in the Village nearing completion, there will be a need for a dedicated technical supervisor for the Amphitheatre’s new Fair Oaks Performing Art Center. The position would also oversee entertainment operations throughout all district facilities.
Sacramento County allocated $130,000 in its federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the district, which will be used to support operational costs and sustainability of the new Performing Arts Center. Staff proposed using $88,500 of these funds for the technical supervisor’s first year of salary. In subsequent years, the salary should be supported by revenue from ticket sales, facility fees, venue rentals and sponsorships.
The board voted unanimously to approve the new position.
With funding secured for the new Amphitheatre seating, the district considered the implementation of a Chair Dedication Policy, through which patrons can dedicate a chair with an accompanying plaque within the venue for a five-year term for $500. The program is anticipated to generate significant financial support for the Fair Oaks Performing Arts Center.
The board unanimously approved the Chair Dedication Policy, with Carhart adding that he would like to see a range of dedication opportunities (such as plaques, benches, trees, etc.) available for various levels of donation.
The board also considered a Tree Protection Policy to be implemented immediately within the district. The goal of this policy is to restrict activities that could harm the long-term health and safety of trees on district properties.
The guidelines were adopted from the Sacramento Tree Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture and generally-accepted best practices for protecting existing trees. District staff and contractors working on district properties will be required to follow the guidelines regarding fertilization, irrigation, pruning and root protection.
The board unanimously approved the new Tree Protection Policy.
The next Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Sept. 18.