COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

January 14, 2002

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 29, 2002

TO:

The Honorable Board of Supervisors and the Parks and Recreation Commission

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Presentation of Poll Results for Parks Needs Assessment

Recommendation

Accept the Survey of Registered Voters and the Community-at-Large prepared by Strategic Research Institute regarding a Needs Analysis and Tax/Assessment Feasibility Study for San Mateo County Parks and Recreation.

Background

In 1994 San Mateo County established a citizen's Alternative Funding Committee to evaluate long-term needs for the park system. Several recommendations came from that committee, including the placement of a measure on the ballot to address unmet capital needs and to direct County Park staff to review potential sources of revenue from private sources. Although a ballot measure was never forwarded to the electorate, the County did establish a fundraising non-profit Parks Foundation that has received over $800,000 in funds and pledges over the last 3 years. Two years ago the County approved a new position for the Parks' Division budget that was designed to seek public sector grants to fund projects that had not been covered by the Capital Project Fund. To date that position has been responsible for award of over $1 million in non-entitlement grants. However, experience in the last three years has raised several issues that were not apparent at the time of the 1994 report:

1.

The County does not have an up-to-date assessment or cost estimates of the improvements that need to be made to keep the parks safe and attractive, that meets changing regulatory requirements and accommodates changing demographics of our residents and park users. The Capital Projects Master Plan is designed to collect data and quantify costs developed by staff, gather suggestions from a public participation process and analyze funding mechanisms and options.

2.

Alternative funding sources have not been found to cover some of the most pressing needs for the Division, primarily basic infrastructure repairs. In fact, most funding sources make it clear they are not interested in funding basic health, safety and regulatory requirements.

3.

A separate study identified the need for a plan to create park and recreation facilities and programs in the unincorporated Mid-Coast area of the County, including an analysis of ways to pay for plan implementation.

Discussion

The Board of Supervisors has approved funding for two separate studies to develop needed data for decision-makers. One is the development of a long-range capital projects plan for county parks. A second is a Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment for the unincorporated Mid-Coast area of the County. Both planning processes were to be based on a scientifically conducted telephone poll to help identify needs and establish priorities. Both planning processes also entail citizen involvement through workshops, interviews and focus groups that will help expand and refine the materials developed from the polling process. This process will help us prioritize and develop plans for what we can do with existing funding and what the gap is.

The next steps needed to complete the Capital Projects Master Plan include:

·

Creation of Blue Ribbon Committee

·

4 quarterly meetings of that Committee

·

3 public workshops

·

Presentation of Draft Plan to Parks and Recreation Commission

·

Presentation of Draft Plan to Board of Supervisors

The Capital Projects planning process is tentatively estimated to be completed in June 2003.

The next steps needed to complete the Mid-Coast Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment are:

·

Presentation of poll findings and Phase I data gathering to Mid-Coast Council

·

2 additional public workshops

·

Presentation of Draft Plan to Parks and Recreation Commission

·

Presentation of Draft Plan to the Board of Supervisors

The Mid-Coast Needs Assessment is estimated to be completed in December 2002.

Dr. George Manross, Chairman of Strategic Research Institute, will summarize the findings from the poll contained in the enclosed report and help interpret the results of those findings. For each planning process, additional meetings will need to be held with stakeholders and citizens to develop information and recommend a strategy for next steps.

Fiscal Impact

None at this time.

Review by Others

County Counsel.

Enclosure

Report on "A Survey of Registered Voters and the Community-at-Large" "Needs Analysis & Tax/Assessment Feasibility Study" prepared by Strategic Research Institute.