Politics & Government

Park District Board Approves Preliminary Budget

LARPD trustees approve next year's preliminary budget, reject bids for field improvements.

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The Board of Directors for the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District approved a preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year at its meeting Wednesday night.

The operating budget is balanced at $15,960,076, about $100,000 less than the previous year’s budget due to a reduction in property tax revenue. There were no program or staff reductions necessary; however, the District will leave two full-time vacancies unfilled. The preliminary capital budget was also approved at $4,313,281. The budget includes improvements to Sycamore Grove Park, along with the largest planned project – conversion of two soccer fields at Robertson Park to synthetic turf, a partnership with the Livermore Youth Soccer League.

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Regarding the Robertson Park field improvements, the Board accepted a letter of protest filed by Robert A. Bothman Inc., the third lowest bidder for the project. The Board voted to reject all construction bids with the intent to revise bid documents and go back out to bid in a timely manner.

Salary and benefit recommendations for the 2011-2012 budget were approved, with updates including the addition of a floating holiday and making New Year’s Eve Day a District holiday for part-time designated and full-time staff. Board members expressed their appreciation to staff for their hard work. In a related item, the Board approved amendments to the District Personnel Rules and Regulations concerning holidays and floating holidays.

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The Board approved an amendment to the 2010-2011 capital budget for the payment of easements from Wente Vineyards for trail segments D and E-2. The easements run along the south side of Tesla Road between Concannon Boulevard and Mines Road.

During the meeting, recently retired Park Foreman Clay Adams was honored for 34 years of service to LARPD. Directors shared their appreciation for his work and wished him well in retirement. The Board approved a resolution establishing designations for the District Unreserved Fund Balance. Also passed at the meeting was a resolution authorizing LARPD’s contribution to the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association for retirees’ medical for 2011-2012. Directors also approved a grant application for $3,500 for an Aquatic Adventure Camp from the Department of Water Resources and applauded efforts to reach out to minorities and low-income families.

Additionally, President Steve Goodman spoke about the District and the City of Livermore being unable to include the annual Fourth of July Celebration in the budget for this year or next year.

“Unfortunately this year, and for the foreseeable future, the Fourth of July Celebration that the City of Livermore and LARPD jointly offer will not be held in Robertson Park,” Goodman said. “The City decided that they were unable to provide the support for that event. The Park District, because it’s a joint agreement, cannot do it on our own.”

He suggested members of the public looking for alternative options can visit a Fourth of July information page on the LARPD website at: http://www.larpd.dst.ca.us/programs/Fourth_of_July_info.html.


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