City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: APRIL 29, 2016
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of a Resolution to Adopt Fee Changes to Increase Cost Recovery for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) Programs for FY 2017. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution to adopt fee changes to increase cost recovery for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA) programs for FY 2017.
RECOMMENDATION: That Council adopts the proposed resolution (Attachment) for the recommended fee changes, outlined below.
BACKGROUND: The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities regularly adjusts program and activity fees that include, classes, camps, workshops, admissions and other programs as needed in order to stay in line with market trends and cost recovery efforts. As part of the FY 2008 budget process, Council provided the City Manager the authority to adjust RPCA non-programmatic fees annually, with a maximum increase equal to the annual rate of inflation (CPI-U). Within this authority, the actual fee may be rounded to an administratively convenient amount to assume efficient assessment and collection of fees. Increases in fees exceeding this amount will continue to be considered by Council. On September 24, 2013, Council adopted the Resource Allocation and Cost Recovery Policy that guides the department’s resource allocation, and will begin setting fees based on the adopted model. The recommended fee changes include in this resolution begins the process to build the department’s fees at the appropriate cost recovery tier level. The department expects to gradually adjust fees over time to be fully in compliance with the cost recovery model.
DISCUSSION: As part of the FY 2017 budget, RPCA staff recommends fee changes for the Out of School Program Activity fee.
In summary, the attached Resolution provides:
• An increase in the Summer Out-of-School Program Activity fee from $300.00 to $315.00. Staff will continue to make available fee assistance programs for qualified applicants.
• An increase in the School Year Out-of-School Program Activity fee from $415.00 to $429.00. Staff will continue to make available fee assistance programs for qualified applicants.
All FY 2017 RPCA fees will be available on the City's fee compendium for public information.
In addition, the RPCA section of the City's website will post information to notify the public of all fee changes.
FISCAL IMPACT: The FY 2017 Proposed Budget includes an estimated increase of approximately $23,000 in General Fund revenues in anticipation of the RPCA fee changes described above as a result of Council action during budget adoption.
ATTACHMENTS: Proposed Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Debra R. Collins, Deputy City Manager
Morgan Routt, Director, Office of Management & Budget
James Spengler, Director, RPCA
Faye Maslaki, Fiscal Officer III, RPCA