City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Consideration of a Resolution to Adopt Resource Allocation and Fee Assistance Policy for the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Resolution (Attachment 1) to adopt two polices pertaining to the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities programs and services. (1) The Resource Allocation and Cost Recovery Policy (Attachment 2) provides methodology to determine the basis for fees and charges, and (2) the Fee Assistance Policy (Attachment 3) provides formal guidance for qualifications pertaining to fee reductions for programs and services.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopts the resolution for the two recommended policies (1) The Resource Allocation and Cost Recovery Policy, and (2) the Financial Assistance Policy effective July 1, 2013.
BACKGROUND: City Council Strategic Plan Goal 5 states that; Alexandria is financially sustainable, efficient, community oriented and values its employees. The proposed polices align the work of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities (RPCA)to the focus area that City government manages taxpayer dollars in a manner that safeguards the long-term delivery of services. Determining a cost recovery and allocation methodology addresses the policy question of how much of the service costs taxes should support versus the participants. A policy to allocate resources in this manner supports sustainability of services. Cost recovery benchmarks nationally show a 34% level of participant fees versus tax support for programs. In Northern Virginia, the ratio has a range of the City of Alexandria at 12% versus Loudoun County at 63% cost recovery.
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