2011 2:00:00 PM

Monday, November 14, 2011 2:00 PM
Sparks Legislative Building

General Business: 6.3

Title: Presentation and possible discussion on community involvement with the Parks and Recreation Department in fiscal year 2011.

Petitioner/Presenter: Tracy Domingues, Parks & Recreation Director/Tracy Domingues, Parks & Recreation Director

Recommendation: None

Financial Impact: None

Business Impact (Per NRS 237):
A Business Impact Statement is not required because this is not a rule.

Agenda Item Brief: Strategic Goal #4 includes "Increase volunteer opportunities within the City to engage the community in local government" while Strategic Goal #5 is to "Improve and promote quality of life in the City of Sparks". This presentation will acknowledge several citizens, groups and businesses that supported the Sparks Parks and Recreation Department in fiscal year 2011 as well as their efforts to improve and promote the quality of life in Sparks.

Background: The Parks and Recreation Department continues to encourage the community to get involved through a variety of programs. With assistance from local groups, citizens and businesses, the City of Sparks Parks and Recreation Department has been able to maintain valuable community assets. A program called PARTNERS IN PARKS AND RECREATION paves the way for local folks to come forward with support for Sparks. It also provides a great opportunity to give something that will benefit all ages and abilities. Contributors are recognized throughout the year, including acknowledgement in the Sparks Parks and Recreation seasonal activity guides and online. Between organized sports and heavy neighborhood usage, the turf at Dilworth and Sparks Middle Schools was in very poor condition in 2010. Western Turf approached Rick Darby, Parks Development and Operations Manager and asked if there was anything the City could use their help with. For pennies on the dollar they stepped up and helped us get the 64,200 square feet of turf back in shape. The local company removed all the old sod, renovated the soil and installed the new sod. The $13,040 bill was paid for with the player assessment fees collected by the Parks and Recreation Department from the Sparks Youth Sports Foundation. The fields are now safe for play. These fields are jointly used for Parks and Recreation activities during the evenings and weekends and during the weekdays by the Washoe County School District. The Gandolfo Rodeo Arena received several much needed upgrades as well and the work was free of charge. Mike Lucke, President of the Reno Rodeo Association, helped coordinate efforts to fix up the rodeo arena. The Reno Rodeo Association hired workers to weld and paint broken gates, and Gradex Construction Company brought an excavator in to grade out the arena. Local youth groups, including the Spanish Springs High School Rodeo Team, the Sierra Nevada Junior Rodeo Association and the Sierra Nevada Gymkhana Club rounded out the repairs with much appreciated assistance. These facilities would not be in the great condition they are in today without people stepping forward through the PARTNERS IN PARKS AND RECREATION program. Volunteer hours are tracked on a monthly basis. The following statistics are from fiscal year 2011. 1) Adopt-a-Park - 904 hours; 2) Adult Sports - 240 hours; 3) Office intern - 210 hours; 4) Senior programs - 268 hours; 5) Youth Sports - 3,326 hours; 6) Leisure Without Limits - 197 hours; 7) Kids Triathlon - 10 hours; 8) Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB)River Cleanup - 1,274 hours; 9) KTMB Community Cleanup - 94 hours; 10) KTMB Christmas Tree Recycling - 120 hours (3,100 trees recycled); 11) Phone Book recycling/Tree Planting - 35 hours; and 12) Community Service work crews - 19,799 hours for a grand total of 26,477 volunteer hours. Other examples of projects which received assistance include: 1) Junior Giants Program made possible by the Sparks Sertoma Club; 2) citizen Wayne Teglia and approximately 15 boy scouts did some work along the Ore Ditch between Prater Way and Springland, and 3) the Kids Free Fishing Day made possible due to 100+ Sparks Rotary Club members assisting up to 2,000 youth. Lastly, twenty-one (21) groups are active in the ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM. For more that a decade, this program has assisted in improving parks and landscaped areas through volunteer support. Volunteers help by removing weeds and trash, painting, assisting with playground care and maintenance, and reporting any areas that are in need of repair. Most recently, a group of 360 volunteers signed up through Summit Christian Church for the Sparks Parks portion of their annual Operation 39580 project. In one and half hours, this large group tended to 35 parks in Sparks. Their representative, Lisa Stovall reported that all the parks were in good shape with minimal trash to pick up. All participating organizations receive recognition with a sign placed at the adopted park as well as acknowledgement in the seasonal Parks and Recreation activity guides. The dedication of these groups can not be dismissed or replaced. Their involvement in their community is priceless.

Analysis: None

Alternatives: None

Recommended Motion: None

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