City of Laredo

City Council Meeting

M2002-W-005

City Council Chambers

1110 Houston Street

Laredo, Texas  78040

August 13, 2002

In attendance:

 

Elizabeth G.  Flores,                                                     Mayor

Alfredo Agredano,                                                        Mayor Pro Tempore, District I

Hector Garcia,                                                              Council Member, District II

John C.  Galo,                                                              Council Member, District III

Johnny Amaya,                                                             Council Member, District IV

Eliseo Valdez, Jr.,                                                         Council Member, District V

Gene Belmares,                                                            Council Member, District VI

            Jose A.  Valdez, Jr.,                                                     Council Member, District VII

Juan Ramirez,                                                               Council Member, District VIII

Gustavo Guevara, Jr.,                                                   City Secretary

Larry Dovalina,                                                             City Manager

Cynthia Collazo,                                                           Assistant City Manager

Jaime Flores,                                                                City Attorney

 

H.  Parks and Recreation Department operations, including Cemetery operations,

      Veteran’s Field operations, Civic Center operations, and Mercado operations.

 

            Mission Statement:

 

To deliver services that enhances the quality of life of all citizens through recreational programming and effectively maintain and develop Laredo’s park system.

 

Department Functions

 

Maintenance of 51 Parks or 365.19 Acres

Maintenance of 4 Plazas

Maintenance of 18 Little League Fields and Soft ball fields

Maintenance and Operation of 5 Swimming Pools

Maintenance and Operation of Veterans Field

Operation of Civic Center Facilities

Rental of Pavilions and Pools

Operation of 6 Recreational Centers

Operation of 9 Summer Program Sites

Recreational Programming

CIP Project Management

Operation of City Cemetery

 

FY 2002 Major Accomplishments

 

Reorganization of Parks Administration

90% Compliance on Operational Audit

Master Plan Update

 

Update Master Plan Results

 

Facilities Needs Assessment Identified

Parks Inventory Updated

Needs Assessment Results Prioritized (based on Community Survey input)

Recommendations on Meeting NRPA Standards

 

Laredo Park Rating (Physical Condition of Parks)

 

Excellent           4%

Good               28.3%

Fair                  36.3%

Poor                 18.7%

No Answer      12.7%

 

Rating of Parks, Recreation Opportunities and Open Space in the City of Laredo

 

Excellent           4.7%

Good               21.0%

Fair                  38.0%

Poor                 21.0%

No Opinion      15.3%

 

Program Participation

 

Yes                  33.3%

No                   66.7%

 

Programs/Activities you/Your household are most Interested in Participating

 

Fitness classes              49.3%

Swim lessons                38.0%

Health Wellness            31.3%

Summer Camp 29.3%

Biking                           27.3%

Fishing              27.0%

Basketball                    26.7%

Arts/Crafts                   26.7%

Baseball                       26.0%

Water Exercises           23.7%

 

Park Safety

 

Very safe                      31.3%

Only somewhat safe      53.0%

Not at all safe               11.0%

No Answer                  4.7%

 

Needed Athletic Facilities

 

% Responding                          Mean

Athletic Facility                         Definitely Needed Score

 

Basketball Courts                     42%                 2.54

Tennis Courts                           41.0%              2.51

Baseball Fields             38.3                 2.47

Volleyball Courts                      37.7                 2.54

Soccer Fields                           36.3                 2.50

Practice Athletic Fields 36.0                 2.49

Football Fields              32.0                 2.37

Softball Fields                           28.7                 2.34

 

Needed Recreational Facilities

 

Recreation Facility                    Definitely Needed Score

 

Picnic Shelters/Pavilions            68.7                 2.78

Water Park                              59.7                 2.72

Multi-Purpose Center               59.3                 2.78

Hike/Bike Trails                        58.3                 2.69

Botanic/Garden Areas              55.3                 2.64

Indoor Swimming Pool 51.7                 2.64

Natural/Open Space                 51.0                 2.67

Senior Center                           49.3                 2.59

Fishing Areas                            48.3                 2.57

Outdoor Swimming                   41.0                 2.51

Skateboard Park                      32.0                 2.36

 

How should the City pay for new and added Park Facilities

 

General Fund                            43.0%

User fees                                  35.7%

Bond programs             34.0%

Other                                       9.3%

Don’t support any                     9.3%

 

How much more would you be willing to pay in Property Taxes for Park and Recreation improvements?

 

Up to $33/year                         30.3%

$34 to $39/year                        12.0%

$40 to $45/year                        13.0%

Would not pay                          44.3%

 

Need for Additional Park Land in Laredo

 

 Yes                                         85.3%

 No                                          12.7%

 No opinion                                2.0%

 

Preservation of Natural Creek Corridors and Open Spaces

Very Important             74.7%

Somewhat important                 21.2%

Not important                             3.3%

No opinion                                 0.7%

 

Demographic

 The typical respondent has lived in Laredo 22.6 years, has a household size of 3.6 persons, is 47.6 years of age, and has 1.5 children living in the household.  30%of respondent households have no children living at home.  The zip code distribution of respondents is listed below:

 

78045                          26.0

78041                          24.3

78040                          19.7

78043                          13.7

78046                          12.3

78042                            1.0

78044                            0.7

 

What is the single most important issue or need concerning Laredo parks, recreation programs and facilities?

 

The list below represents the most common answers provided by the respondents:

 

Improve park maintenance

Better security/safety in parks

More lighting in parks

More trees in parks

More picnic areas and benches

Need clean restrooms in parks

More restrooms in parks

More activities/programs for children and teens

More play areas for children

More parks in general

More hike and bike trails

More open space in parks

Facilities needed in parks: swimming pools, areas for exercising (walking, jogging)

Water park and soccer fields

 

FY2002  Major Accomplishments

 

Reorganizations of Parks Administration

90% Compliance on Operational Audit

Master Plan Update

Over $130,000 of O and M for Repairs to Building and Improvements.

 

Park Maintenance Division

 

FY2002

 

Major Accomplishments

 

Reorganization of Parks Administration

90% Compliance on Operational Audit

Master Plan Update

Over $130,000 of O and M for Repairs to Building and Improvements

CIP (Planning and Management)

 

Capital improvement Projects

FY 2002

Major Accomplishments

Reorganization of Parks Administration

90% Compliance on Operational Audit

Master Plan Update

Over $130,000 of O and M for

Repairs to building and improvements

CIP (Planning & Management)

Innovation financing (Grants & Trusts)

Inventory Program (Design)

Better Accountability at Pools, Veterans Field and Cemetery

 

Budget Overview Mats/Supp & Cont Srvcs

 

                                                M/S & C/S ’02            M/S & C/S ’03            %

Administration                          80,664                  13,325                    -83.5

Park Maint.                              1,094,740                    1,086,735                      -0.7

Recreation                                   216,020                       182,429                    -15.5

Rec. Centers                               363,353                       395,400                       8.8

Cemetery                                      86,768                         78,553                      -9.5

Veteran’s Field                         229,038                          228,526                      -0.2

Civic Center                                337,684                       333,298                    -11.8

Mercado                                       85,720                        75,576                    -11.8

 

 

Budget Overview Personnel

 

                                                Personnel ’02               Personnel ’03               %

Administration                          391,895                          365,044                    -6.90

Park Maintenance                     1,572,887                    1,840,262                    17.00

Recreation                                   683,061                       781,998                    14.50

Rec. Centers                               619,644                       732,542                    18.20

Cemetery                                    258,743                       282,434                      9.20

Veteran’s field                               49,905                         53,277                      6.81

Civic Center                                399,067                       435,476                      9.10

Mercado                                       43,094                         45,852                      6.40

 

Budget History

 

                                    2000-01                       2001-02                       2002-03

Administration  -0-                                  $495,047                     $378,369

Park Maintenance         $2,557,927                  $2,676,097                  $2,926,997

Recreation                    $   515,772                  $   899,791                  $   964,427

Rec. Center                  $   719,476                  $1,019,144                  $1,127,942

Cemetery                     $   391,768                  $   348,568                  $   360,987

Veteran’s Field             $   233,985                  $   281,963                  $   281,803

Civic Center                 $   990,842                  $1,040,329                  $   983,849

Mercado                      $   121,541                  $   149,414                  $   131,428

 

Department Goals

 

Implementation of Inventory and Work Order Program

Self-sustaining Recreation Activities

Self-sustaining Dept.  Divisions:

Civic Center, Cemetery, Veterans, El Mercado

Development of CIP Projects:

Alexander Sports Complex

Northwest Recreation Center

Seven Flags Rehabilitation

Zacate Creek Linear Park

Chacon Creek Master Plan

 

Conclusion

 

10.5% increase in FY 2003 is largely represented by the impact of  personnel approved during last year’s budget process.

 

Motion to move up the Northwest Recreation Center on the Capital Improvement Plan.

 

Moved:  Cm.  J.  Valdez

Second:  Cm.  Ramirez

 

 

No formal action was taken but Cm.  Jose Valdez asked that it be noted that the Northwest Recreation Center be considered for action at the public hearing. 

 

I.  Airport Department operations.

 

            Jose Flores, Airport Director, gave the following report:

 

            Major Accomplishments

            Fiscal year 2002

 

            1.  Jet Service

            2.  Fly World Class from Laredo, Texas

                        City of Laredo Conventions & Visitors Dept.

                        200,000 Inserts

                        Billboards

                        Tabloids

                        Airlines give-a-way tickets

            3.  Completed Rehab of Rwy 17R

            4.  Demolished 4 buildings

            5.  Federal Express 30,000 sq. ft. facility

            6.  Construct Service Road

            7.  FAA Grants - $6,000,000

                        Noise Abatement                      $4,000,000

                        Cargo Apron                            $1,200,000

                        Complete Taxiway                    $    800,000

 

            FAA Grant History 1993-2002

 

Discretionary             Entitlement                 Total Federal Local

 

$64,139,165                $7,410,468                  $71,549,633                $7,949,959

89.6%                          10.4%                          100%                           10%

 

Passenger Enplanements

Laredo International Airport

 

1995                            60.2

1999                            89.3

2000                            88

2001                            75

2002    (Est)                 83

2003    (Est)                 100

                                    (In thousands)

 

Air Cargo Activity

Laredo International Airport

 

1995                267

1999                395

2000                459

2001                226

2002                270

2003                400

                        (GLW in millions LBS.)

 

Proposed FY-03 Programs/Projects

 

1.  Increase Revenues/Contain Cost

2.  Subcommittee to Review Lease

                 Rates and Term.

3.  Pursue FAA Grants

                 Noise Abatement

                 Capital improvements

                 Acquire Land – Compatibility

4.  Complete Airport Master Plan

5.  Complete Noise Study Update

 

J.  Bridge Department operations.

 

            Rafael Garcia, Bridge Director gave the following presentation:

 

            Revenue Comparisons

 

            Budget to Actual Comparisons FY 2001-2002

 

            Budget                                                 $33,558,301

            Estimated                                             $31,532,827

            -6%                                                     ($2,025,474)

 

            FY00/01 to FY01/02 Comparison

           

FY00/01                      $28,547,940

FY01/02                      $31,532,827 (Projected)

                                    10%  $2,984,887

 

Revenues

 

FY99-00                      $28,748,477

FY00-01                      $28,547,940    -1%

FY01-02                      $31,532,827    10%     Estimated

FY02-03                      $33,966,163      8%     Projected with rate increase

 

Statistical Comparisons

 

Commercial

 

FY99-00                      1,407,731                   

FY00-01                      1,391,099        -1%

FY01-02                      1,456,932        5%      Estimated

FY02-03                      1,544,348        6%      Projected

 

Non-Commercial

 

FY99-00                      7,371,849       

FY00-01                      7,453,207        1%

FY01-02                      7,017,150        -6%     Estimated

FY02-03                      7,438,179        6%      Projected

 

All Vehicles

 

FY99-00                      8,779,580                   

FY00-01                      8,844,306        -1%

FY01-02                      8,474,082        -4%     Estimated

FY02-03                      8,982,527        6%      Projected

 

Pedestrian

 

FY00-00                      4,303,065       

FY00-01                      4,315,527        1%

FY01-02                      4,093,918        -5%

FY02-03                      4,339,553        6%

 

AVI Status Report

 

Commercial Revenue Comparison

AVI to Swipe Card

 

AVI                 85%

Swipe Card      15%

 

Automatic Vehicle Identification System Status Report Jan 2001 – July 2002

 

6,200               86%                 Commercial Tags         

1,000               14%                 Non-Commercial Tags

           

K.  Public Works Department operations, including Landfill operations and Fleet

     Management operations.

 

Joe Guerra, Public Works Director; Oscar Medina, Assistant Director; Tony Lara, Fleet Manager; and Randall Kippenbrock, Landfill Manager gave the following presentation.

 

            101 – 2710 Administration

 

101 – General Fund

556 – Solid Waste

593 – Fleet Management

240 – Infrastructure Management