Consent Calendar Item 4e
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Calendar Agenda Item
DATE: January 18, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Cameron Mull, Director of Parks & Recreation
THRU: Merritt Perry, City Manager
SUBJECT: Parks & Recreation Monthly Report for December 2021 STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive report as an informational item.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Director’s Report
Escrow on an 8.4 open acre parcel adjacent to Newburg Park closed on 12/30, making the City of Fortuna the new owners of this property, which is intended for expanded park use. This new property acquisition was made utilizing the City’s and the Rohner Community Recreation and Park District’s (RCRPD) combined Proposition 68 Per Capita funding. This park expansion is in the planning process in order to develop a plan for future uses and access by the public, but ultimately increases Newburg Park’s total acreage by a third (going from 24 to 32 acres in size), which will create further recreational possibilities for citizens. The Parks Department received a generous donation from Valley Pacific in the amount of $40,000, which was utilized to purchase a new Toro Z-Master 96” deck mower. Thanks to this generous donation, the Parks Dept. will now have the ability to mow turf areas more efficiently and effectively, as this will be the largest deck in the Parks’ fleet. The Recreation Division was notified by First 5 Humboldt that they were awarded an annual grant for funding to fully support a twice a week play group & enrichment program for children ages newborn to 5 years old and their parents, guardians. The Recreation Division is in the planning stages but plans to offer the program on Thursdays and on Sundays for 3 hours each day. The start date will be announced as soon as the program is ready to open to the public. The regularly scheduled RCRPD monthly meeting on 12/1 was cancelled.
Parks & Facility Maintenance
All turf areas at Newburg Park were aerated using the pull-behind field aerator, for optimal turf health and better drainage
Grass seed was spread in worn tuff areas at Newburg Park from soccer season The Rodeo restroom window covers were repaired due to damage and reinstalled 15 bulbs and 3 ballasts were replaced in the Firemen’s Pavilion The County of Humboldt Agriculture Dept. performed their annual pesticide application inspection The conex container in Rohner Park received roofing repairs due to leaks, and the conex container at Newburg Park received new air vents, due to vandalism Hazardous branches were removed in Rohner Park near the Conroy Field due to a wind storm The portable rims were repainted in preparation for Hot Shots Consent Calendar Item 4e
Cleanup from the earthquake was performed at various facilities and any facility damage was documented
A new LED wall pack fixture was installed at the Conroy Field cook shack The covered picnic area tables in Rohner Park were stored for the winter season A deep-cleaning and minor repairs of all toilets at the River Lodge was performed A new safe was installed in the Firemen’s Pavilion skate office Soap and toilet seat dispensers were installed at the Police Dept. A new floor epoxy coating was installed in the Rohner Park main cook shack and bocce ball/ horseshoe restrooms
Depot Museum
December’s visitation total at the Fortuna Depot Museum was 95 people, bringing the 2021 visitor total to 1685. This is approximately ½ of our annual visitation in a more typical pre-COVID year; our recent annual totals were 3267 in 2019, 3354 in 2018 and 3536 in 2017. Our December visitation totals in the recent preCOVID years were 2019: 146, 2018: 147, 2017: 233, 2016: 184, 2015: 98, 2014: 230, 2013: 165, 2012:
306, 2011: 186, 2010: 320. In December 2021, we welcomed California visitors from Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, San Clemente and San Jose, as well as out-of-state visitors from Arizona, Maryland, Texas, Washington and Germany.
A temporary seasonal exhibit in the front room of the museum was installed, featuring antique Christmas/holiday-themed cards, books, sheet music and magazines from the Depot Museum collection.
The museum sustained little damage in the 12/20 6.2 earthquake. Structural damage consisted of 28 cracked windowpanes. Damage to the collection consisted of two broken artifacts: the chimney of an oil lamp and a cup and saucer set. It is encouraging that the museum was able to withstand the quake so well.
Fortuna Transit
Passengers on the Fortuna Transit Bus totaled 620 trips during the month of December 2021. The lift was used for non-wheelchair riders 40 times and 46 times for wheelchair trips. The Fortuna Transit had 8 new riders during the month of December. The Eureka medical trips on Tuesdays have been going well averaging around 3-5 riders.
Sports, Classes and Facility Rentals
Results Fit Camp continues holding classes in the Pavilion, the cook shack/picnic area was rented 2 times and the Rohner Rec Hall was used 10 times during the month of December. Redwood Prep School continues basketball practices in the Pavilion.
November
2020
December
2021
YTD ~ July 2020 – June
2021
YTD ~ July 2021 – June
2022
# of passengers 523 620 7444 4080
Total Miles 1635 1928 22481 13750
Service Miles 1530 1806 20834 12366
Hours Worked 169.5 216 2608.75 1800
Service Hours
Worked 146 187 2220.25 1493.25
Consent Calendar Item 4e
Skating Rink
The Fortuna Skating Rink continues to operate Public Skate Friday & Saturday nights, as well as Sunday afternoons. The rink was closed the weekend of December 24-26, as well as December 31-Jan 2, for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Over the course of the month, the skating rink hosted 8 private parties with 159 attendees, and in addition to the 563 skaters that attended public skate hosted an overall total of 722 skaters in the month of December.
Recreation Programs
The Recreation Department spent much of December planning, developing, and implementing our Winter Break Camp for kids 5-12 years old. We had 40 children attend throughout the 2-week program. We were fortunate to host visitors from Fortuna Library, Fortuna Volunteer Firefighters, and Fortuna Police department during the program as well.
Planning and sign-ups also continued for our Hot Shots Youth Basketball program for youth in Kindergarten through 4th grade. Registration was open until the end of December, and by the time, registration closed had a total of 362 children signed up. Skills & Drills Clinics for registered players were also planned, and are scheduled for Saturdays in January, to provide practice and skill development before the start of the Hot Shots program.
Drop-in volleyball on Sunday evenings continued throughout the month. Attendance ranged from 7 to 16 players. Our drop-in basketball program kicked off on the first Thursday of December and was open every Thursday evening except for December 24th & 30th. Attendance ranged from 7 to 12 players. Drop-in basketball will restart the first week of January.
A Paint & Sip event was also planned, and occurred on December 9. There were 13 attendees, all of whom went home with a festive painting led by volunteer teacher, artist Ken Nunes. There was significant community interest from those unable to attend, and planning for a similar future event began in December.
Community Service
The Parks & Recreation Department had 3 people signed up to perform Community Service, and workers completed 15.5 hours in the month of December. The Community Service Work Program is a big part of the parks’ success. The workers help with trash pickup and various basic maintenance projects in Rohner and Newburg Parks, the River Lodge, and other Parks-maintained spaces throughout the City. Since the program started in 1997, there have been 52,537.5 service hours completed in the throughout the City of Fortuna.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Receive Parks & Recreation Department Monthly Report. Consent Agenda vote.