Consent Calendar Item 3e.
STAFF REPORT
City Council Consent Item
DATE: September 18, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Cameron Mull, Director of Parks & Recreation
THROUGH: Merritt Perry, City Manager
SUBJECT: Parks & Recreation Monthly Report for August 2023 STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Receive report as an informational item.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Director’s Report
The busy summer season continued in August with the City hosting a multitude of park rentals, special events, and wrapping up ten weeks of summer camps for youth ages 5-12. Considering how hectic the summer seasons can be for the Department, the Parks and Recreation staff rose to the occasion this year, even considering some staffing shortages, and delivered on hosting improved programs, events, and park spaces.
The Rohner Community Recreation and Park District (RCRPD) meeting occurred on 8/2. The RCRPD is awaiting notification from the USDA on when they can submit the full application after a site visit from the USDA on 7/27.
Parks & Facility Maintenance (non-routine items)
Earthwork was performed around the outer perimeter of the new basketball courts in Rohner Park to be properly graded for future mowing
Irrigation repairs were completed at Newburg Park and on the Main St. garden beds The irrigation was turned off on all of the Fortuna Blvd medians due to accelerated grass growth, which causes the grass to clump when mowing
Gopher trapping was performed at multiple park locations Trimming and pruning were performed at public parking lot LID basin locations Pruning was performed on the trees on the “deer island” median at the Main St. and Rohnerville Rd.
The deep-pit BBQs in Rohner Park were cleaned out for the 4-H Lamb BBQ to be served at the Humboldt County Fair
Graffiti was painted over in the Rodeo Grounds
The City’s giant water-slide and movie equipment was set-up and broken down for the final week of summer camps
An annual safety inspection and repairs were completed on the moveable wall panels at the River Lodge
The bocce ball courts in Rohner Park were cleared of any vegetation and resurfaced for play Consent Calendar Item 3e.
The rubber chips in the stretch-station (between the Rohner Park playgrounds) were removed and replaced with playground fibers
Set-up and breakdown occurred for a Gymkhana event in the Rodeo Grounds The permanent air/ bike pump located at the bike skills course at Newburg Park was repaired Weed pulling was completed at the strip of landscaped area between Senestraro Way and the PG&E station along Rohnerville Rd (across from Newburg Park) New sections of weed-mat were replaced at the Rohner Park 5-12 yr old playground and installed deeper
The temporary fence used for the Kiddie Kamp program was removed from the Rec Hall perimeter Preparation, set-up, and breakdown occurred for the Hops in Humboldt event on the Bartow Filed in Rohner Park
Depot Museum
August’s visitor total at the Fortuna Depot Museum was 209 people. This is consistent with our August visitor totals in the COVID era; in addition, this summer we were open five days per week, rather than the pre-COVID summer schedule of being open seven days per week. Recent August visitor totals were: 2022: 250, 2021: 186, 2020: Closed, 2019: 485, 2018: 378, 2017:
477, 2016: 393, 2015: 419, 2014: 457, 2013: 419. In August 2023 we welcomed California visitors from Arcata, Davis, Eureka, Fortuna, Fresno, Fruitland Ridge, Fullerton, La Crescenta, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Redding, Sacramento, San Jose, Santa Ana and Weaverville. We also welcomed out-of-state visitors from Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Washington. A special exhibit for the month of August was “The Dog Days of Summer,” tying in with the month-long Dog Days event sponsored by the Gene Lucas Community Center. Artifacts displayed included photos and trophies from the collection of Dan McGrew of Fortuna, owner/breeder/trainer of award-winning English Cocker Spaniels, as well dog-themed books and postcards, and newspaper articles on the Fortuna Rodeo Week “Ugly Dog Contest” of the 1980s and ’90s.
Fortuna Transit
Passengers on the Fortuna Transit Bus totaled 764 trips during the month of August 2023 which is 33 more riders then August 2022. The lift was used for non-wheelchair riders 43 times and 49 times for wheelchair trips. The Fortuna Transit had seven new riders during the month of August. We had 937 more riders in 22/23 fiscal year than in 21/22. The Eureka medical trips on Tuesdays have been going well averaging around 4-6 medical appointments per week. Orlando Payne has started working as our new Bus Driver l, we are happy to have him as a part of our transit team and the riders are enjoying him already! August 2022 August 2023 YTD ~ July 2022 – June
2023
YTD ~ July 2023 – June
2024
# of passengers 731 764 7713 1549
Total Miles 2266 2142 24885 4404
Service Miles 2078 2031 22710 2031
Hours Worked 224.5 278 3183.5 587
Service Hours
Worked 273.5 217.25 2671 453.75
Consent Calendar Item 3e.
Sports, Classes and Facility Rentals
Results Fit Camp continues holding classes in the Pavilion six times a week, Pickle ball plays in the Pavilion on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 9am – 12pm the cost is $3.00 and is open to anyone 18 years of age or older. Little League, Humboldt Fastpitch, Eel River Youth Soccer and Emerald Football Club Soccer have started practices and games in Rohner and Newburg Parks. Rohner Rec Hall was rented six times and the cook shack area was rented seven times during the month of August. There was a two-day gymkhana event, Hops in Humboldt, and a Jr Livestock Deep Pit BBQ: all hosted in Rohner Park.
Recreation Programs
The main focus through August continued to be on our summer youth day camp programs, Kiddie Kamp and Summer Fun. Camps finished out the ten-week program on Friday August 19, ending the summer with a total of 49 campers registered for Kiddie Kamp and 93 registered for Summer Fun over the course of the whole summer. Kiddie Kampers walked to the Library every week for Story Time, and campers were able to take a field trip to the Scotia Fish Hatchery to learn about salmon and steelhead lifecycles.
We were also excited to host a visit from the Fortuna Fire Department, and children were able to check out the firefighters’ gear & rig. During the final week of camp, we hosted an end-of-summer BBQ for both camps to close out this year’s summer program, along with a movie on the big-screen, as well as utilizing our giant inflatable water slide for a water day.
Drop-in volleyball continued through the month on Sunday evenings, with attendance ranging from 4 -13 players each night.
Our playgroup for kids ages 0-5 and their caregivers, in partnership with First 5 Humboldt, took place Thursdays and Sundays from 10:30am – 12:30pm. Attendance ranges from 1-9 children at each session.
In the latter half of the month, staff began preparing procedures & training for a new cashiering system that will be implemented in the department, and will allow the skating rink to finally accept credit card payments! Preparation has also begun on fall events, including Apple Harvest & associated skate night and the 3rd annual Spook-A-Thon (scheduled for Saturday October 28th).
Roller Skating
The Fortuna Skating Rink operated on summer hours for the month of August, and was open for Saturday, and Sunday Public Skate in addition to Friday and Saturday private parties. The rink was closed Saturday August 26 due to an event in the park (Hops in Humboldt). Through the month of August, the skating rink hosted four private parties with 97 attendees, and in addition to the 94 skaters that attended public skate, hosted an overall total of 191 skaters over the course of the month.
Part-Time Recreation Staff Hours YTD
Recreation utilized a total of 1,445.25 staff hours for the month of August.
Projected vs. Actual Part-Time Rec Hours
23-Jul 2250 Jul-23 2,036.25
23-Aug 1210 Aug-23 1,445.25
23-Sep 300 Sep-23 -
23-Oct 550 Oct-23 -
23-Nov 530 Nov-23 -
23-Dec 520 Dec-23 -
24-Jan 550 Jan-24 -
Consent Calendar Item 3e.
24-Feb 460 Feb-24 -
24-Mar 750 Mar-24 -
24-Apr 560 Apr-24 -
24-May 340 May-24 -
24-Jun 1980 Jun-24
Total: 10,000 Total: 3,481.5
Community Service
The Parks & Recreation Department had two people signed up to perform Community Service, and workers completed 38.75 hours throughout the months of August. 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 53,381.75 service hours completed in the City of Fortuna.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
Receive Monthly Parks & Recreation Department Report. Consent Agenda Vote.