PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET PRESENTATION
FY 25-26 & 26-27
PRESENTED BY: TODD SEBASTIAN, PARKS
AND RECREATION DIRECTOR
DATE JUNE 23, 2025
Organization Chart
Overview
• The Parks and Recreation is comprised of nine sections:
Administration, Senior Programming, Leisure Programs,
Special Events, Youth Development, Sports, Facilities,
Fleet Services, and Solid Waste and Recycling.
Accomplishments
ADMINISTRATION
• Completed Renovation and Grand Re-Opening of Milestone Park Utilizing Prop 68 Statewide Park Development Per Capita Grant Program.
• Completed Renovation and Grand Re-Opening of The Green Park. • Completed Construction and Grand Opening of Champions Park. • Completed Construction and Grand Opening of Missionary Minnie Lee Cotton Park.
SENIOR PROGRAMS
• Provided food through the Silver Harvest (formerly Brown Bag) Commodities and Congregate lunch program to seniors.
• Hosted several sold-out events including Noon Year’s Eve, St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon, Murder Mystery Luncheon, the senior Luau and held an array of classes that saw record enrollment including Hula, Thai Chi and Book Club.
• Continued to successfully partner with 25 businesses/organizations to present their information at our Senior Resource Fair, which was heavily attended by seniors.
Accomplishments Continued
LEISURE SERVICES
• Enhanced opportunity for instructors working with the City to provide programming by streamlining the Contract Instructor information and application process making it readily available online.
Additionally, the Program Proposal Form and all Contract Instructor requirements are laid out on the Parks and Recreation webpage, under the Leisure subdivision. • Expanded class offerings to meet the needs of the growing population and demographics to include fitness classes for adults such as Boxercise, Adult Tennis classes, and BollyX and increasing class offerings to over 250 leisure classes to youth and adults a year.
SPECIAL EVENTS
• Enhanced special events with a Red, White and Blue walking/wagon parade to the Annual July 1st Celebration, added themed activities before each Movie in the Park, and collaborated with Lathrop Police Department to add a Bike Rodeo component to the Touch-A-Truck Event. • Hosted Trunk-or-Treat event with over 5,000 attendees. • Hosted Veterans Day event for over 100 local veterans, VA Outreach, San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Congressman Duarte's office, United Service Organizations, Inc., and San Joaquin County Veteran Service Office in order to provide additional resources to Veterans. Ceremony participants: Lathrop High JROTC, LHS Advanced Choir, Girl Scout Troop 669, Lathrop High School Band, and Mossdale Elementary Choir.
Accomplishments Continued
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
• Expanded Parent & Me Program to include more variety for ex, Mini Einsteins, If you Give a Kid a Kitchen, and Tiny Tots Open Play.
• Launched different themed culinary classes, Rainbow Remix, Ultimate Sandwiches, Carnival Delights, Restaurant Remakes and Holiday Workshops.
• Under staff guidance the Youth Advisory Commission developed a Youth Grant Program offering grant opportunities to youth entrepreneurs wanting to give back to the community. • All nine weeks of individual themed summer and break camps were sold-out at max capacity.
SPORTS
• Offered 33 youth and adult sports leagues throughout the year. • Updated the Youth Sports Parent Handbook, a user-friendly guide for parents that answers questions about the Youth Sports leagues and implemented a sportsmanship award to recognize one player from each team - nominated by their coach.
• Added an end of season Coaches vs. Coaches game for Junior NFL Flag, Junior NBA and Jr. Giants.
FACILITIES
• Managed over 250 Facility Rentals throughout the year, averaging over 20 rentals a month. • Updated informational rental trifolds for picnic shelters, Senior Center and Community Center including layout options, maximum capacities, requirements and fees; added field and court signage throughout City parks informing the public of our pertinent information including expectations and guidelines for usage.
Accomplishments Continued
SOLID WASTE & RECYCLING
• Awarded $98,934 in SB 1383 Grant funding and streamlined tracking of SB 1383 components including edible food recovery, janitorial and office recycled content paper procurement, organic waste procurement and compliance tracking.
• Renewed the Contract with Republic Services for the residential and commercial removal of solid waste, recycling and organic waste which included automatic enrollment in all three components ensuring compliance with all state regulations.
• Signed an MOU with San Joaquin County for the Edible Food Recovery component of SB 1383 in which the County is responsible for the inspection and records review.
FLEET
• New Division established.
• Awarded $60,000 in Grant Funds from San Joaquin Unified Air Pollution Control District Public Benefit Grants Program to purchase three Hybrid Fleet Vehicles. • Streamlined Fleet Maintenance Service repairs and processing for payment.
Goals
Administration
• Revamp Fee Waiver Application
ensuring staff time and operational
costs are covered.
• Revise and update ordinances
related to uses of neighborhood and
community parks, bounce houses,
barbeques, potentially hazardous
tented food booths, food trucks and
trailers in parks, organized activities
and capacities.
• Revise and update rules and
regulations for facility and field
rentals for Lathrop registered
non‐profit 501(c)3 or 501(c)4
organizations.
Senior Programs
• Host a senior volunteer
appreciation thank you dinner.
• Implement a fall safety
prevention and gardening class.
• Develop a senior walking
program.
Leisure Programs
• Utilize recreation database,
social media and website to
enhance targeted marketing
efforts to promote recreation
opportunities and increase
participants.
• Introduce new youth enrichment
camps for Summer and school
breaks.
• Monitor growth and follow
recreation trends while meeting
the ever-changing community
needs of the population and
demographics.
Goals Continued
Special Events
• Promote community by
highlighting event recaps on
social media through pictures
and videos and enhance
community partnerships at
events by collaborating with
Chamber of Commerce,
various local non-profit
organizations, businesses,
schools and volunteers.
Sports
• Host Coach Appreciation Night
to thank volunteers for their
continued support throughout
the year.
• Update Coaches Handbook for
coach expectations, guidelines
and resources to ensure all of
our programs are run with
respect and integrity at the
forefront.
Youth Development
• Introduce "life skills" programs at
the Teen Center where youth will
be taught skills that include
resume writing, budget planning
and more.
• Introduce Future Leader
Workshops for Teens designed to
teach activity programming and
implementation, team building,
problem solving and leadership
skills.
Goals Continued
Facilities
• Develop a "Look Book" for
potential renters showcasing
layouts and highlight potential
ways to utilize the facility to
meet the renters’ needs.
• Include security services within
facility rentals and special events
agreements.
Fleet Services
• Complete integrating telematic
devices for all fleet vehicles into
the “Fleetio” fleet software
program to assist with
maintenance and scheduling,
implement City Hall pool vehicle
reservations, and train all
assigned drivers on the mobile
app.
• Manage Fuel Station equipment,
maintenance and fuel levels.
Solid Waste & Recycling
• Launch the solid waste trailer
funded by the SB 1383 Grant, a
three-bin system for trash,
recycling, and organic waste at
all Special Events and
throughout the City to engage
waste reduction, help eliminate
contamination and provide a
central location for solid waste
disposal.
• Educate the community about
Organics Recycling and Food
Waste Reduction in Elementary
Schools and City hosted Special
Events.
Significant Changes
Senior Programming
Parks and Recreation Admin
Significant Changes Continued
Leisure Programs
Special Events
Significant Changes Continued
Youth Development
Sports
Significant Changes Continued
Facilities
Fleet Maintenance
Significant Changes Continued
Solid Waste
Questions?
We C.A.R.E.
(Creating Active Recreation Experience)
The Parks and Recreation Department would like to thank the Council for their continued support and for helping us make Lathrop a great place to Live, Work …but mostly
PLAY!