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Lakes concession services are expected back in June
By Ed Zieralski, San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
May 18, 2003
Fishermen and boaters who frequent the San Diego city lakes could have concession services restored as early as June 15.
But it's going to cost the city's Water Department more than $3 million to cover the start-up costs, supplies and salaries of its new concession workers. It hopes to recover about half of that in revenues in the first year.
The Water Department and Park and Recreation Department signed a five-year agreement last week calling for 30 employees from the Park and Recreation Department to operate concessions at seven lakes: El Capitan, Hodges, Otay, Miramar, Murray, San Vicente and Sutherland. They'll also provide boat and motor rental reservations at Barrett Lake.
"The city lakes recreation program is the shining jewel in our system," said Water Department director Larry Gardner. "It's noted for being one of the best in the country. Our goal is to improve services and provide quality recreational experiences at our facilities."
Gardner said there is a possibility the city lakes could be open more days to fishing and boating after the concessions are up and running, but he said that's something that will be determined later. He didn't make any promises.
Jim Brown, the city lakes program manager, said it's a "distinct possibility" that the lakes will be open more days.
"One positive in this is I do expect we'll be able to offer more services and do a better job on services we offer to our patrons," Brown said.
The Water Department's stake in this agreement is great, while the Park and Recreation Department's risk is zero.
The Water Department will pay for everything. That will include all personnel benefits and salaries for 30 new Park and Recreation employees, all equipment and supplies, services and facility start-up costs, an estimated $3,155,085 in the first year. Gardner said it will be much less after cuts and adjustments are made in the proposed agreement.
But the estimated $3,155,085 doesn't cover the upgrading of the concession buildings at Miramar and Murray.
Ted Medina, deputy director at Park and Recreation, said a private contractor has offered to donate services to remodel and upgrade the concession building at Sutherland in conjunction with the proposed Camp Hope there for children and adults who suffered domestic abuse. Medina said the services are valued at $30,000.
Gardner said the Water Department's expected yearly cost after the outlay for the start-up year will settle into the $1.3 million to $1.7 million range.
"I'm cutting costs everywhere possible," Gardner said.
For instance, the plan calls for the purchase of nine trucks for a total of $162,000. Each lake now has two trucks for city employees. Gardner said some of the proposed vehicles for concessions may turn out to be used vehicles already in the city's fleet.
Despite the use of city resident water rate-payer funds to cover this new enterprise, Richard Mendes, the city's utilities general manager, said it won't impact city water services or rates.
"Nothing will suffer because of this," Mendes said. "The money taken from the Water Department will be recovered by growing the business."
A copy of the Water Department's annual financial report projects the department to lose significantly on its fishing and water contact recreation program in 2002-03. It's expected to take in $1,158,021 in revenues and spend $1,781,286.
Gardner said the Water Department has a contingency reserve fund that covers expenses such as this new expenditure for Park and Recreation employees. He said that reserve has funded the "millions and millions of dollars" the Water Department has had to spend upgrading security at its reservoirs since the terrorist attacks in 2001.
Meantime, the Park and Recreation Department is benefiting by transplanting 30 employees, many of whom were targeted for layoffs because of the city's budget cuts. Now they're going to be selling bait, tackle and food and collecting for fishing permits and launch fees.
The list of Park and Recreation staffers headed for the lakes' concessions includes one district manager, one associate management analyst, one account clerk, seven center directors, one equipment technician, seven grounds maintenance workers and 12 recreation leaders.
The annual salaries and benefits for those 30 employees will be $1,621,002, all paid for by the Water Department. And the yearly cost for bait and tackle and other supplies is projected at $440,356, all paid for by the Water Department.
Gardner said the Water Department will get all the revenues from the concessions and the sale of fishing permits, launch fees and boat and motor rentals. In the past, the Water Department received 7 percent of the concessions and boat and motor rentals and 93 percent of the sale of permits and launch fees from the former concessionaires.
Gardner projects an increase of an estimated $400,000 in yearly revenue at the lakes. He said the concession operation will be more professional and better run than in the past, and he said the addition of city workers at the concessions will add another level of security at the city's reservoirs.
Gardner said the lakes will receive 120 new outboard motors and 30 electric motors. The electric motors will go to Miramar and Murray, the smallest and most urban lakes in the system.
By Ed Zieralski, San Diego UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
May 18, 2003
Fishermen and boaters who frequent the San Diego city lakes could have concession services restored as early as June 15.
But it's going to cost the city's Water Department more than $3 million to cover the start-up costs, supplies and salaries of its new concession workers. It hopes to recover about half of that in revenues in the first year.
The Water Department and Park and Recreation Department signed a five-year agreement last week calling for 30 employees from the Park and Recreation Department to operate concessions at seven lakes: El Capitan, Hodges, Otay, Miramar, Murray, San Vicente and Sutherland. They'll also provide boat and motor rental reservations at Barrett Lake.
"The city lakes recreation program is the shining jewel in our system," said Water Department director Larry Gardner. "It's noted for being one of the best in the country. Our goal is to improve services and provide quality recreational experiences at our facilities."
Gardner said there is a possibility the city lakes could be open more days to fishing and boating after the concessions are up and running, but he said that's something that will be determined later. He didn't make any promises.
Jim Brown, the city lakes program manager, said it's a "distinct possibility" that the lakes will be open more days.
"One positive in this is I do expect we'll be able to offer more services and do a better job on services we offer to our patrons," Brown said.
The Water Department's stake in this agreement is great, while the Park and Recreation Department's risk is zero.
The Water Department will pay for everything. That will include all personnel benefits and salaries for 30 new Park and Recreation employees, all equipment and supplies, services and facility start-up costs, an estimated $3,155,085 in the first year. Gardner said it will be much less after cuts and adjustments are made in the proposed agreement.
But the estimated $3,155,085 doesn't cover the upgrading of the concession buildings at Miramar and Murray.
Ted Medina, deputy director at Park and Recreation, said a private contractor has offered to donate services to remodel and upgrade the concession building at Sutherland in conjunction with the proposed Camp Hope there for children and adults who suffered domestic abuse. Medina said the services are valued at $30,000.
Gardner said the Water Department's expected yearly cost after the outlay for the start-up year will settle into the $1.3 million to $1.7 million range.
"I'm cutting costs everywhere possible," Gardner said.
For instance, the plan calls for the purchase of nine trucks for a total of $162,000. Each lake now has two trucks for city employees. Gardner said some of the proposed vehicles for concessions may turn out to be used vehicles already in the city's fleet.
Despite the use of city resident water rate-payer funds to cover this new enterprise, Richard Mendes, the city's utilities general manager, said it won't impact city water services or rates.
"Nothing will suffer because of this," Mendes said. "The money taken from the Water Department will be recovered by growing the business."
A copy of the Water Department's annual financial report projects the department to lose significantly on its fishing and water contact recreation program in 2002-03. It's expected to take in $1,158,021 in revenues and spend $1,781,286.
Gardner said the Water Department has a contingency reserve fund that covers expenses such as this new expenditure for Park and Recreation employees. He said that reserve has funded the "millions and millions of dollars" the Water Department has had to spend upgrading security at its reservoirs since the terrorist attacks in 2001.
Meantime, the Park and Recreation Department is benefiting by transplanting 30 employees, many of whom were targeted for layoffs because of the city's budget cuts. Now they're going to be selling bait, tackle and food and collecting for fishing permits and launch fees.
The list of Park and Recreation staffers headed for the lakes' concessions includes one district manager, one associate management analyst, one account clerk, seven center directors, one equipment technician, seven grounds maintenance workers and 12 recreation leaders.
The annual salaries and benefits for those 30 employees will be $1,621,002, all paid for by the Water Department. And the yearly cost for bait and tackle and other supplies is projected at $440,356, all paid for by the Water Department.
Gardner said the Water Department will get all the revenues from the concessions and the sale of fishing permits, launch fees and boat and motor rentals. In the past, the Water Department received 7 percent of the concessions and boat and motor rentals and 93 percent of the sale of permits and launch fees from the former concessionaires.
Gardner projects an increase of an estimated $400,000 in yearly revenue at the lakes. He said the concession operation will be more professional and better run than in the past, and he said the addition of city workers at the concessions will add another level of security at the city's reservoirs.
Gardner said the lakes will receive 120 new outboard motors and 30 electric motors. The electric motors will go to Miramar and Murray, the smallest and most urban lakes in the system.
