HomeMy WebLinkAboutOB 1 ADULT SOFTBALL 04-16-84 TE:Apri oo4 Inter-Corn
SUBJECT:
William A. Huston, City Manager
Jeff Kolin, Recreation Superintendent
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT ON ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUES
RECOI~E#DATIO#$: Available Alternatives
1. Maintain ieague fee of $349.00 per team.
2. Change City Council Policy #4-05 and subsidize adult softball program using
General Fund support. Reduce fee to $315.00 per team.
3. Direct staff to cancel Spring league or another quarter to renovate turf at
Col usus Tustin Park.
.Develop cost estimates for the maintenance of Colu~us Tustin athletic
fields using City personnel. Request that School District pay the City for
the annual maintenance cost of Columbus Tustin athletic fields by City
personnel.
5. Explore the feasibility of using an independent contractor to provide adult
slo-pitch softball leagues.
BACKGROUND:
This report is a supplement to the original staff report submitted to the
Council at their April 2, 1984 meeting. The report will attempt to answer
questions raised during the discussion of the adult slo-pitch softball program
at the Council meeting. Softball players, managers, and members of the Council
voiced questions and concerns about the adult slo-pitch softball program and the
maintenance of athletic facilities at Columbus Tustin Park.
Why are additional teams allowed to register after the deadline for team
registration? During the start report, it was state~ that additiona) teams
would be accepted during the days following the initial registration date.
Normally adult slo-pitch softball leagues fill and have a waiting list during
the first day of registration. In order to be fair to all teams wishing to
participate in the program, first priority registration is limited to those
teams who submit all necessary information, fees, and forms on the first day of
registration no later than 5:00 p.m. In most cases, all leagues fill from the
rosters received on this first day of registration. The Spring program has been
expanded by adding one additional game per evening to the schedule, creating
twelve additional spots for teams. Because of this expansion, all leagues were
not filled with the registration received during the first day by the 5:00 p.m.
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT ON ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUES
Page Two
April 11, lg84
deadline. When this situation occurs, additional teams are allowed to apply for
league admission dur.ing the week following the first day of registration.
Are tourn~amnt revenues from weekend use of facilities at Columbus Tustin
included In adult slo-pltCh prlclng? It was stated that approximately $iI,O00.
per year (based on forty weekends rented at $276. per weekend) was raised from
tournament softball uses. What was not explained was that there are also costs
which are associated with tournament rentals. The same maintenance and field
supervision is provided to tournament softball users as is provided to adult
slo-pitch softball leagues. Both costs and revenues from tournament uses are
accounted for in a separate cost center. Forty weekends is probably a little
high as an estimate for the number of weekends reserved each year by tournament
softball users.
Why have improv~nts to Columbus Tusttn Park been few and fa.r between si?ce the
Installation ol~ llgfltlng and parKlng facilities'? Plans for oevelopment ot
additional athletic facilities at Columbus Tust*in Park were presented to City
Council in March 1983. At that time, the Council decided it would prefer to
consider plans for Columbus Tustin after it reviewed the Master Plan of Parks
and Recreation. The Master Plan was reviewed by Council in a workshop situation
in May 1983, but action was delayed until more input regarding the East Tustin
Specific Plan was received. The Master Plan is being revised in light of more
recent information and it is due to be reviewed by the Planning Commission next
month. The McCalla lease hold is one factor which has delayed the adoption of
the plan. However, plans for the future expansion of Columbus Tustin Park are
ready for the immediate consideration of the City Council at their request.
Is it appropriate to label the softball program as a 'contract' program? The
adult slo-pltch program in the City of Tustin relies heavily on the use of
contract personnel for the provision of many services to the program. Game
officials as well as field preparation, maintenance, and game supervision are
provided through the use of independent contractors. The program differs from
the standard 70/30 split contract arrangement used with instructors because of
the amount of supervision required from full-time Recreation Supervisors and
Coordinators. Supervisory time is required to arrange umpires' schedules,
league schedules, secure trophies, maintain equipment, and keep the leagues
running smoothly. Some confusion surrounded the Council's directive to become
self-supporting to the 70% level. This directive referred to the Department's
overall budget which includes full-time salaries and benefits as well as
operational and maintenance costs. All programs in the Community Services
Department budget are included when this 70% figure is computed -- both those
programs which bring in revenue and those which do not.
The Council requested that staff investigate the feasibility of reducing
softball fees to SZSO. per team per league. The Council also i~qaested that
staff look into the feasibility of charging an additional $5. per person f~,
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT ON ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUES
Page Three
April ii, i984
each non-resident on a softball'team. The athletic and park facilities at
Columbus lustln Park were acquiree and developed through the use of County
revenue-sharing funds in combination with City support. As a condition for the
use of County revenue-sharing funds, the City agreed that the use of the
property would be granted to all residents of the County on the same conditions
offered to residents of the City of Tustin. Staff consulted with the City
Attorney who concurred that the agreement prohibits the use of non-resident
surcharges for slo-pitch softball programs at Columbus Tustin Park.
A league fee of $250. per team would require that the City Council revise
Policy #4-05 to reflect the fact that it wishes to subsidize the adult softball
program in order to reduce league fees. The reduction of league fees to $250.
per team would return them to the amount charged four years ago. It may be
anticipated that other user groups will approach the City Council with similar
requests for subsidies if the league fee is reduced.
Is it feasible for the City to take over the maintenance of the ath)ettc fields
from the School District at Colmeus Tustln Park? The concept involves
establishing a cost for maintaining the turf and irrigation system at Columbus
Tustin Park and requesting the District to pay that dollar amount to the City to
provide the maintenance service with City personnel. This concept should
improve the level of maintenance at the facility and should make maintenance
personnel more responsive to the requests of the City for repairs.
Quc:tlons were also raised regarding the ability of local businesses to c~nttn~e
to sponsor adUlt slo-pltCh softball teams wlt~ fees at bqe $34~. level. Kecoros
have not been kept in the past of the number of teams ~eceiving sponsors in the
program. However, in this year's Spring league, 60~ of the teams applying to
the league had local Tustin businesses as sponsors. A total of 714 of the teams
in the Spring softball program were sponsored. This means that only 29~ of the
teams playing the adult slo-pitch softball leagues are paying the $349. fee
themselves.
The final ouestion asked was, 'Can the slo-pttch softball program be completely
c'~tracted~ut?' ThiS would involve establiShing w~at the existing revenues aFe
for the program,xwl~t are the existing costs, and determining the value of the
facilities thems)ev~s. If the adult softball program was to be awarded to an
independent contr'~tor, some kind of program for capital improvements and
investment on the part of the contractor should be developed in return for the
right to receive the revenues from the program. If the adult softball program
was to be independently contracted, commensurate cost savings should be
identified through the elimination of existing full-time staff positions
assigned to the softball program. Additional savings would be realized in
Departmental supply accounts and professional services. The loss of revenue,
however, would balance the projected cost savings.
SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT ON ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUES
.Page Four
April 11, 1984
SU~IARY:
The questions which have been asked and answered in this staff report can be
broken down into two basic areas. The first is the request for a reduction of
league fees by adult softball managers and players. The second area is the
concern with ongoing maintenance and turf conditions at playing facilities at
Colunbus Tustin Park. It may be best to consider each issue separately so that
a solution to maintenance can be identified without~ecting the league fee.
Significant progress has been made by District crew~'~coward the immediate
problems of gopher infestation and turf rejuvenation at Columbus Tustin. Sod
has been installed in the bare areas on the field and the entire field has been
flailed, aerated, fertilized, seeded, and heavily irrigated. An independent
contractor has been hired to conduct a guaranteed gopher abatement program.
This work must be conducted during dry field conditions and.should be completed
this week.
It appears that the District has responded to our request to improve the playing
conditions at the athletic fields at Columbus Tustin Park. Staff will continue
to pursue future maintenance ~chedules to improve the quality of maintenance
relating to athletic fields at the Columbus Tustin facility. Plans currently
call for additional reseeding, aeration, fertilizing, and heavy irrigating
during the down period in December and January. With the improved program of
maintenance and the abatement of the gopher population at Columbus Tustin,
playing conditions should return to their normal high level.
Recreation Superintendent
JK:sk
Attachment
Dat, a is based on costs ~o~' a stngle team fo~' a stngle game. Budget, flgures are
fo~' ~1983/84 Ffscal Yea~'. ~,,200 games of softball a~e played a. nnually. The~'e
are stx teams pe~' league In mst, cases. ).0 games a~ played In eac'h season.
Ump t
F~eld ~latntenanc e
Field Supe~lsto~
Suppl t es
Lamp Replac e~ent,
Ltghts and Elec~.~tclty
¢ler~cal Se~v~ce~
P~ogram Supervisor and Coordtnator/l. eague
C~ST PER TF. JU4 PER GJ~E TOTAL:
7.00
1.50
]..66
$.67
.$0
Z.O0
]..75
13.02
$34.10
Costs do mt. 1,elude costs of adrlnlstratlon. P.bllc Vorts i)epirment ami School
District. ~nte,a,ce. restroam cleaning, trash ptck-up, or rater servtce.
ADULT SOFTBALL COST BREAIU)OMJ DETAXL
Umpi res:
One per game e $14 dtvided by 2 teams =
Mai ntananc e:
Annual Fteld ~atntenance Budget
$3 ,~00 dtvtded by 1,~00 games dtvtded b.v 2 teams ·
Field Supervision:
Annual Field Supervision Budget
$4,000 divided by 1,200 games divided by 2 teams ·
Suppl i. es:
Annual Sofiball Softball Supplies Budget
$15,000 divided by 1,200 games divided by 2 teams ·
Full Time Program Supervisor and League Director:
1/2 Recreation Supervisor ~ $30,840/year = $15,420
2/3 Recreation Coordinator ~ $23,732/year- $15,821
Total Program Salaries.- $31,~¢1 divided by 1,200 games
divided by 2 teams -
Lamp Replace 0 $5.00 divided by 12 teams
Lights and Electricity ~ $24/night divided by 12 team~·
Clerical Services at 5% of League Fee of $349.00 ·
7.00
$ 1.50
1.66
$13.02
$ .SO
$ 2.00
$ 1.75
IHI)Z¥IDUAL PARTICIPANT cob-r GOIdPJ~.ISQli
5offal 1:
Based on 15 players per team and
a ~en game season a $34g.OO/league fee -
Bowl ing:
$2.50 each class, each student =
Tennts Lessons:
$22 Restdent fee ~or 8 class meettngs=
Aerobtc Oanctng:
$66 Restdent fee for 24 class meettngs =,
Adult Jazz Dance Class:
$1.3.50 Resfdent fee for 4 class meettngs=
J azzerc I se:
$54 Restdent fee; $63 ~lon-Restdent fee for
24 classes =
Photography:
$40 Restdent fee for 6 class meettngs=
Cooktng Class:
Based on $ class meettngs a $39 Resldent
fee + $15 matertal fee =
$2.33 per player per game
$2.50 per class
$2.75 per person per lesson
$2.75 per person per class
$3.38 per person per class
$2.25-Z.52 per person ~er class
$6.66 per person per class
$9.00 per person per class
AGENCIES LEJkGUE FEE # OF GAMES PER GAME COST
Laguna Beach $432.00 [0-[6 $43.20-$27.00
Saddleback Vel ley $350.00 !.5 $23.33
San Juan Captstrano $360.00 10 - $36.00
Seal Beach $343.00 12-14 $28.58-$2¢.50
Tustin $349.00 10 $34.90
Santa Aha $271.00 10 '$27.10
Irvtne $275.00 10 $27.50
Anahetm $226.00 10 $22.60
Orange $275. O0 10 $27.50
Costa Mesa $312.50 11 $28.40
Fountatn Vel 1 ey $316.00 11 $28.72
++ Lighttng
+ Turf
+ Offlctals
+ Dudley Balls
+Fteld Preparation
+ Communication with Office
++ Year Round P1 ay
+ Location
1979 Wi nter
1979 Spri ~g
1979 Summer
1979 Fal 1
1980 Wi ntar
1980 Spring
1980 Summer
1980 Fal 1
lgS1 Wi ntar
].98! Spr~ng
t981 Summer
1981 Fal 1
1982 Wi nter
1982 Spring
~982 Summer
~982 Fal 1
lg83 Wi nter
1983 Spring
1983 Summer
1983 Pal 1
1984 Wi nter
1984 Sp~t ng
SOF'I'B.~LL PR~GItIG IIXb'TORY
$210
$23O
$230* NOTE: Night lighting fully operational.
$23O
$23O
$2¢O
$2¢O
$2¢O
$2¢O
$255
$255
$27O
$3O7
$3O7
$33O
$33O
$33O
$349* No price increase for ~.2 months.