pages: RecreationandParkCommission/2012-01-11.pdf, 2
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RecreationandParkCommission | 2012-01-11 | 2 | The Public Works Department manages this program in conjunction with the Mastick Senior Center. The program's funding is run at the County level with the 1/2 cent sales tax for transportation they collect. The basic services of the Alameda program are the Paratransit Shuttle, two taxi programs, group trips and a scholarship program. The MRTIP program is available to eligible individuals who receive 5 vouchers per month to use to get a ride home from medical appointments. These vouchers are currently free, but due to budget issues, the Public Works department is proposing that a fee of $2.50 per voucher be instated. Ms. Payne asked the Commission if there were any questions she could answer regarding the program and the proposed change. Commissioner Delaney had reviewed the documentation and had seen that current users surveyed responded that they would pay $3.00 for this program. He also noted that other Cities surveyed were charging more. He wondered if Alameda's program foresaw rates rising in the future, and would it be feasible to begin by charging $3.00 now instead of the $2.50 proposed. Ms. Payne responded that she does expect to come back next year, still faced with budget issues, and raise the cost a little more. Commissioner Cooke asked if there had been any abuse of the program, i.e., people using these vouchers who were not eligible. Ms. Payne responded that they do have restrictions and checks in place, and really don't experience problems of that kind. Commissioner Brown asked if someone received or purchased more vouchers than they ended up needing for the month, whether those vouchers could still be used at a later date. Ms. Payne said that the vouchers expire within a year of issuance, so do have a limitation in that respect. Chair Restagno saw that about 80 trips were averaged in a month, which would equal approximately $3,000, and wondered if that was the shortfall they were looking to make up. Ms. Payne said usage is very stable right now, but if everyone in the program starting using it all the time, there would definitely be a budgetary issue. By instituting this fee, they would keep the usage down to a manageable level. Commissioner Sonneman asked Ms. Payne if the $2.50 would cover the shortfall and she responded that it would for this coming fiscal year. Sonneman asked if she would consider charging the $3.00 now, and she said most definitely. Director Lillard asked if there needed to be a formal motion from the Commission in support of the fee, or was this more just an information gathering exercise. Ms. Payne was interested in getting the opinion of the Commission as a whole, and each member agreed that the fee should be instituted at $3.00. B. Friends of the Parks Proposal to Fundraise Money to Put Exercise Equipment in all the Parks (Discussion/Action Item) Shelley Russi gave a presentation opening with her goal for the night, which was to get an endorsement from the Commission for a project to make Alameda either the "most fit city in the nation" or the "first fit city in the nation". This is a new designation that was created by an equipment manufacturer who is currently having Halifax, Nova Scotia designated as the most fit city in Canada. The manufacturer reached out to Alameda when he found out about their interest in purchasing exercise equipment for the parks. Recreation & Park Commission Mtg. Minutes - Wednesday, January 11, 2012 2- | RecreationandParkCommission/2012-01-11.pdf |