REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
July 20, 2017
FROM: KRISTINA CHAMBERLIN, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager
DIANE PRINTZ-WHITE, Management Analyst II
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - 535th amendment to the Master Fee Schedule (MFS) Resolution No. 80-420 increasing certain entrance fees and adding a discounted student rate to the Shinzen Japanese Garden fees
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the 535th Amendment to the MFS Resolution No. 80-420 to increase certain entrance fees and add a discounted student rate to the Shinzen Japanese Garden fees.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The PARCS Department is recommending an increase to certain entrance fees and the addition of a discounted student rate to the Shinzen Japanese Garden located within Woodward Park. These fee increases have been requested by the Shinzen Friendship Garden Inc. (Shinzen), which operates the Garden under an MOU with the City and provides supplemental and specialty maintenance within the Garden, as well as site improvements and restoration. Entrance fees are used to help offset operating and maintenance costs.
BACKGROUND
The five-acre Shinzen Friendship Garden is located within the City’s Woodward Park. In 1967, when the park was being developed, the idea was proposed to include a Japanese Garden dedicated to Fresno’s Sister City Kochi, Japan. Groundbreaking for the Garden was held in 1975, but it took until the spring of 1981 for the Garden to be developed enough for public viewing. Later that same year the Shinzen Garden Committee was incorporated as a separate entity, Shinzen Friendship Garden Inc. Shinzen and the City entered into a Memorandum of Understanding in 2011 which formalized and expanded Shinzen’s role in the operation of the Garden. The City of Fresno retains ownership of the property and is responsible for upkeep and security, but specialized maintenance, as well as most additions and improvements, are funded by Shinzen member dues, wedding revenue and private and corporate donations.
In 2015, Shinzen acquired the Clark Bonsai Collection and the Garden is experiencing an increase in attendance of approximately ten percent. Shinzen recently approached PARCS requesting entrance fee increases as well as increased hours of operation. The additional revenue will help offset increasing operating and maintenance costs. The proposed fee increases reflect Shinzen’s recommendations which are based upon strategies to increase the necessary revenues required to support the increased staffing needs associated with the additional hours and days of operation requested and recommended.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By definition in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, the update of the MFS does not qualify as a “project” as defined by CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item does not involve a contract or bid.
FISCAL IMPACT
PARCS is estimated to receive $46,000 in entrance fees from Shinzen Japanese Garden in FY17 under the current fee schedule. The estimated additional revenue of $24,000 in FY18, due to the increase in the entrance fees, will be offset by the staffing needed for the additional hours of operation. No additional impact to the General Fund is anticipated beyond current maintenance obligations. Per Section 5 of the MOU with Shinzen, should any revenue be collected above the cost of expenses, it is to be divided half to the City’s General Fund and half to the Shinzen Garden Fund for improvements.
Attachment:
535th Amendment to the Master Fee Schedule Resolution