September 23, Honorable Judge Anthony Cobos El Paso County 500 E. San Antonio El Paso, TX Honorable Judge Cobos,

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1 September 23, 2009 Honorable Judge Anthony Cobos El Paso County 500 E. San Antonio El Paso, TX Honorable Judge Cobos, On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, the Mayor and Council approved a Resolution to create a Blue Ribbon Committee to evaluate and provide recommendations on forming a regional parks system in El Paso. The Blue Ribbon Committee will be tasked with exploring national best practices for regional park systems, various funding options, and ways to move forward with a local model. The Committee will be comprised of a diverse group of representatives from the civic community, private sector, city technical staff and local elected officials. Because local taxing in evaluating opportunities for shared services, resources and responsibilities, I believe it is important your organization participate in this process. I invite you to submit names of individuals you would like considered to serve on the committee by October 16, The Council will select approximately individuals from those names submitted to serve on the Blue Ribbon Committee. I look forward to working with your organization and finding creative and valuable options for the El Paso parks system. Please submit the names and contact information to Leila Melendez at MelendezLH@elpasotexas.gov or Please contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, Joyce A. Wilson City Manager 2 2 Civic Center Plaza - El - El Paso, Paso, Texas Texas (915) - (915)

7 Regional Park Districts/Authorities Purposes: A metropolitan park district may be created for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreation facilities. A metropolitan park district may include territory located in portions or in all or one or more cities or counties, or in one or more cities and counties, when created or enlarged. Merger of City and County Parks Departments By resolution of both government bodies Staff and equipment transferred to one body or separate independent organization formed Title of land retained by original purchaser No additional tax levied Contract agreements between two bodies Examples: Cities of Maplewood, Clayton and Richmond Heights, MO Agreement written and signed by each city council and revised annually Maplewood and Clayton make monthly or annual payments to Richmond Heights Agreement included startup costs to merge departments, staffing costs to supervise centers and facilities Richmond Heights absorbed Maplewood s employees and equipment Richmond Heights is responsible for all facilities, maintenance and programming management City of Tuscaloosa, City of Northport, Tuscaloosa County Formed in 1970 Tuscaloosa County control existing and facilities with local governing bodies retaining title Non-profit agency 8 member board appointed by City, County and Northport Revenue generated from fees, funding from each government entity and corporate sponsorships o Total Budget: $7,573,386 o City of Tuscaloosa 46% of budget ($3.75M) o City of Northport 2% of budget ($133K) o Tuscaloosa County 23% of budget ($1.71M) o Fees & Charges 27%of budget ($1.97M) Sugar House Park Authority Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County Formed in 1957 Non-profit organization 9 member board of trustees appointed by City and County Oversight of only one park: Sugar House Park which is a 110-acre open green space shared by Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County residents. Funding provided by City of Salt Lake (FY09: $109,000) and Salt Lake County ($200,000) and revenues from frees Salt Lake City Parks Maintenance Budget FY09 - $6.9M, Salt Lake County Budget FY08 - $9.5M Page 1 of 2 July 2009

8 Fairfax County Park Authority City of Falls Church, Fairfax County, City of Alexandria, Arlington County, City of Fairfax, Loundoun County Independent authority reporting to appointed board Director s appointment subject to approval of Board of Supervisors 12 member citizen board appointed by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors set policies and procedures Follows County government procedures and works through County Departments (Planning, Legal, Fiscal, etc) County general fund 50% Fees and revenues 50% Metropolitan Parks District Clark County and City of Clark Formed in 2008 County transferred employees and equipment to City and absorbed into City Parks Department Parks outside city limits are managed by County County transfers park impact fees to City Parks Director hired jointly by City Manager and County Manager Topeka City of Topeka and Shawnee County Parks Department Shawnee County Board drafted resolution for City to consider merger City of Topeka voted it down in June Currently being re-looked at Formation of a Park District within and/or between City and County Within a designated boundary of city and/or county Authority to levy a general tax on all property located in the district each year Quasi agency with Executive Director and Board of Directors Examples: City of Pullman, WA Formed in 2002 Proposition to voters to approve Metropolitan Park District To be governed by City of Pullman and City Council to serve as Ex Officio Board of Commissioners of the district Prince William County Park Authority Autonomous organization governed by 8 member board appointed by Board of County Supervisors Funded by tax transfer (from 2.3% of general fund in 1994, dropped to 1% in 2004) and revenues Si View Metropolitan Park District Formed in 2003 through citizen vote Levied general tax on property located in district of.75/$1,000 of assessed valuation Governed by a board of commissioners elected at large Page 2 of 2 July 2009

City of Fairfax, Virginia City Council Work Session

City of Fairfax, Virginia City Council Work Session Agenda Item # 13c City Council Meeting 11/17/2015 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: ISSUE(S): Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council Robert Sisson, City Manager