Fiscal Year 2013-2015 Special Budget Meeting

HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL Subject: Proposed FY 13-15 Proposed Policy Budget Date: June?, 2013 Page 13 Equi pment. Material and Supplies Vehicles, lawn mowers, maintenance supplies $1,390,244 Initial Personnel and O&M Costs: $4,513,468 3) How much would it cost to maintain all the new parks around Lake Merritt? As noted in the previous question, since 2008, Public Works has had a reduction in park maintenance staff due to budget cuts. The gardening staff responsible for maintaining the Lake Merritt area along with all other parks city-wide was reduced more than 50% over the last 5 years. The staff reduction impacted the ability to maintain the park in an acceptable manner given the increased areas fi-om Measure DD projects and the growing use of Oakland parks. Lavms are mowed less frequently, litter abatement response is less frequent, and general routine landscape maintenance (pruning, edging, fertilizing) has diminished. Over the last few years, several Measure DD projects have been completed along Lakeshore Avenue and east of the Pergola, both of which have added extensive landscaped and hardscaped areas. Currently the 12* street project is nearing completion, adding a new pedestrian and a roadway bridge, new parkland that includes restrooms, several amphitheaters, outlook area, three vegetated storm water features (basins and swales), new pathways, seat walls, lawn areas, and new landscaping in several traffic islands. There are five (5) additional acres that need to be maintained. The 3-year Plant Establishment Period for the 12^" Street project will cover the maintenance of the new landscaping but does not cover maintenance of the hardscape, graffiti or litter related issues. Moreover, in the next year additional new projects will begin construction; future fimding will need to be identified for these projects, 10 Street with new landscaping and pathways. Snow Park which expands the current park, and the Sailboat House project with decreases the size of the parking lot and creates new shoreline and landscaped areas. These projects add about 3 new acres of landscaped assets and new hardscape infrastructure that will need to be maintained. Financials Below, you will find a chart that shows a comparison of the current service level, versus proposed service level A &B. The second chart lists the cost for providing a comprehensive maintenance program for Lake Merritt (Service Level A). The third chart identifies the minimal cost to improve current maintenance services at Lake Merritt (Service Level B). Activity Current Service Level Service Level A Service Level B Mowing Every 3 weeks Weekly Every 12-14 Days Edging and Pruning Every 4-6 Weeks Bi-weekly Monthly