Title
Westside "Kids on the Go" and Westwood "Teens on the Go" Summer Camp Programs (B)
This is a request for the City Commission to appropriate funding for the Westside Park Summer Youth Camp and the Westwood Middle School Summer Teen Camp.
Explanation
In 2005, staff requested and received funding to offer a "pilot" summer youth camp program at Westside Recreation Center and Park. This program was a full-service, field-trip based camp program in which fees charged to the program participants covered all direct cost/expenses necessary to operate the camp. The official name given to this camp was Westside Kids on the Go Camp. Staff accomplished its objective of a break-even program and ended the 2005 summer with expenses of $42,190 and revenues of $42,481, resulting in a net profit of $291. Total attendance at this camp was 154 individual youth. Of that total, 129 were city residents (83.8%) and 25 were non-city residents (16.2%). City residents paid $60 and non-city residents paid $90 for each week of camp.
For the summer of 2006, the department is again planning to offer the Kids on the Go Camp at Westside Recreation Center. Because funding for this program was not originally established in the FY2005/2006 budget process, the department is once again seeking approval from the City Commission for a budget amendment to set up the funds necessary to operate the program. Just like last year, the program will be designed to recover all direct costs/expenses associated with its operation through participant registration fees.
In addition, staff is requesting approval from the City Commission to establish an additional 2006 summer camp program for teenagers 13-15 years of age. This camp would be called Teens on the Go, and would be held at Westwood Middle School which is where the City currently operates an after-school Teen Zone program. This additional program would be operated with the same objective of recapturing all direct costs/expenses through participant registration fees. Staff has received numerous requests from parents to offer a summer program for youth ages 13-15. In addition, the current Teen Zone after school program has been so successful this past year, that the school's principal and staff are interested in seeing the implementation of this summer camp program as well.
These two summer camp programs are separate from the City's traditional summer youth camp programs offered at other community centers where registration fees are lower and do not entirely cover program expenses.
Fiscal Note
The Department is requesting that expense funds and the corresponding revenue funds in the amount of $75,700 be set up for the Westside Kids on the Go Camp and for the Westwood Teens on the Go Camp. As mentioned, both camps will be operated on a break-even basis.
Recommendation
The City Commission authorize the City Manager to: 1) direct the Recreation and Parks Department to move forward with plans to offer the Westside Kids on the Go and Westwood Teens on the Go camp programs; and 2) direct the Office of Management and Budget to set up the necessary budget accounts in the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Affairs Department to operate these two summer camp programs.
Alternative Recommendation: The City Commission not authorize funding for these two programs.