RPD Commission Provides More Time to Review Sharp Park Alternatives Report

After a lengthy presentation by RPD staff and the Tetra Tech team on the Sharp Park Conceptual Restoration Alternative Report, and several hours of public comment, the RPD Commission continued the Sharp Park item to the December 17th Commission hearing. This continuation will allow more time for stakeholders to review the report, ask questions and provide RPD feedback. NPC is going to work with RPD to set up a public meeting in the next few weeks about this report. This will provide an important forum on the issue, as well as an opportunity for the public to ask questions. NPC will let our coalition know about the date and time of the meeting as soon as it is set.

To view a copy of the report, click here .

To provide input to the Recreation and Park Commission, email Recpark.Commission@sfgov.org

Mid-year Budget Cuts and Reductions Estimated for Next Year

The Mayor's Budget Office has instructed RPD to identify $1.15M in mid-year cuts to the General Fund support the Department receives by December 4th. RPD finance staff will present the proposal for how handle the $1.15M cut to the RPD Commission on December 3rd. The budget reduction can be met with both cuts to expenses and with revenue generation.

Further, the estimates for the 2010-11 budget for the City and County of San Francisco indicate we will be facing a $522M budget shortfall. The Mayor's Budget Office has instructed RPD to prepare a proposal for how to cut General Fund support by 20% next year, with a contingency plan for an additional 10%. The reduction in funding that the Mayor's office has asked the Department to prepare for will mean a cut of $6.5M-$9.5M next year. In this fiscal year, RPD is getting about $33M in General Fund dollars.

NPC is committed to working with the Recreation and Park Department and City officials, along with our volunteers, to help identify revenue generating ideas in the near term and creating a more sustainable source of funding for the Department in the future. Community participation in the budget process is important as it seems certain very difficult decisions are ahead for RPD.

NPC will provide more information on our website as it becomes availible.