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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-01-2008-6aORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: May 1, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Summer Day Camp Proposal DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No ATTACHMENT(S): 4/23/08 RPAC Letter INFORMATION CONTACT: Willie Best, 245-2308 Nancy Coston, 245-2802 PURPOSE: To propose the County appropriate funds for sponsorships for certain summer day camp programs in lieu of continuing the County's summer day camp program. BACKGROUND: Based on the County's discontinuance of its summer day camp and a request from the BOCC for a sponsorship proposal, the Board of Commissioners, at its April 15, 2008 BOCC meeting, reviewed a proposal from the County Manager regarding the County providing $10,000 in scholarships or "camperships" to qualifying summer day camp participants to attend other summer day camps in the County. The Board reviewed the Manager's proposal and provided positive feedback. However, the Board did not approve the proposal pending feedback from the Social Services Board and the Recreation & Parks Advisory Council (RPAC) on the proposal. At the April 21, 2008 Social Services Board meeting, Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Nancy Coston requested and the Social Services Board approved the use of one-time funding to subsidize summer day camp participants whose families fall at or below the 200% federal poverty level. This is the same guideline used for DSS childcare subsidy. RPAC met on April 22"a and discussed the action under consideration by the Board of Commissioners. RPAC was pleased that a portion of the need for a low cost summer program would be met with the use of the $10,000 from DSS. RPAC did however voice three areas of concern addressed in the attached letter dated April 23~a The $10,000 from DSS would be principally used to partially offset higher costs associated with alternative camps and, as in the past, would be allocated on a sliding scale basis. To address the loss of the low-cost Parks and Recreation program, the monies proposed would be used for the Cooperative Extension 4-H summer day camp program and the SportsPlex and Orange County Schools summer day camps programs. The Orange County Parks and Recreation Summer Camp cost was $80. Cost for the summer 4-H (Summer Sizzle) program is $100; SportsPlex Summer Camp costs $185; and the Orange County Schools camp program costs 2 $100. The recommended funds would be provided on a first come basis to those individuals meeting DSS guidelines. As in past years, other funds such as donations received through the "Send A Kid to Camp" would be used to send foster children to camp. The Board is reminded that this proposal addresses the summer day camp scholarship/ campership questions for the current fiscal year. Funding solutions beyond the current fiscal year will need to be addressed in the upcoming FY 2008-09-budget process. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This proposal would require the designation of $10,000 from the Department of Social Service Childcare Program to fund an Orange County scholarship/campership program to support participants' attendance at the three summer day camp programs noted above. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proposal and the designation of $10,000 from the Department of Social Service Childcare Program to fund an Orange' County scholarship/campership program to support participants' attendance at the three summer day camp programs noted above. ~ ~'9 ~ P.O. Box 8181, 300 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough, NC 27278 (919) 245-2660 April 23, 2008 Orange County Board of Commissioners 200 S. Cameron Street 1-Iillsborough, NC 27278 Dear Board of Commissioners, We are writing on behalf of the Orange County Recreation and Parks Advisory Council (RPAC) concerning the possible discontinuance of the summer day camp program. As a citizen's advisory board we are unanimous in our opposition to this proposed action. The camp has been an integral Orange County service to its youth since the 1970s. This letter follows a letter from RPAC earlier this year and also appearance by several RPAC members speaking aut on this topic at a regular meeting of BOCC. We are bewildered as to how a long standing program that has been serving the youth of Orange County since 1975 was taken out of operation without any public comment or recommendation from the Orange County Recreation and Parks Advisory Council. The Council hopes to be involved in the future decisions affecting the Parks and Recreation Department and the public it serves. In addition, RPAC recammends that those community members directly affected by County Staff decisions be given the opportunity to be heard and involved in the decision making process. We lmow you believe in and take pride in a transparent process and we also support transparency in local government. RPAC recognizes that the funding from the Department of Social Services ($10,000) will assist with the current short fall of affordable summer camp options, but it does not fully address the issue. The $10,000 of DSS funding will not go far when one considers that 276 of the 588 registrations in 2007 were assisted with some form of scholarship. RPAC would like to take this opportunity to thank the BOCC for fmding at least some small way to assist the neediest youth in Orange County. The Council wishes to recommend that former county Parks and Recreation campers be given first priority for the DSS funding because we believe these individuals will benefit the most from use of these funds. In 2007, the "Sun Fun" camp generated $37,053 in revenue and had expenses that totaled $40,692. The county's subsidy of this program was effectively $3,642. In addition, the DSS contributed $3,890 in campership funding, which was pass through money. RPAC feels that it is imperative, and strongly recommends that the Parks and Recreation summer camp program be reinstated beginning next summer and receive full funding in FY09 and in subsequent years. If it is necessary to reduce the county's subsidy of this program, RPAC recommends slightly raising the registration fee. RPAC wants to thank the BOCC for considering this important issue. The summer camp program has been a positive influence for thousands of youngsters for many years here in Orange County. We believe it should continue. Sincerely; ~ n ~ ~ s Robb English ' Past Chair of RPAC Steve Peck ~~'-'-~ New Chair o C cc: Laura Blackmon, Lori Taft