Durango City Council took a hard look at operations, grants for nonprofits and Parks and Recreation Department projects as part of the city budgeting process Friday.
The city’s total budget for 2016 will likely top $70 million, an increase of about 10 percent from this year. With the additional cash, the council is looking to solve some problems.
Parks and Rec is planning for major projects, including a new location for the city’s gymnastics program, rebuilding the softball complex and tennis courts at Fort Lewis College and a new trail along Roosa Avenue.
Parks and Rec Director Cathy Metz pitched a new $2.2 million shop at Greenmount Cemetery because the department needs more space for storage. The aging building is also unsafe to enter when it is covered with heavy snow, she said.
“I think it’s critical we address this,” she said.
However, councilors asked Metz to pursue an alternative location to the Mason Center before the shop is rebuilt to use the newly reauthorized 2015 half-cent sales tax in a highly visible way.
“I think you have to do Mason first and make people feel proud,” said Councilor Sweetie Marbury.
The city may pursue an existing building for the gymnastics program and eventually demolish the Mason Center building to create a park.
But before making any decisions, Metz would like to spend a year holding public meetings about the future of the Mason Center site.
By making the new gymnastics location a priority, the Parks and Rec shop project could be pushed into the 2017 budget, if the councilors don’t change their minds.
Police recruitment
The city plans to dedicate $30,000 to help with recruitment at the Durango Police Department in 2016, Chief Jim Spratlen told the council.
The department currently has seven vacant positions out of 55.
“Vacancies – we’re fighting that,” he said.
On average, the department has three to six open positions every year.
The recruitment money would be used to reward those who refer officers successfully, for moving allowances and for other incentives.
Earlier this year, The Durango Herald found some of the high turnover at the department was caused by schedule changes, low morale and lack of communication.
Bears raiding trash
Councilors asked the city to double the order of bear-resistant trash cans from 75 to 150, for an additional $14,000.
Demand for bear-proof trash cans has been high this year, and the city has had some trouble filling orders because of problems with suppliers, said Joey Medina, recycling and solid waste manager.
Right now, there are 55 people waiting for a bear-resistant can.
“I don’t want to see families being tormented by the bears because they can’t get a can,” Marbury said.
Nonprofit funding
Grant funding for La Plata Youth Services, a diversion program to help young offenders, sparked a debate over how much the city should be spending to help non-residents, even if they are committing crimes within city limits.
City Manager Ron LeBlanc proposed granting the nonprofit $81,500. But several councilors made the case for giving the nonprofit $91,500 because its success rate is so high.
LeBlanc argued the city gives the nonprofit about 65 percent of its operational budget, while only 34 percent of the students who use the services live in the city.
But Councilor Christina Rinderle and Marbury countered that the city benefits from the program because the crimes are generally committed within city limits.
“La Plata Youth Services saves these kids,” Marbury said.
The board also debated a grant to 4CORE, a nonprofit that supports conservation.
The nonprofit recently lost Executive Director Karen Streeter, and now the board is talking about combining with another nonprofit or dissolving, said Mary Beth Miles, assistant to the city manager and a member of the nonprofit’s board.
Given the state of the nonprofit, the council was not sure a grant would be appropriate.
The council will hear from nonprofit directors Oct. 27 before making any final decisions.
The council will hold a public hearing on the budget Nov. 2 and will vote on the budget Dec. 1.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
