Fiscal Year 2004 Proposed Budget

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM

PROGRAM MISSION: To support the management of the Department's Administrative Services, Planning and Design, and Marketing and Communications resources.

This program is responsible for specialized administrative support for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Resources. This program includes the Department's Administrative Services, Planning and Design, and Marketing and Communications units. This support includes managing the Department's human resources, training, organizational development, technology resources, marketing and communication, financial management and accounting for the Department's operating and capital accounts, and park master planning, design and construction. In addition to this role, this program supports the central registration unit located at the Lubber Run Community Center, and the volunteer office, which coordinates all volunteer efforts of DPRCR. Staff in this program manages the County's Open Space Master Plan and is the liaison to the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and the Park and Recreation Commission.

• The Planning and Design Unit (PDU) provides management oversight for the Open Space Master Plan (OSMP), an element of the County's Comprehensive Plan. The Plan provides policy guidance for the future of Arlington's open spaces and public places. Staff is currently working with the Open Space Master Plan Task Force to revise the Plan, which was last updated in 1994. The County's first Park and Recreation Resident Survey was completed in June 2002 as part of the Plan update. A survey of middle and high school students was also completed in early 2003. A variety of related initiatives help support the OSMP. Major initiatives include the development of a master plan for the North Tract area, Drew Park, Tyrol Hills Park, 13^th & Herndon, Clarendon Central Park, and Fairlington Community Center, a joint planning process with the City of Alexandria (using a $1 million EPA grant) to examine the storm flow for lower Four Mile Run and development of a master plan for the adjacent open space and the development of land acquisition strategies.

Several major park projects are under construction. The Langston Brown Community Center and Walter Reed Community Center feature green building techniques and will seek a Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Silver certification. The ball field complex and other athletic amenities are being replaced and a new parking structure is being built at Barcroft Park. Powhatan Springs Park will feature the County's first skate park, a youth soccer/lacrosse field and a children's interactive nature area. The Westover Park project will replace all the park's facilities.

• The Marketing and Communication section promotes DPRCR programs and activities through effective marketing and communication vehicles and strategies.

• The Volunteer Office places about 7,500 volunteers in the Department annually. This includes providing orientation and training for approximately 175 youth, ages 12 through 18, as volunteer assistants in the summer camp programs. This section coordinates the Secret Santa Program, finding donors to provide gifts and holiday meals for more than 600 needy families. The Volunteer Office promotes and monitors the Adopt-A-Park Program.

SIGNIFICANT PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Increase in personnel expenditures is mainly due to normal step increases, reclassification of positions to higher grade level, and pay-above-entry for new hires. Transfer of 1.0 FTE from Countywide Programs for the Marketing and Communications unit and transfer of 1.0 FTE to Cultural Development Program for County Fair and Sister City Program (Net 0).

• Decrease in non-personnel expenditures is due to a reduction in County telephone charges ($11,179), County vehicle charges ($3,324), and transfer of ($12,057) to Cultural Development for the Sister City Program.

OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION REPORT: As of October 2002

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Objective: To complete park master planning activities in accordance with established priorities and guidelines.

Objective: To complete Capital Improvement Program projects within established timeframes and budgets.

• These are new measures and no historical data is available. Data collection will commence in FY 2004.

• FY 2003 bond funds available for FY 2004 and FY 2005 projects.

Objective: To increase the public's knowledge of Departmental programs and services through marketing and communications outreach and support.

Objective: To identify and place volunteers to augment or replace the need for staff for the purpose of enhancing programs.