Minutes 79-01-25MINUTES OF AN ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF
THE CYPRESS CITY COUNCIL
HELD
January 25, 1979
The adjourned regular meeting of the Cypress City Council was
called to order at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 25, 1979~ in
the Assembly Room of the Cypress Community Center, 5700 Orange
Avenue, Cypress, California, Mayor Donald Hudson presiding:
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge to the F]a~ was led by the Mayor.
ROLL CALL:
PRESENT:
A[~SENT:
Councilmembers Evans, Lacayo, Rowan, Hudson
Councilmember MacLain
Also present were:
PRESENT:
ABSENT:
Commissioners Boykin, Crotteau,
Shepherd, Hamilton
Commissioners Hawkins, Swain
Schlaich,
Others in attendance were City }~anager/City Clerk Darrell Essex,
Recreation and Park Director Charles E. Bryant, Ronald Thomas,
and league representatives: A.Y.S.O. Region 154, Bill Hannah,
board representative; Cypress Federal Little League, Pon ~oyer,
board representative; Cypress Girls Softball, Sam Marckese,
President; Cypress Pony Baseball, Gene Stojack, President;
Tri-Cities Soccer Club, W. Bolton, President.
There being no formal agenda, Commissioner Hamilton explained
that the purpose of tbe joint meeting was to discuss the fees
and charges for use of facilities by the various youth leagues.
Mayor H~dson cai]ed on the Director of Recreation and Parks to
give an update since the tim~, lhe [leagues were charged fees.
Discussion was held relative to turning on of the lights by
~he leagues and payments received by those leagues for usage.
Staff :mswered questions posed by the Commissioners and Council.
The Mayor called on Bill Hannah, 6143 Lawrence Street, Cypress,
AYSO Region 154 representative, who reported that the keys issued
for turning on and oil lights has been working well because it
cuts down on costs to the league. It was his opinion that no
maintenance was being done on the fie]ds. Staff explained that
maintenance consisted of layout of the fie]ds and 10-15 hours of
maintenance during the season, to include turning around of the
lights, mowing, fertilizing, etc. Discussion ensued relative to
rains and watering schedules. He expressed concern over having
the chuck holes filled in to prevent an injury.
Staff explained the waterinv schedule For the various seasons.
COUNCILI,~,!B~iR MACLAIN ARRIVED AT 7: 50 P.M.
Councilmember Lacayo read a flier distributed by Pony Baseball
League which offered the signing of a petition to eliminate the
field user fees. Pony Baseball presi~!ent Gene Stojack,
Dorset Drive, Cypress, stated that the $5 rebate was an estimate;
the first estimate was $14 per player. He felt that each player
is paying $8 for use of the facilities. Mr. Stojack explained
thatthe participants were itt favor of the cost cutting going on
by the City Council. The pay-as-you-go policy is a good thing;
however, it was his opinion that the youth leagues are paying
a great deal of money. He reported that $25,000 to $55,000 is
spent on the programs for the children and the community, and
he did not feel that another user fee was justified or necessary.
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City Council Minutes
January 25, 1979
Cypress Federal Little League representative Ron Meyer, 9641
Lawrence Drive, CyPress, questioned if the leagues did not
exist, could it be concluded that the parks would not be
mowed and watered and just let go, The Mayor explained that
the parks would get the same maintenance as the neighborhood
parks get. ,~Relative to Mr. Moyer's question concerning the
costs involved in maintaining the facilities, he was advised
that there!$9!a basic amount being expended for the fields
which is deducted from the amount charged the leagues for the
athletic facilities.
Councilmember Lacayo asked whether the leagues felt that any
sport utilizing the facilities should not be charged, and he
~ave, as an example, the men's leagues.
AYSO Region 154 board representative felt that because of the
w~lunteers running the leagues, they would like to have the
fees rescinded. Costs are ~-oing up and the league will probably
go in the red this year, he felt.
The Mayor questioned which were the most essential things to
make the league run, and what percentage of the budget went.
towards trophies and photos. Mr. Hannah explained that $8,000
was spent on uniforms; $1,000 for pictures; $20 per team for
balls, and that not that much is spent on frills.
Cypress Giris Softball president Sam Marckese, 9139 Esther'
Street, advi;~6d the Counoil that 7~ of the budget ($55,000)
or ,~3,500 wa~ ~pent for trophies and photographs,
Pony Baseball League president Gene Stojack reported that 5%-
7% of the budget ($1,090-$1,500) was spent for trophies and
pict utes.
The ~ayor made a comparison between his tax bill of last year,
$83.76, ~and th.e current one of $11,14, in order lo give some
idea of the m~gnitude of how many dollars are needed to main-
rain the ~ae~ities. He explained that tax dollars as well a~
State monZes go towards the Recreation and Park District.
Mr. Marckese questioned charges to the Cypress Girls Softball
League and explained the registration fee per girl is $15;
2 girls - $22, and 3 or more $27. It was his opinion that
without the C~TA aide, charges would increase, It was sug-
~ested that h;is league could save dollar's by marking their own
fields. ; ,,
A disct]ssio~n: a~s held relative to the insurance requirements
for the ]~a~ue~. The leagues reported that costs ranged any-
where [r~m ~00 to, $160 to have Recreation and Park Distric1
and the City of Cypress named on their policies.
In respons~ to, Mr. Moyer's question about what action has been
laken throngh proper management to lower costs, ~he Director
of Recreation and Parks explained that expenditures have be,en
rednced 26~{; playground programs were cut out: cutting aquatics
program by ha.lf; raising fees for those programs the District
has; the hiri+n~ freeze; reduced maintenance personnel by three;
reduced part.time personnel by 70%; cut utility costs. Other
areas included.eliminating summer programs, recreational swim,
instruct~opal ~wim, day camp, Nature Park program All fees
were increased by ~88,000; fSve parks were closed; the last
two issues of the quarterly brochure carried paid advertisements
as a way of Cutting expenses.
A discussi.0n-~ the budget comparison with this year and pre-
vious veers ~ps,¢ed. The ~ayor stated that the cost of lighting
is being transferred to the leagues. If electricity goes up,
there will be increased costs.
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City Council 5~inutes
January 25,
1979
2O7
Following discussion of increased costs, lowered revenue, those
programs that had to be cut, etc., a representative from Cypress
Federal Little League stated that the youth sports organizations
are telling the City Council that they do not want to pay fees
for use of the facilities, and he asked the individual City
Council members to respond to that.
Councilmember Evans reported that she does not want to impose
a charge, but that there is no choice. If there was any way
that it could be avoided, it would be done. The budget has
been cut 51% and there is no money there.
Councilmember Lacayo stated that the Council was in the process
of further cutting expenses in the Recreation and Park District,
and, if there are dollars available, then the money could then
go back to the leagues.
Ken Smith, 9591 Graham Street, spoke relative to the men's
leagues and explained that for the $197 registration fee for
men's softball, the costs include umpires, watering, mowing, etc
To that, Mayor Hudson stated that everyone is paying his own way
and that every person signing up for a class pays a $3.50 sur-
charge; seniors also pay a charge.
COMMISSIONER HAWKINS ARRIVED AT 8:52 P.M.
Discussion was held relative to cost of the telephone at the
concession facilities and other items of the Agreement to
include~ changing the contract to be more specific; such as,
"gum and cigarettes are not to be sold." It was determined
that if the language contained within the contract was offensive,
then it would be changed.
Mr. Smith stated that whenever he experienced a problem per-
taining to the facilities, he had never had a problem getting
to Mr. Bryant to have the problem area resolved.
Mayor Hudson reported that he was going to vote to maintain the
existing fees, and that he would vote to continue as long as
every other users' fee has been maintained. If the Council is
able to cut and have money available, he will vote to reduce the
fees to all users until the money is gone. In the absence of
those dollars, everyone pays his fair share. Parks will be
maintained for all users.
Commissioner Boykin felt that as an appointed commissioner and
citizen of Cypress, he was concerned about the whole community
being considered (arts, music, etc.) and not only athletics.
The Council should take this into consideration in making
decisions.
Councilmember MacLain stated that if there was any additional
money, it should be shared between all users of the District
facilities. She stated that she votes to keep the fees.
Councilmember Lacayo stated that he has been against charging
fees. It is a reality that the District has lost income. It
is up to the Council to reduce that further and still pass that
savings on to the leagues (they are volunteer organizations).
Counciimember Rowan stated that he will vote for any fees neces-
sary to have a Recreation and Park District. There are 42,000
people in the community with 12,000 residences being taxed. He
feels another sector would say close the parks. The point he
said he tried to make is that Proposition 13 simply said cut
property taxes, and the District cannot continue to operate on
a lesser budget.
Counci]member Evans stated she was supportive of the leagues,
and realizes their importance. If there was any way, she stated,
City Council Minutes
January 25, 1979
that she could eliminate or reduce the fees, she would; however,
the opportunity is not there. She reported that, at this point,
there's no alternative, and that the fees as they are. are
appropriate.
Discussion was held as to whether the user fee is a tax or not.
Mayor Hudson related some of the steps
ward saving dollars, but stated not to
occur before July 1.
that have been taken to-
look for any change to
Pat Howard, a representative from Cypress Girls Softball League,
asked the Council to look at the fact that these organizations
are all non-profit, volunteer~ and, if children were not involved
with the leagues~ they would be on the streets.
The Mayor advised that for all services currently being used,
the user is paying for that service. There is no cost borne
by taxpayers' dollars to maintain the Recreation and Park pro-
grams. Each participant is paying to maintain. Commissioner
Hawkins gave, as an example, the recent increased tennis fees
to pay for lights.
A discussion ensued relative to the Youth Center Program.
The Mayor stated that some people believe that the leagues are
being subsidized by allowing leagues to play during peak hours
and not being available for other users. He said that we are
talking about a community of 40,000 (800 families out of 12.000)
inw~lved in the leagues. Discussion of types of users took place.
At 9:5~ p.m. Mayor Hudson called for a break. The meeting was
called back to order at 10:08 p.m. Councilmembers Lacayo and
Rowan were absent.
The Mayor asked if there were any other issues, and Mr. Stojack
exp]ained that he did not understand how the total dollars were
set for the league rates.
COUNCIl,MEMBERS LACAYO AND ROWAN RETURNED AT 10:10 P.M.
The Ma.~or gave an explanation of how the charges were derived.
Mr, Meyer commented that services should be cut to the ]evel
of income. He stated that in any business when you have a cut-
back and go into a concentrated program, you should first look
at: the real things, things you can combine, and what you can
cut: net what you can cut at the bottom. He questioned whether
there had been a 51% reduction in staff. He stated that a lot
of people are concerned--lights the leagues should pay for, but
they do not want to pay for some other service at the leagues'
expense.
Mayor Hudson reported that the first policy decision was to cut
only those things and staff positions which the Council knew
there would not be sufficient funds to cover. The part-time
people, normally utilized to operate the parks were done away
with, followed by another four or five cuts for part-time per-
sonnel. Sh5 fts in terms of how frequently ]awns would be mowed
and watered. Then, the hiring freeze; and reduction by attrition
of park staff. He stated that what the Council is doing now is
a re-examination of the entire parks organization. Basically,
the Council instructed staff to examine methodo]ogy whereby
a whole host of workers within the Parks District are reassembled
under the City removing middle level management; allowing the City
people, for example, to maintain mowing machines, mow lawns, and
absorb a larger work force.
He explained that if it works out, the District would be charged
for the hours that are used; and, therefore, would remove a
City Council Minutes
January 25, 1979 209
whole level of' management (including retirement benefits, etc.).
The Mayor reported that this, to some extent, will improve the
City al~d wi] I become a kind of' offset that, without a doubt,
will affect as it gets ful]-fledged and all the ramifications
are seen, the Parks' management structure of the parks, the Parks'
middle management structure of the Parks and the entire employees'
structure of the Parks.
He stated that, hopefully, there would be a significant reduction
in del]ar costs. The Council has been going at this slowly
because there is a lack of information in terms of what funds the
District is going to have. They did not want to be so strict
as to either fire people or stop programs prior to the absolute
necessity of doing so. He stated that every remedy is being
taken to not do that at the expense of programs but the Council
was obvious]y getting to this. He explained that Jt is too
~t<m~D]e× :~nd critical to expect that to be accomplished by July 1,
both in terms of notification to employees who are involved, and
acceptance of the wiseness and appropriateness of whatever is
suggested.
Mayor Hudson stated that, in terms of employees and in terms of
schecluTJng, far below the previously held standards in the com-
munity of what parks shonld be; the parks at least that we are
accustomed to.
Discussion followed relative to the budget, increased cost, re-
distributing- funds to programs, and the Mayor gave an explan-
ation of income and expenditures relating to the budget and how
it apf~c;~rs.
~ol]owing a suggestion of combining Park District between cities,
the Mayor explained that Cypress is a Park District whereas others
are departments of the City. He reported that we have maintained
a Park District above the level of surrounding areas. Council-
member Rowan added that we may have lost the State monies for
special districts by absorbing the District into the City.
In,~urance requirements again became the subject of discussion,
and it was determined that this area would be looked into to
see what is required.
Coun<~ilmember Lacayo moved to adjourn at ]0:45 p.m. to the ad-
journed regular meeting (budget session) at 7:20 p.m. on Monday,
January 29, 1979 in the Conference Room, City Hall. Motion
was seconded, and Mayor Hudson adjourned the meeting at 10:45 p.m.
ATTEST:
MAYOR OF T/~ CITY OF C~Fi~RESS
CITY CLERK OF THE CITY OF CYPRESS