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PR&CP Class Registration

	1st Semester	2nd Semester	3rd Semester
Target	7,708	3,607	3,223
Actual	7,230	4,338
Variance	-478	731

Why This Is Important

The Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships (PR&CP) Department’s classes and programs offer many benefits to the community. Research has found that park and recreation services offer personal, social, and economic benefits.  The classes provide exercise, entertainment, interaction with neighbors, exposure to the arts, and community awareness at affordable rates. The number of people participating in park and recreation services indicates whether or not the PR&CP Department is providing the programs that citizens need or want, and how active and participatory Ventura’s residents are.  More participants in the City’s programs indicate a healthier, more involved citizenry.  Participation is also a factor in measuring how successful the department is at meeting or exceeding its earned revenue goals.

What Is Being Done

The department’s program coordinators work with marketing specialists in the Community Partnerships Division after each class session (there are three sessions annually: Fall/Winter, Spring, and Summer) to review program performance and revenue goals, and adjust future offerings. The tri-annual programmatic review takes into account not only the performance of individual classes, but also national and regional trends in activity, entertainment, and the economy. Recreation programs are evaluated with program participant’s surveys on their satisfaction with the programs being offered, including the instructor, times of classes/programs and gained knowledge.  The results of the survey help the staff to review program performance and adjust future offerings in order to increase participation.

About This Measure

Registration is tracked through the CLASS system, which produces real-time reports of program participation.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships, ebrokaw@cityofventura.net,
Denise Sindelar, Community Partnerships Manager, dsindelar@cityofventura.net

 

Number of At-Risk Youth Involved in PEAK, PAL, Westpark & Teen Voice Programs

	FY 08/09	FY 09/10	FY 10/11	FY 11/12
Target*				1,500
Actual	1,290	1,600	1,732
Variance

*”Number of At-Risk Youth Involved in PEAK, PAL, Westpark and Teen Voice Programs” is a new Performance Measure. Fiscal Year 2011/2012 is the first year that the Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships Department has set a target for the amount of youth involved in these programs. 

Why This Is Important

The collaboration between the City of Ventura’s Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships Department, the Ventura Police Activities League, and the Ventura Unified School District to provide free after school programs, helps disadvantaged youth grow into productive citizens and provides a positive and proactive approach to crime prevention. There are several benefits of participating in after school programs. The primary benefit is to keep children out of trouble and off the streets. The PEAK, PAL, Westpark, and Teen Voice programs provide at-risk youth a safe place to spend their free time. Children and adolescents who are not supervised by an adult for extended periods of time are at elevated risk for engaging in problem behavior including drugs and criminal activity. After school programs prevent such things by keeping kids in safe environments.

After school programs also provide educational components helping youth to obtain better grades and encouraging them to stay in school. Academic based programs give children the chance to practice and build on what they learn in school. Low-income children consistently fall behind their peers in test scores, graduation rates, college enrollment, and other measures of academic success. Research suggests that after school programs with an academic component can impact low-income youth’s grades, and test scores leading to more students graduating and continuing on to higher education.

Another benefit of after school programs is that they offer recreational activities that provide daily physical activity. Recreation programs let children use their energy, relieve stress, and reduce the possibility of childhood obesity. Regular physical activity is associated with immediate and long-term health benefits such as weight control, lower blood pressure, improved cardio-respiratory function, and enhanced psychological well-being.Increasing fitness levels in the City’s youth helps them lead longer, healthier lives.  Active children are also more likely to become active adults.

What’s Being Done

The Ventura Police Department monitors crime activity in areas where after school programs take place, providing information on the link between after school programs and youth crime. The City of Ventura also works closely with the Ventura Unified School District to track student’s grades, tests scores, and graduation rates, providing information on academic improvements in Ventura’s at-risk population.  The fitness levels of after school program participants are also tracked in order for the Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships Department to monitor the health and wellness of Ventura’s youth.

About This Measure

The number of PEAK, PAL, Westpark, and Teen Voice participants, their fitness levels and their grades and test scores are examined each year along with youth crime rates in Ventura. At-risk youth are encouraged to participate in after school programs through school, advertising, and neighborhood councils.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships, ebrokaw@cityofventura.net
Judy Devine, Recreation Manager, jdevine@cityofventura.net

 

Ventura Golf Courses Net Income

	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June
Target	$249,875	$288,700	$180,322	$128,252	$102,350	$54,959	$84,301	$73,240	$76,268	$137,450	$159,787	$139,805
Actual	$202,062	$224,140	$151,402	$108,434	$73,913	$112,448	108,367	$107,654	$67,945	$86,699
Variance	-47,813	-64,569	-28,920	-$20,818	-$28,437	$57,489	$24,066	$34,414	-$8,323	-$50,751

Why This Is Important

The City of Ventura owns and oversees the operations of two municipal golf courses known as Buenaventura and Olivas Links. The Golf Enterprise was created so golf operations are self-sustained and receive no support from the General Fund; 100% of golf operations are derived from fees charged at the courses. In 2004 the City of Ventura approved a plan to renovate both golf courses including infrastructure in need of repair and financed the project with Certificates of Participation. The $15M renovation took three years to complete and resulted in two distinctly different golf experiences for residents and visitors. In December of 2009, staff presented to Council a ten-year pro-forma showing that the golf courses will not be recouping their full expenses until 2016/17, due to an overall downturn in the national golf market. The Golf Net Income performance measure above indicates the goals as outlined in the pro-forma presented to Council.

What’s Being Done

Customer satisfaction with the golf courses is currently being measured through monthly surveys. The measure of satisfaction is directly correlated to financial performance. This measure is intended to be a tool to show the effectiveness of the independent golf management company and City staff to cooperatively navigate the complex issues associated with golf operations and management.

About This Measure

“Golf Net Income” takes Gross Revenues and deducts operational and non-operational costs.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships, ebrokaw@cityofventura.net
Eric Burton, Golf & Adult Sports Manager, eburton@cityofventura.net

 

Visitors to Ventura Libraries

	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June
Actual*	26,945	25,314	34,831	35,019	34,750	30,777	30,431	38,330	52,002	42,081

*”Visitors to Ventura Libraries” is a new Performance Measure. The number of visitors for the FY2011/2012 will establish a baseline, which will be used for future comparisons.

Why This Is Important

Public libraries are often considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population. Measuring the visitors to our City libraries provides information on how we are serving the public's information needs, as well as how effective we are at offering materials for general entertainment and leisure purposes. The number of visitors to the City libraries also provides information on the value that libraries continue to offer to Ventura citizens.

What’s Being Done

The Library Advisory Commission is actively working with the County staff to develop additional program opportunities including a Teen Advisory Group. City staff is working with County staff to identify grant opportunities to add additional programming. As part of the 2011 Library Strategic Planning process, the City has surveyed citizens about what their priorities are for library services and facilities. This data is being analyzed to enhance services being provided by the City’s libraries.

About This Measure

The Ventura County Library has installed door counters and will actively capture physical visitors to the City’s two facilities.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships, ebrokaw@cityofventura.net
Denise Sindelar, Community Partnerships Manager, dsindelar@cityofventura.net

 

Citywide Volunteer Program Hours

	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June
Target	3,340	4,317	4,575	2,319	3,080	1,999	3,337	2,308	2,910	3,498	2,284	2,485
Actual	3,094	4,521	4,689	3,028	2,906	2,097	2,635	2,550	3,988	4,107
Variance	-246	204	114	709	-174	98	-702	242	1,078	609

Why This Is Important

Recent budget cuts to the City of Ventura led to both the City Council and the community advocating for more volunteers to augment the shrinking workforce.  The City of Ventura has long promoted volunteerism as volunteers supplement City services, freeing the paid staff to perform other necessary duties. The purpose of the volunteer program is to expand and enhance the delivery of quality services by promoting citizen participation within City government. In tracking volunteer hours, the Ventura Volunteer Program recognizes the essential role that volunteers and volunteerism play in building a healthy and vibrant city.

What’s Being Done

The Volunteer Ventura staff works diligently to recruit and train volunteers for projects throughout Ventura. In 2010 the Volunteer office working with the Mayor initiated the first annual Volunteer Summit. Using the City’s website, social networking, and outreach to the City’s Community Councils and Ventura Unified School District, staff is identifying both new volunteers and community priorities in the development of new volunteer projects. Volunteers are helping to clean our beaches and parks, work at the City’s special events, and help with administrative tasks among other duties.

About This Measure

City volunteer hours are collected and tabulated on a monthly basis.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships, ebrokaw@cityofventura.net
Denise Sindelar, Community Partnerships Manager, dsindelar@cityofventura.net

 

Grant and Sponsorship Funding Raised to Enhance Programs

Grant Dollars Raised	FY08/09	FY09/10	FY10/11	FY11/12
Target*				$450,000
Actual	336,898	$340,900	$449,000
Variance

*”Grant/Sponsorship Funding Raised” is a new Performance Measure. Fiscal Year 2011/2012 is the first year that the Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships Department has set a target for the amount of funding raised through grants and sponsorships.

Why This Is Important

The downturn in the economy has provoked budget cuts to all City services including those in the Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships Department.  To maintain many of our programs and services, we have turned to foundations, corporations, and community partners to assist us with funding.  Grant funding has enhanced our programs for low-income youth including the PEAK, Westpark, and Teen Voice Leadership programs. Sponsorships allow the PR&CP Department to continue to offer exciting events including Music Under the Stars, the 4^th of July Street Fair, and Corporate Games.

What’s Being Done

The PR&CP Department continuously seeks out grants that are relevant to our programs and services. We also offer many opportunities for companies to receive advertising through the sponsoring of our community events. Creating strong relationships with community agencies has been essential to securing funding for our programs. We also have been able to successfully partner with the Ventura Police Activities League on grants that provide funding for our collaborative youth programs.

About This Measure

The PR&CP Department annually tracks the amount of grant and sponsorship funding that provides assistance to our programs/services.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships,  ebrokaw@cityofventura.net
Judy Devine, Recreation Manager, jdevine@cityofventura.net

 

Number of Trees Gained/Loss

	1st Quarter	2nd Quarter	3rd Quarter	4th Quarter
Target	0	0	0	0
Actual	40	0	18
Variance	40	0	18

Why This Is Important

Trees are essential to life as we know it and are the ground troops on an environmental frontline. Trees produce oxygen, clean the soil, control noise, slow storm water runoff, absorb carbon dioxide, clean the air, shade and cool, and act as windbreaks. Research has shown that substantial increases in the number of City trees can reduce storm-water and pollution-control expenditures by millions of dollars.  In order to maintain a healthy and vibrant urban forest, it's important to have a diversity of tree species and ages. We need to continually plant new trees to replace those lost to drought, old age, disease, insects, and injury. If we eliminate all tree planting, we risk losing our valuable urban forest and the many benefits it provides on a daily basis.

What’s Being Done

The Parks Division measures the number of emergency callout hours for tree emergencies. In doing so, they can calculate the number of trees the City of Ventura is losing annually.  This number is useful in determining how many trees need to be planted to at least maintain the City’s current Urban Forest.  New trees are planted in response to requests and in accordance with available funds.

About This Measure

This measure takes into account both trees that are removed and trees that are added, so the numbers reported reflect the NET number of new trees in the City of Ventura.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships, ebrokaw@cityofventura.net
Nancy O’Connor, Parks Manager, noconnor@cityofventura.net

 

Pesticide Use in Parks

	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June
Target	311	188	64	97	261	126	52	80	78	95	58	311
Actual	58	26	46	0	52	90	187	110	22	143
Variance	-253	-162	-18	-97	-209	-36	135	30	-56	48

Why This Is Important

As chemicals that are designed to kill or damage living things, pesticides pose a variety of health hazards. Almost 20 percent of the pesticides used in California are known to cause cancer, almost 10 percent are known to damage our nervous systems, and more than 10 percent are known to cause reproductive harm.  The City of Ventura’s Parks Division has prioritized the health of people and the environment by changing their landscape practices to reduce their reliance on pesticides.

What’s Being Done

The Parks Division is reducing the use of pesticides by having a higher tolerance for weed and pest infestations. Additionally, where applicable, the Division relies on cultural practices (raising mowing heights, using mulch, etc.) to reduce use of pesticides.

About This Measure

When a pesticide is used, the Parks Division measures the use and documents the reason for the use.

Contact:
Elena Brokaw, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Partnerships, ebrokaw@cityofventura.net
Nancy O’Connor, Parks Manager, noconnor@cityofventura.net