AGENDA #5a

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:      Response to a Petition Requesting the Town to Provide Bicycle Education Classes and to Provide Facilities for Bicycle Instructor Training

 

DATE:            November 8, 2004

  

 

The following report responds to a petition from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board requesting that the Parks and Recreation Department explore the possibility of offering bicycle education classes and providing facilities for bicycle instructor training. This report   recommends that the issue of funding for bicycle education classes and the training of potential instructors for recreation and park activities be considered during budget preparation for fiscal year 2005-06. This would include exploration of potential grant funding sources for such training.

 

BACKGROUND

 

At its May 10, 2004 meeting, the Town Council received and referred a petition from Jed Dube, Chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, requesting that the Parks and Recreation Department explore the possibility of offering bicycle education classes and providing facilities for bicycle instructor training. In addition to offering bicycle education classes, the petition suggests that the costs of instructor training for persons who, when trained, would then teach classes in Chapel Hill, be covered by some means other than user fees. A copy of the petition is provided in Attachment 1.

 

The initiation of Bicyclist Education Classes is one of the actions recommended in the Draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Plan.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The Council annually adopts the Parks and Recreation Department User Fees Policies. The current User Fees Policies is Attachment 2. This guides the Department in determining fees for classes and activities. The current adopted policy directs that program costs (with the exception of aquatic programs) be determined by totaling direct costs (such as the costs of specialized employees, special facili­ties and equipment, and expendable materials and supplies) and dividing the total cost by the minimum number of participants in the program. The policy further states that:

 

·        Program participation fees for youth (18 and under) will be set to recover 100% of the program’s direct costs. 

 

·        Adult programs will be assessed a 10% administrative charge in addition to the 100% of direct costs.

 

Using these guidelines, direct costs for a course such as the Bicycle and Pedestrian Board suggests would total approximately $700 (this includes $300 for the instructor fee and $40 per person for materials, for 10 people). The user fee for the course would be $70 for youth and $77 for adults. The Parks and Recreation Department Fee Reduction Policy is designed to accommodate citizens who qualify for reduced fees. The difference between full fee and reduced fees is covered through operating funds. This program was not included in the current operating budget.

 

While suitable indoor multiple purpose space is at a premium in Parks and Recreation Department facilities, we believe we could identify appropriate space for such a course. The Hargraves Center and Lincoln Center gymnasium provide possibly the best options. The Parks and Recreation staff is prepared to work to recruit trained instructors to teach bicycle safety classes, schedule courses with their input, and publicize the program through the three-times-a- year activity guide and other means, if program funding is identified.

 

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board also suggests the Council consider covering the cost to train individuals to become certified instructors for bicycle education classes. Based on the information provided, the cost is approximately $175 per person. A training course for 5 participants would be approximately $875.

 

The Parks and Recreation Department budget does not currently include funding to train potential instructors or part-time employees.

 

The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board petition. During the Commission’s discussion, a member noted that the recruitment and training of certified bicycle education instructors might be an ideal project for Active Living By Design to fund. The Commission’s recommendation is Attachment 3.

 

We believe it would be appropriate to consider the issue of funding for the training of potential instructors for recreation and park activities during budget preparation for fiscal year 2005-06. This would include exploration of potential grant funding sources for such training.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Parks and Recreation Commission: At its October 20, 2004 meeting, the Commission voted unanimously (10-0) to forward the following recommendation to the Council: The Commission is not aware of any citizen requests to the Parks and Recreation Department to provide bicycle education classes and is concerned with the requested precedent of using Parks and Recreation Department funding to train potential instructors. This expenditure has not been budgeted. The Commission recommends that the Advisory Board apply for funding to Active Living By Design or other grant funding opportunities to begin this initiative.

 

Manager’s Recommendation: That the issue of funding for training of potential instructors for recreation and park activities be considered during budget preparation for fiscal year 2005-06. This would include exploration of potential grant funding sources for such training.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

  1. Petition from the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (p. 4).
  2. Adopted Parks and Recreation User Fee Policies, effective July 1, 2004 (p. 10).
  3. Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation (p. 25).