Report - McFarland Recreation and Park District

Comments 13

• CO1
  The Pledge of Allegiance and/or a moment of silence, at the start of a meeting, is at the discretion of the organizers. MRPD has chosen not to implement either. However, this formality does signal the beginning of an official meeting, sets a business tone, and can foster a sense of tradition and community solidarity.
• CO2
  Bond Measure S may have had a better chance of passage with the support and collaboration of the MRPD, the City of McFarland, and other regional entities that would have mutually benefitted from the pool and aquatic facility. COMMENTS: The Grand Jury extends its appreciation to the MRPD’s executive management staff and Board of Directors for their cooperation and professionalism. All their public facilities offer the community opportunities to participate in athletic, as well as leisure time activities for family and friends gatherings, or a simple walk in the park. The Grand Jury also acknowledges MRPD is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The management and office staff are continuing to update its website, complete backlogged Board Meeting Minutes, and financial and audit reports. The current management staff seems eager to fulfill its obligation to manage MRPD responsibly with transparency. The Grand Jury completed this investigation with a better understanding of the complexities and financial demands of operating on a shoestring budget while providing a beneficial and essential community service.
• CO3
  MRPD recently received a $211,712 award from the State of California to help MRPD continue its recovery from the lingering effects of the pandemic. The amount of the award was attributed to excellent maintenance of records pertaining to the cost of COVID-19. This award will also assist MRPD to reach pre-COVID-19 levels of recreational activities offered to the community.
• CO4
  The McFarland Recreation and Park District should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review.
• CO5
  Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: https://www.kerncounty.com/government/other-agencies/grand-jury
• CO6
  Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website https://www.kerncounty.com/government/other- agencies/grand-jury RESPONSE DEADLINE:
• CO7
  REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM: McFarland Recreation and Park District
• CO8
  Findings #2 through #12
• CO9
  Recommendations #1 through #6
• CO10
  REQUIRED WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM: McFarland City Council
• CO11
  Recommendations #1, #5 and #6 2024-2025 Kern County Grand Jury Report 8 RESPONSES ARE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PENAL CODE §§933(c) AND 933.05:
• CO12
  PRESIDING JUDGE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF KERN 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301
• CO13
  FOREPERSON KERN COUNTY GRAND JURY 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Cal. Penal Code §929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. 2024-2025 Kern County Grand Jury Report 9 McFarland Recreation and Park District Response to Grand Jury Findings and Recommendations January 9, 2025 F7. The Pledge of Allegiance and/or a moment of silence, at the start of a meeting, is at the discretion of the organizers. MRPD has chosen not to implement either. However, this formality does signal the beginning of an official meeting, sets a business tone, and can foster a sense of tradition and community solidarity. The Pledge of Allegiance was included at the November 20, 2024, meeting and will be included in subsequent meetings. F8. The Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2022, McFarland Recreation and Park District Financial Statements indicated no errors or areas of concern. However, MRPD had not reconciled its bank accounts in a timely fashion indicating a lack of internal controls created by staffing shortages. A good faith effort is underway to rectify this discrepancy, which will improve its transparency and the public’s trust. This is a challenge facing all small special districts. Our administration is addressing this although it is difficult with a small workforce. Due to decreased property taxes, the District currently has an open position in our maintenance department and only has three office staff, including the District Manager. The opening causes the District Manager who is now directly supervising all maintenance activities. We are proud that our past eight audits have been clean. F9. MRPD recently received a $211,712 award from the State of California to help MRPD continue its recovery from the lingering effects of the pandemic. The amount of the award was attributed to excellent maintenance of records pertaining to the cost of COVID-19. This award will also assist MRPD to reach pre-COVID-19 levels of recreational activities offered to the community. This was awarded in 2022 and has no impact on our current budget. It repaid the District for keeping staff employed and for providing the limited activities that were provided during the COVID-19 crisis. F11. The MRPD submitted Bond Measure S on the November 5, 2024, ballot. The Bond Measure required 66.67% voter approval. However, the measure failed to reach this threshold with only 60.31% of the vote. Consequently, MRPD does not have the funding to construct a pool/aquatic facility, and the community will have to continue to endure without this vital amenity. The District views this as vital but the voters denied the request. Readying and running the campaign cost the District thousands of dollars. It does not have funds to do this again since property tax revenue was down over 9% in 2024 (mainly due to the decrease in oil valuations). Furthermore, ERAF funds taken from districts and other local government for schools has hurt MRPD. ERAF is a complicated issue that is currently being researched by local government entities and state legislators. F12. Bond Measure S may have had a better chance of passage with the support and collaboration of the MRPD, the City of McFarland, and other regional entities that would have mutually benefitted from the pool and aquatic facility. For the most part, MRPD had widespread support for the bond measure. If the District were a school, it would have passed soundly as the threshold would have been 55%. Prop 5, on the statewide ballot, would have remedied this with all local government entities being treated the same as schools. Prop 5 was defeated handily. R1. MRPD continues to pursue construction of a pool/aquatic facility applying for grants, community renewal government resources, mutually interested regional partners, and consider resubmitting a Bond Measure to its voters. This should be completed no later than June 30, 2025. (Findings #11 and #12) MRPD has pursued funding through our insurance carrier, the State of California and the Federal government via appropriations (as well as major corporations and private foundations). None were successful. We applied for Proposition 68 and was not awarded funds (the State took five points off our score due to the current pool being grant funded in the 1980s). No grants were awarded with scores of 90% and lower. MRPD continues to seek State funding but with the current climate it is not likely making McFarland residents suffer through more summers without an aquatics facility. R2. The posting date should be added to the Agenda to eliminate questions about timely posting. This should be initiated by March 31, 2025. (Finding #6) The posting date was on the December 18, 2024 board meeting agenda and will be included in subsequent postings. R3. Board Meetings should start with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. Starting meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance is a reminder of the Board’s shared commitment to the values and principles of the District and the Country. This should be initiated by May 1, 2025. (Finding #7) The Pledge of Allegiance was included at the November 20, 2024, meeting and will be included in subsequent meetings. R4. Bank statements be reconciled within 30 days of issuance. This will help eliminate deficiencies in internal controls and allow the District to identify potential issues before they explode into problems. This should be initiated by May 1, 2025. (Finding #8) District Manager is meeting with the Administrative Supervisor regularly to ensure that they are completed in a timely manner. See F8 for more information. R5. Develop a plan to increase utilization of the Recreation Center that will benefit McFarland residents by June 30, 2025. (Findings #4 and #5) Finding 4 and 5 state MRPD is utilizing the facility well. It is utilized for McFarland High School basketball and wrestling practices, our own indoor sports (basketball, volleyball, wrestling), the McFarland Basketball Adult League that brings in players from across Kern County, McFarland Madness (a nonprofit school level program), club volleyball teams, and a variety of private rentals. MRPD staff was trained by the United States Tennis Association and was given equipment to start a beginner tennis classes. The recreation center/gymnasium is also a hub for the community during crisis. FEMA used the facility for one-month after McFarland’s last flood. Our facilities are also used for health clinics by the County of Kern and various community meetings. R6. Develop educational programs and research available grants and scholarships that will allow cost-effective and expanded access to the Recreation Center by June 30, 2025. (Findings #4 and #5) MRPD is researching grants. The State is not currently offering any grant support. Most grant funding for recreation and park districts is focused on providing new facilities or greenspace. The District is currently trying to obtain a grant along with the Arts Council of Kern to bring art activities and/or an arts event to the North County. The District instituted a sports sponsorship program to keep participation rates costs as low as possible. The State will offer new grants due to the passage of the Prop 4 in the November 2024 election. It is not known when the application window will open. Once it is open, MRPD is well-positioned to have a successful application.

No Responses Found 2

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