LTC 257-2003
...
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No. ~~t - Q..{).<J3
m
Subject:
Mayor David Dermer and
Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez \~c. /
City Manager 0 - 0
RECREATION FEE INCREASE
Date: October 30, 2003
To:
From:
Attached please find a letter recently received by the Mayor and City Commission
regarding increases in the cost of recreation programming.
The letter specifically referenced the City's After Care Program. The After Care Program
was very carefully analyzed as a specific offering during the recreation fee discussion. As
indicated in the attached letter, the conclusions were that even at the increased cost that
was approved by Commission and incorporated into the 2004 Fiscal Year Budget; the
Program was well below the market for similar programs being offered in the region. The
After School Program continues to offer a high quality experience for participants at a very
reasonable fee.
Also as indicated, we have advised the letter writer that she may avail herself of
scholarship or fee reduction opportunities on an income eligible basis.
JM ~.m
F:~~~\RecreatiOnfeeltc.doC
Attachment
c: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Kevin Smith, Director of Parks & Recreation
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Manager
Jorge M. Gonzalez
Telephone 305 673-7010
Facsimile 305 673-7782
October 30,2003
Ms. Monica Plaza
1688 West Avenue, Apt. 903
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Dear Ms. Plaza:
Thank you for your recent letter regarding the increase in the recreation fees.
The increase has already been approved by the City Commission and incorporated into the
recently adopted 2004 fiscal year City Budget. The decision of the Mayor and City
Commission to raise recreation fees was not one that was made lightly and only came in
conjunction with a package of other fees that affected other service users and the business
community. Overall the increase in user fees, which includes the recreation fees, was an
integral and significant part of the budget adopted and key to helping the Mayor and City
Commission balance the City's budget and offering of services to the community without an
increase in property taxes.
The process that lead to the recommendation and ultimate enactment of the fee increase
was very thorough. The City's Administrative staff has been working with the independent
auditing firm, KPMG, to do an assessment of the City's actual costs of providing services
especially in our Recreation Division. Upon the conclusion of this cost allocation analysis,
the Administrative staff went a step further and compared the service offerings and the
fees charged by the City of Miami Beach to other communities within the region. What
both levels of the analysis determined is that the City's fee structure for all recreational
offerings was seriously under priced in relation to the market for the level of service that
was offered. It is also important to note that recreation fees had not been increased for
approximately a ten year period of time.
One of the key components that the Mayor and City Commission insisted upon maintaining
in our recreation fee structure is a policy that allows on an income illegible basis individuals
to receive reductions or complete elimination of programmatic fee charges. The Mayor and
City Commission were extremely concerned that individuals in our community not be priced
out of our service offerings while still attempting to reach a balanced fiscal year budget.
If you would like more detailed information about the fee reduction/scholarship
opportunities available to residents, you may contact the Parks and Recreation Division
directly and they will be pleased to provide you the scholarship details and to take your
application if you wish to pursue one.
. "'
The analysis that was undertaken by the City went beyond simply dollars and cents and did
also encompass services offered. In virtually all of our recreation offerings and particularly
in the after school program which you referenced in your letter, it was clear that the City
was offering a high quality service that even for the increased price represented a
substantial bargain to the residents to the City of Miami Beach in comparison to fees
charged in other parts of this region.
Thank you again for your letter expressing your concern. We sincerely hope that you
continue to avail yourself of the City's recreation services.
Sincerely,
\
,,_Jl.......... L
..1 v' "y"
, .':)
~~< ----...
'- ~:;
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Man er
C: Robert C. Middaugh, Assistant City Manager
Kevin Smith, Director of Parks and Recreation