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DATE: |
October 23, 2024 |
05 |
SUBJECT
Title
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT OF GIFTS AND DONATIONS AND RATIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND DONATIONS EXCEEDING $5,000 TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County) Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) enhances quality of life in the San Diego region by providing exceptional parks and recreation experiences and preserving significant natural resources so that people can enjoy clean air, clean water, rich biodiversity, and access to open space. DPR’s ability to provide exceptional customer service to millions of patrons each year is supported by donations from the San Diego County Parks Society (Parks Society) and other organizations. Board of Supervisors (Board) Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations permits the acceptance of donations by the administrative head of each department of the County. County Administrative Code Section 66, Acceptance of Gifts requires Board ratification of the acceptance of such gifts and approval prior to the expenditure of the gift if the amount exceeds $5,000.
During the period of January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, DPR received donations from the Parks Society totaling $54,490.24. These donations provided the materials and funding for multiple public holiday events, active recreational activities and equipment, educational programs, and animal care at parks throughout the county. The Parks Society is a non-profit organization established in 1980 to support and improve DPR’s vast park system. The Parks Society’s support helps to maintain and operate County parks and assists with ongoing and expanded programming. In addition to the donations from the Parks Society, DPR received a donation from the East County Equestrian Foundation (ECEF), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating the first equestrian park in Lakeside. The donation of a John Deere tractor with several attachments, with a total value of $44,907.00, was received on February 28, 2024, to be used for the maintenance and operation of the Dianne Jacob Lakeside Equestrian Park. This tractor supports the operation and maintenance of the center’s two rodeo arenas and allows operating staff to drag and manicure the arenas.
Today’s proposed actions are to accept DPR’s Report of Gifts and Donations for the period of January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, to ratify the acceptance of those gifts and donations by DPR totaling $99,397.24, and to authorize the Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter of appreciation to the donors whose donations exceed $5,000.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find that the proposed actions are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(3) and 15378(b)(5).
2. In accordance with County of San Diego (County) Administrative Code Section 66, Acceptance of Gifts and Board of Supervisors (Board) Policy A-112, Acceptance and Use of Gifts and Donations, accept the County Department of Parks and Recreation Report of Gifts and Donations from the San Diego County Parks Society and the East County Equestrian Foundation for the period of January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, totaling $99,397.24.
3. In accordance with Administrative Code 66 and Board Policy A-112, ratify the acceptance of gifts from the San Diego County Parks Society and the East County Equestrian Foundation for the period of January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, that exceed $5,000.
4. Authorize the Chairwoman of the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter of appreciation on behalf of the County of San Diego to the San Diego County Parks Society and the East County Equestrian Foundation (Attachment B).
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The acceptance of donations from the San Diego County Parks Society and the East County Equestrian Foundation assists the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) in continuing and expanding special events, community celebrations, and activities in nature for the benefit of all residents and visitors. Donations allow DPR to provide additional supplies and services for youth, families, and communities that encourage sharing experiences, cultural traditions, and resources to strengthen a sense of belonging. Donations in this period included bus transportation as part of the Discovery Program. The Discovery Program immerses students and teachers from urban areas in nature-related activities designed to educate them about scientific phenomena and the history of the local environment, including a classroom visit by a County Park Ranger and a follow-up field trip to the Park Ranger’s facility.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Acceptance of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s (DPR) Report of Gifts and Donations supports several of the County of San Diego’s (County) Sustainability Goals, including Sustainability Goal No. 4, protecting health and well-being, by expanding opportunities for community members to access outdoor recreation and nature through special events, programs, and activities that are supported through donations DPR receives. In addition, donations to DPR support County Sustainability Goal No. 6, providing opportunities for all residents to access and enjoy the outdoors, by protecting and expanding open space and park/recreation access through aligning available services with resources to maintain fiscal stability and ensure long-term solvency.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s recommendations. The Department of Parks and Recreation received donations from the San Diego County Parks Society totaling $54,490.24 and a donation from the East County Equestrian Foundation totaling $44,907.00 from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024. The total donations from both organizations combined is $99,397.24. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The County of San Diego (County) Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) provides numerous educational, social, and physically active programs and celebratory holiday events annually throughout its parks system. Established in 1980, the San Diego County Parks Society (Parks Society) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support San Diego County Parks and Recreation goals, activities, and programs, and to preserve and enhance cultural, community, and natural resources through charitable contributions. The Parks Society offers these donations to assist in offsetting the costs of public events and programs that support the County’s effort to provide exceptional customer service.
Donations received from the Parks Society support DPR’s mission to enhance quality of life in the region by providing exceptional parks and recreation experiences and preserving significant natural resources. Donations are accepted for parks and programs that take place in the DPR parks system throughout the region. These programs and events introduce new opportunities for many people who have never participated in a hike, campout, or had the opportunity to visit parks outside of their neighborhood. Through donations from the Parks Society, DPR can provide these opportunities at little to no cost to the end user. This includes the First Time Camping Program in which families can camp for the first time in a County Park with camping equipment loaned at no cost and with Park Ranger staff support. Donations also allowed youth to receive holiday gifts through the Lakeside and Spring Valley Teen Center’s Ring N Runs and transported youth from the Spring Valley and Fallbrook communities to various field trip locations throughout the county. Donations also supported community events throughout the county including Summer Movies in the Park and various spring-themed Eggstravaganzas. A complete list of programs receiving donations, donation types, and parks supported by the Parks Society is listed in Attachment A.
East County Equestrian Foundation (ECEF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of equestrian and agricultural activities in East County San Diego. ECEF was founded in 2014 with the realized vision of facilitating the development of a premier equestrian event facility in Lakeside, California. The purpose of their donation is for the operation and maintenance of the Dianne Jacob Lakeside Equestrian Park (DJLEP). The tractor will support various activities including dragging of the open and covered arenas, general maintenance, and other ranch work. The DJLEP hosts equestrian and livestock-related activities including practices, training, and contests in addition to rodeos, arena shows, and non-equestrian occasions like festivals, receptions, and farmers markets. Accepting the donation from ECEF would allow DPR and the operator of the DJLEP to safely and efficiently maintain the amenities of the facility that allow for equestrian recreation activities and community gatherings in the community of Lakeside.
Donations received during this reporting period of January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, provided opportunities to improve residents’ mental and physical health and helped educate residents on the region’s native animals and the environment we share with them. Donations were used to improve special events and facilities so communities could come together to celebrate the holidays and their local community. For example, donations provided holiday gifts to youth in Lakeside and Spring Valley during the Ring N Run events held at the Spring Valley and Lakeside Teen Centers.
In accordance with County Administrative Code Section 66, Acceptance of Gifts, DPR is reporting donations for the period of January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024, as shown in Attachment A. The total of all donations received is $99,397.24 ($54,490.24 from the San Diego County Parks Society and $44,907.00 from the East County Equestrian Foundation).
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The proposed actions are not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15060(c)(3) 15378(b)(5). The actions to accept the Report of Gifts and Donations from the San Diego County Parks Society and the East County Equestrian Foundation are covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA only applies to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. It can be seen with certainty that today’s actions will not result in a significant effect on the environment because they are administrative in nature. Also, today’s actions are not projects as defined by Section 15378(b)(5) of the State CEQA Guidelines because the actions are administrative in nature and will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to accept the donations shown in Attachment A supports the Sustainability and Community Strategic Initiatives in the County of San Diego’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by protecting and promoting our natural and agricultural resources, diverse habitats, and sensitive species and providing programs and services that enhance the community through increasing the well-being of our residents and our environments.
Respectfully submitted,
DAHVIA LYNCH
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - Department of Parks and Recreation Report of Gifts and Donations
Attachment B - Letters of Appreciation