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Home My Public Portal About10-25-2011 Presentation Victory FieldMichael J. Driscoll Town Manager TOWN OF WATERTOWN Office of the Town Manager Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6465 Fax: 617-972-6404 www.watertown-ma.gov town mgraNvatertown-tna.gov To: Honorable Town Council From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Mana Date: October 20, 2011 RE: Agenda Item — Informational Presentation As a follow-up to a discussion with the Honorable Town Council President Mark S. Sideris, I respectfully request an Informational Presentation be placed on the October 25, 2011 Town Council Agenda. The Informational Presentation will be on the efforts to date of the Victory Field Fundraising Committee and will be given by Councillor Cecelia Lenk and Recreation Director Peter Centola. For background purposes, attached is a copy of the Press Release announcing the appointments to the Fundraising Committee and a related January 24, 2011 correspondence. Thank you for your consideration in the matter. cc: Victory Field Fundraising Committee w/o attachments Honorable School Committee w/o attachments Jean Fitzgerald, Interim Superintendent of Public Schools w/o attachments Peter Centola, Director of Recreation w/o attachments Michael Lahiff, Director of Athletics, Watertown Public Schools w/o attachments Phyllis L. Marshall, Town Treasurer/Collector w/o attachments Thomas J. Tracy, Town Auditor w/o attachments Michael J. Driscoll Town Manager TOWN OF WATERTOWN Office of tlic Town Manager Administration Building 149 Main Street \Valertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6465 Fax: 617-972-6404 www.waterlown-ma,go\' townmgr@watertown-ma.gov PRESS RELEASE August 26, 201 1 Victory Field Fundraising Committee Town Manager Michael J. Driscoll is pleased to announce the appointment of eight members to the Victory Field Fundraising Committee. The Honorable Town Council authorizes] the forming of the Committee for the purpose of undertaking fundraising activities. The Victory Field Fundraising Committee responsibilities will include but not limited to soliciting major contributions by identifying potential corporations who operate within the confines of the Town of Watertown, who is a significant vendor of the town, or who is a major national corporation with local ties. Multiple opportunities for revenue will be explored by the Committee as consideration of the most diverse menu of fundraising opportunities is the prudent approach. The goal of the Victory Field Fundraising Committee will be to raise $1.5 million toward the $3 million cost of Phase I of the Victory Field Improvements. The Town has already received two donations of $100,000 each from prominent corporate citizens who will be formally acknowledged next month. The eight members are as follows: Robert J. Airasian, 98 Webster Street; Recreation Director Peter Centola, 25 Thurston Road; Lauren I Iegarty= Tattrie, 21 Theurer Park; Joanna Johnson, 120 Riverside Street; -Town Councillor Cecilia Lenk, 81 Boyd Street; Bethany Rogers, 23 Heather Road; Michael Venezia, 85 Robbins Road; and Sara York, 223 Mount Auburn Street. The first meeting of the Victory Field Fundraising Committee will be held 011 Thursday, September 8, 2011, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Town Council Office, Watertown Administration Building, 149 Main Street. Michael]. Driscoll Town Manager TOWN OF WATERTOWN Office of the Town Manager - Administration Building 149 Main Street - 'Watertown, MA02472 Phone: 617.972.6465 Fax: 617-972-6404 www.watertown•ma.gov townm g r@watertown-ina.gQM To: Committee on Budget and Fiscal Oye sight Committee on Human Services From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager Date: January 24, 2011 Subject: Victory Field Fundraising Plan As you are aware, on January 3, 2011 the Committees of Budget and Fiscal Oversight and Human Services voted unanitnously to recommend to the full Council to proceed with the Victory Field Renovation Project as presented by CDM, with the financing plan and project construction timeline in Calendar Year 2011 presented by the Town Manager, subject to a presentation of the formal fundraising .plan to the full Council. The Joint Committees further agreed to a. follow-up meeting to be scheduled prior to the January 25th Town Council meeting to review the fundraising plan. Peter Centola, Director of Recreation and the Victory Field Renovation Committee have researched and had many discussions regarding thedevelopmentof a. formal and comprehensive fundraising plan. Their recommendations include multiple opportunities for revenue beginning immediately and continuing over a period of ten years with the majority of the fundraising monies being expended over the next couple of years. All of their recommendations are incorporated within this correspondence for your information and review. VICTORY FIELD FUNDRAISING PLAN As indicated at the January 3rd joint meeting, I respectfully outlined a proposal to fund the Victory Field Renovation Project (Phase I) of $3.14. million through a combination of three sources; donations and grants, sports groups' user fees and tax dollars. The fundraising plan will focus on Phase I of the Victory. Field Improvements but will not be limited to pursuing opportunities for funding of Phases II and III as outlined in the Fiscal Year 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Program and listed below. Phase I:. Victory Field Renovation Project, tentatively slated for Calendar Year 2011 • Phase II: Victory Field House Expansion, tentatively slated for Fiscal Year 2012 , Phase III: Victory Track and Field Hockey Renovation, tentatively slated for Fiscal Year 2014 None of these capital projects have been formally approved by the Honorable Town Council. - A Victory Field Fundraising Committee will be formed for the purpose of undertaking' fundraising activities. The Committee will include 9 members consisting of the Director of Recreation and eight residents appointed by the Town Manager. The Cotnmittee's responsibilities will include but not limited to soliciting major contributions by identifying potential corporations who operate within the confines of the Town of Watertown, who is a significant vendor of the town, or who is a major national corporation with local ties. A website, similar to the one that the Gloucester Fishermen Athletic Association (GFAA) has developed at http://ww-w,newellstadiutmenewat,cotn would be recommended in addition to a possible Facebook and/or Twitter account being established. As previously mentioned, Mr. Centola's research and discussions identified multiple opportunities for revenue. Although all of the opportunities may not be pursued and/or realized, consideration of the most diverse menu of fundraising opportunities is the prudent approach. The goal of the Victory Field Fundraising Committee will be to raise $1.5 million toward the cost of Phase I of the Victory Field Improvements. The following are various fundraising opportunities that should be explored and considered for implementation by the Victory Field Fundraising Committee. Private Donations: Objectives would include creating an action plan, creating documents related to the fundraising effort, identifying potential donors in the community that could- and would be willing to make a major financial contribution to the project and formally reaching out to those potential organizations to solicit the funds. • One of the revenue objectives would be to secure a major contribution of $1,000,000 Naming Rights: One company with a commitment of $1,000,000 Contribution of 200,000 each year, paid over a five year period Naming rights for 10 years Other major companies would be solicited to achieve the objective of another 2 million dollars in revenue. A possible scenario is identified below as potential target numbers, 10 for 100: 20 for 50; 10 companies at 100,000 per company Contribution of $20,000 per company each year, paid over 5 years. Potential annual revenue: $200,000 . Potential total revenue: $1,000,000 20 companies at $50,000 per company Contribution of $10,000 per company each year, paid over 5 years. Potential annual revenue: $200,000 Potential total revenue:. $1,000,000 2 Each of these major contributors would be recognized by a plaque acknowledging their generous gift in a designated area. Donor Wall of Fame: A "Donor Wall of Fame" would be erected in an area in the Victory Field Complex. Any interested constituents, including residents, alumni, hall of fame teams and inductees, small business and others could donate. Target number: 50 donors at $1000.00 per plaque Contribution of $200.00 per donor each year, paid over 5 years. Profit estimate: $734.00 per plaque, cost per plaque $266.00 Potential annual revenue: $7,340 Total estimated revenue is $36,700 Engraved Blocks: Engraved blocks will be used as a revenue source, as they were in the renovation of the Watertown Free Public Library. The bricks will be laid in the main entry way patio of Victory Field. The Director of Recreation would like to coordinate and oversee this part of the fundraising effort. Target Number: 200 (4"X 8") blocks sold Up to 3 lines (4"X 8") $200.00, profit estimate: $160.00 Cost of block and installation is approximately $40.00 Target Number: 100 (8"X 8") blocks sold Up to 5 Lines (8"X 8") $400.00 profit estimate: $340.00 Cost of block and installation is approximately $60.00 Total estimated revenue is $66,000 Miscellaneous: Revenue could also be raised by hosting an annual gala combined with 'a $10,000 raffle, profit could reach $15,000 Small Donations: Small donations of any level will be accepted, target revenue is $5,000.00 Harvard --O'Neil Grant: A Harvard — O'Neil Grant could be requested. These monies are available for community wide projects and the Renovation Committee recommends pursuing this grant for three years, generating $150,000 in revenue. 3 Grants: A number of grants are available to pursue. The Renovation Committee recommends filing a formal application for a Massachusetts Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Conununities (PARC) Program grant. The PARC Program assists cities and towns in acquiring and developing land for park and outdoor recreation purposes. • Only projects that are to be developed for suitable outdoor recreational purposes, whether active or passive in nature, shall be considered for funding. Grants are available for the acquisition of land and the construction, or renovation of park and outdoor recreational facilities, such as swimming pools, athletic play fields, playgrounds and game courts, Access by the general public is required. This year's application is not yet available. The contact person for this opportunity is Melissa Cryan. She can be reached at 617-626-1171.and her email address is melissa.cryan@state.ma.us. Partnerships: Long term .partnerships with local small colleges, and other large organizations should be encouraged and pursued. There are entities in close proximity to Watertown that are interested in _ discussing the opportunity. However, the Renovation Committee feels that a partnership to support Phase I of the Victory Field Improvements is not viable as the partner would need more time on the field during the academic year that is available. This does not prohibit a creative agreement being discussed that would include a 10, 15 or 20 year commitment for the development and use of the Victory Track and Field Hockey Field (Phase III) or other similar Recreational Facilities. Recreational Facilities Fee: As indicated at the January 3`d joint meeting and again earlier in this correspondence, one of the three proposed sources of funding for Phase I of the'Victory Field Improvements is sports groups' user fees. Users of the Town's recreational facilities will benefit most from improvements to Victory Field and other Town recreation facilities. In an effort to bear some of the cost of Phase I of the Victory Field Improvements and future enhancements/improvements to the Town's recreational facilities, a Recreational Facilities Fee of $25.00 will be assessed to each participant for each youth sport played. The length of this fee will be 10 years. The monies collected from the Recreational Facilities Fee would be deposited in a revolving fund and used solely toward"the funding of recreational improvements at Victory Field and other recreational facilities throughout the Town. 4 • The projected Recreational Facilities Fee monies from each youth sports group is listed below, Babe Ruth Baseball: 60 Participants, $1,500.00 per year W/B Pop Warner: 125 Participants, $3,125.00 per year Youth Baseball: 450 Participants, $11,250 per year Youth Lacrosse: 200 Participants, $5,000.00 per year Youth Soccer (Fall): 360 Participants, $9,000.00 pei year Youth Soccer (Spring): 450 Participants, $11,250 per year Youth Sport Athletes: 1645 for academic year 10 -11. - Revenue per year: $41,125 Total potential revenue (Ten Year Plan): $411,250 CLOSING In summary, the diverse menu of fundraising opportunities. outlined in this correspondence is attached for your review. Thank you for your favorable consideration of the Victory Field Fundraising Plan. Peter-Centola, Recreation Director Michael Lahiff, Athletics Coordinator, Watertown Public Schools Gerald S. Mee, Jr., Superintendent of Public Works Thomas 3. Tracy, Town Auditor Raeleen Parsons, Purchasing Agent Steven Magoon, Director of Community Development & Planning Phyllis L. Marshall, Town Treasurer/Collector 5 REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES SUMMARY Private Donations Naming Rights: 10 for 100: 20for50: Donor Wall of Fame: Engraved Blocks Gala / $10,000 raffle Donations: Grants: 1-Iarvard — O'Neil Grant: PARC Grant $ 200,000 annually - $ 200,000 annually - $ 200,000 annually - $ 7,340 annually — $ 66,000 $ 15,000 $ 5,000 1,000,000 (five year payment plan) 1,000,000 (five year payment plan) 1,000,000 (five year payment plan) 36,700 (five year payment plan) . $ 50,000 annually - $150,000 (based on three year plan) $ 500,000 maximum award Partnerships: Preliminary discussions are ongoing with potential partners. Recreational Facilities Fee Youth Sports: $ 41,125 annually - $411,250 (based on ten year plan) 6