HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-09-2015 B1 Codron, StanwyckCouncil •
June 9, 2015
TO: City Council
FROM. Michael Codron, Assistant City Manager
Shelly Stanwyck, Parks and Recreation Director
VIA: Katie Lichtig, City Manager.,, .v
SUBJECT: June 9, 2015 Agenda corres &ndchice, Item B- I
JUN 09 2015
COUNCIL MEETING: _q D.9 1,201S
ITEM NO.: I
— Ranger Staffing
A series of questions has arisen out of the information provided regarding ranger staffing in the SOPC for
the proposed Ranger staffing addition. Following public testimony on the Bishop Peak Natural Reserve
Conservation Plan 2015 Update, both the Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission
made recommendations to Council related to the proposed 2015 -17 Financial Plan to include additional
Ranger Service staff beyond that which has been proposed in the Preliminary Financial Plan. This
memorandum is intended to provide additional background and context for how and why staff developed
its recommendation to add one new full -time Ranger only at this time.
In preparing the Ranger Service SOPC for the 2015 -17 Financial Plan, staff noted that there does not
appear to be an industry standard for Ranger staffing levels. Given this, we looked to other cities with
relatively mature open space programs to compare Ranger staffing on a per acre basis. It is important to
note, however, that there are a wide variety of activities, duties, open space amenities, geography, and
terrain that makes fairly and accurately comparing our open space program to others a difficult task. To
provide additional context to the comparison table provided in the Ranger Service SOPC we have
included, below, three additional factors that drive staffing levels: total number of parks and open space
properties; total miles of trail; and, total population served. Each of the comparable cities have more
properties, more miles of trail, and a larger geography and population -base overall to patrol. We've also
noted how the comparison cities fund their open space programs.
cit'k
Public
Open
Space
Staffing Levels Number of
Parks and
Open Space
Miles
of Trail
Population
Funding
Source
Acreaoc
Properties
21 full -time
General Fund
Aurora,
7,000
9 Ranger Patrol 110
76
348,000
Operating &
Colorado
acres
12 Ranger Maintenance
C1P; Dedicated
& Operations
Sales Tax;
Lottery
11 rangers
Dedicated
Boulder,
6,555
9 maintenance workers
400
145
103,000
Sales Tax
Colorado
acres
3 education and outreach
17 rangers &
Dedicated
Bend,
2,500
maintenance workers
81
65
82,000
Bond Measure
Oregon
acres
26 seasonal staff
2 Full Time Rangers
General Fund
San Luis
4,000
(including 1 Supervisor)
47
52
46,000
Operating &
Obispo
acres
2 Limited Benefit Temp
CIP;
1 Ci!L Worker 5
Measure G
June 9, 2015 Agenda correspondence, Item B -1 — Ranger Staffing Page 2
The City increased its staffing in the Ranger Service Program by one full -time regular position in the
2013 -15 Financial Plan period. With the current Open Space Preservation Major City Goal, staff is
proposing one additional full -time Ranger position based on the goal of achieving 1 full -time equivalent
Ranger per 1,000 acres of open space. This represents a 50% increase in full -time (regular) park ranger
staffing.
Also important to note, the Ranger Service SOPC seeks to optimize existing staff resources available
throughout the City by focusing Rangers on open space and creek protection activities, while also
increasing coordination and response with the Police Department and Parking Division relative to City
parks and impacts experienced in neighborhoods that are proximate to open space trailheads. The
proposed staff optimization and re- deployment efforts are new to the City, and should be given time
within the first year of the 2015 -17 Financial Plan period to evaluate effectiveness in our overall open
space operations.
Lastly, Council should note that additional land acquisition activity anticipated in the next few years will
trigger the need to again fully evaluate staffing levels for Council consideration. The timing of the
acquisitions and the level of work needed to open these properties to public is unknown at this time.
However, as part of the recommendation to acquire new properties, staff will be sure to include a
recommendation regarding staffing, as well _
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