Council to Consider Reorganization of Recreation and Human Service Department

In an effort to improve park services and efficiency, City staff is recommending the City Council on Monday vote to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending the city’s municipal code to change the name of the Human Services and Recreation Department to the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.

“Currently, maintenance of City parks is provided by the Parks and Natural Resources Division of the Public Works Department and recreation programming by the Recreation Division of the Human Services and Recreation Department,” a city staff report reads. “While this separation between services and maintenance has existed for quite some time, it causes confusion for customers and residents, often requiring contact with two separate departments to secure needed services and/or information.”

If the council approves the change staff will return with an ordinance within the next 60 days.

Local residents said they want to see a naturalist retained in the new department. According to John Fauvre, who lives near the Arroyo, city officials and City Council members have often called for increased attention to ecological balance, native flora and fauna enhancement, sustainability in the parks and, especially, in the Arroyo Seco.

“The City has no naturalist or ecologist on staff or in a regular consulting position,” Fauvre said. “Thus it would be sensible to retain one as the Parks Department is reorganized and restated. I suspect the cost of such expertise would be recovered by better informed long term focus.”

The proposed changes are also expected to benefit the Public Works Department by allowing the department to focus more closely on a growing number of capital projects, that came about after voters passed Measure I, a three-quarter cent sales tax increase, that put about $22 million in the city’s general fund.

Mayor Terry Tornek proposed that the bulk of the new funds be used for “urgent capital projects,” with a five-year spending plan.

The realignment would also relieve the director of the responsibility of dealing with park maintenance issues. The changes will not result in layoffs, according to City Manager Steve Mermell.

The realignment of department duties would include staffing the Recreation and Parks Commission as well as responsibility for the planning, operation and maintenance of all public areas used for park and recreation purposes, including public parks, library grounds and the Arroyo Seco area.