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Home My WebLink About7 - Park Patrol Program - Field.Park Ambassador Program(Item 7) September 3, 2002 RECREATION Et SENIOR SERVICES DEPARTMENT 0 To: Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission From: Recreation Activities Committee Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Re: Field /Park Ambassador Program RECOMMENDATION A. Direct Staff to proceed to finalize report, and forward to City Council for approval of funding request. or B. Direct staff to further investigate a seasonal ambassador for months of March through October. or C. Direct staff to table this project until FY 2003104 budget submission. BACKGROUND The Recreation Activities Committee met twice to discuss the proposal. Members of the Youth Sports groups were notified regarding both meetings and representatives from Newport Harbor Baseball, Pacific Coast Girls Fastpitch and AYSO Region 97 attended. • The Committee moved that the report with their recommendation be forward to the Commission for consideration. This project is intended to be completely self - funding by increasing reservation fees and assessing Youth Sports Groups. Attachments 1. Field /Park Ambassador Report - August 16, 2002 2. Field / Park Ambassador Report - July 22, 2002 L August 16, 2002 Recreation Activities Committee To: Recreation Activities Committee • Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission From: Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Re: Field /Park Ambassador Program Costs RECOMMENDATION Forward to Commission for consideration BACKGROUND The Recreation Division has a responsibility to provide field space, picnic areas and park space for youth groups, citizen groups and local companies. There are several challenges to a "reservation" system: 1. Fields are designated to youth sports groups during certain hours. There are organized groups who roam cities looking for empty fields to play baseball, soccer and /or rugby. Youth groups with priority often end up having to ask these players to leave the field. 2. During rainy periods fields are closed for play, however many groups continue to play thereby causing damage to the fields. 3. During maintenance periods, fields must be unused, however many groups and /or individuals ignore these warnings and play on fields damaging the work that has been done. 4. Park users often use bounce houses or party set -ups without permits, thus increasing the risk to the City. 5. Permit holders sometime abuse their reservation, claiming exclusive use of a park and chasing off others who want to use the park. • A Park Ambassador could monitor park uses as follows: 1. Checking for valid permits at picnic areas, community centers or parks as required and report to staff regarding compliance with permit conditions (in regards to return of deposit) 2. Tennis Courts — Illegal use of public tennis courts by persons illegally teaching tennis lessons Monitoring that tennis courts are being used only for tennis, not skating. 3. Alcohol consumption in parks 4. Public play on basketball on courts after sunset at 38`" Street. 5. Leash laws compliance 6. Trash pick -up after youth and adult sports games 7. Educating park users about the park rules 8.. Communicating with park users and identifying maintenance issues that have not been noticed by the park crews, such as checking signage for replacement, etc. 9. Prevent golf playing on athletic turf 10. Skateboarding on walls, benches or tables 11. Monitoring of Special Event Permits 12. Monitoring use of Community Centers 13. Parking problems or vehicles on fields Proposed for Newport Beach "Rangers or Ambassadors" will • Have a radio /phone and an alpha pager for communications. This number will be published and •put on the City voice mail. . Schedule will be • Mondays- Friday 4pm to 10 or 11pm • Saturday/ Sundays Sam to Dusk • In order to cover the approximately 55 hours per week, it is anticipated that at least three or four part time people must be hired. Field /Park Ambassador Program Costs Page 2 • The shift will begin City Hall where they pick up a vehicle and schedule of activities for the day . or evening. They will travel to all the parks as required, talk with users as necessary and notify staff of abuse or irregularities. • If a Municipal Code problem arises or someone not complying with conditions of a special event permit, they can write a DAC (Disturbance Advisement Card) for the code enforcement officer to issue a citation. • Call the Police for criminal activity. Proposed Salary and Costs 50 hours per week x 51 weeks per year = 2,550 hours Salary step suggestion: Comparable title I Step 1 1 Step 2 1 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Cost for hourly only $835 lyr Newport Harbor Baseball $960 /yr Pony Baseball $901 At the July Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission Meeting two of the Youth Sports Groups representatives expressed a desire to pay part of the costs associated with this position in order to get help in maintaining order in the field reservations. In order to recover the costs of such a program, youth sports groups would be asked to pay half the annual cost of the part -time staff (approximately $16,300) and facility reservations fees would be raised to cover the remaining salary plus benefits costs. It is proposed that facility reservation fees would be raised $18 for each rental. Since rentals are a minimum of two hours, that is an extra $9 per hour. •Salary calculations: Average hourly $12.11x50 /hr /wk x 51 weeks = $30,880.50 Benefits - 1,605.78 Total Cost $32,486.29 • Based on the attached chart which breaks down Youth Sports Groups percentage of overall field usage, the following costs could be passed along to the Youth Sports Groups as they are the heaviest users. Jr. All American Football - $304 /yr AYSO Region 57 $6,318 /yr AYSO Region 97 $835 lyr Newport Harbor Baseball $960 /yr Pony Baseball $901 /yr Pacific Coast GFP $2,800 /yr Newport Beach Little League $4,182 /yr Field Allocation by Season for Youth Snorts Groups Total Fields" 20 fields x 7 days =140 fields per week .some fields are shared by more than one group per day, total fields utilized may exceed M. - Peninsula Park is figured into the total equation of fields although it is not utilized by any of the oo-sponsored organizations. `}¢b^.1sn Um mY ' % ffiUr__ Em a'a =la.�. s E�°f" 1 �,:.. t ('3a"° '� e -x 12 ® �x:=f'»r� I '�i �°� n.: 1 �4' WE a� ��l t1x` .�;.a i.3.=.m2 ul�r:Y— a1iiS �� 11 •1 1 11'. 11'i® • 11 Total Fields" 20 fields x 7 days =140 fields per week .some fields are shared by more than one group per day, total fields utilized may exceed M. - Peninsula Park is figured into the total equation of fields although it is not utilized by any of the oo-sponsored organizations. (Item 3) July 22, 2002 COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT •Arts 8 Cultural - Library - Recreation - Seniors To: Recreation Activities Committee Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission From: Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Re: Field /Park Ambassador Program RECOMMENDATION Forward the following information to the City Attorney for production of new Council Policy. BACKGROUND The Recreation Division has a responsibility to provide field space, picnic areas and park space for youth groups, citizen groups and local companies. There are several challenges to a 'reservation" system: 1. Fields are designated to youth sports groups during certain hours. There are organized groups who roam cities looking for empty fields to play baseball, soccer and /or rugby. Youth groups with priority often end up having to ask these players to leave the field. 2. During rainy periods fields are closed for play, however many groups continue to play thereby causing damage to the fields. 3. During maintenance periods, fields must be unused, however many groups and /or individuals ignore these warnings and play on fields damaging the work that has been done. • 4. Park users often use bounce houses or party set -ups without permits, thus increasing the risk to the City. 5. Permit holders sometime abuse their reservation, claiming exclusive use of a park and chasing off others who want to use the park. A Park Ambassador could monitor park uses as follows: 1. Checking for valid permits at picnic areas, community centers or parks as required and report to staff regarding compliance with permit conditions (in regards to return of deposit) 2. . Tennis Courts — Illegal use of public tennis courts by persons illegally teaching tennis lessons Monitoring that tennis courts are being used only for tennis, not skating. 3. Alcohol consumption in parks 4. Public play on basketball on courts after sunset at 38`h Street. 5. Leash laws compliance 6. Trash pick -up after youth and adult sports games 7. Educating park users about the park rules B. Communicating with park users and identifying maintenance issues that have not been noticed by the park crews, such as checking signage for replacement, etc. 9. Prevent golf playing on athletic turf 10. Skateboarding on walls, benches or tables 11. Monitoring of Special Event Pemirts 12. Monitoring use of Community Centers 13. Parking problems or vehicles on fields •While most are not offenses that warrant police action, they do require a person of some authority to monitor use and abuse of public facilities. Costa Mesa has a very successful Field Ambassador program with four Ambassadors working evenings and weekends and holidays patrolling the parks. These Ambassadors have a published phone number for contact by groups who encounter problems. Salary range is $8.51- $13.85/hr; Monday through Friday 4pm - 9pm; and Saturday, Sunday and holidays, 8am - 8pm. The success of their program has increased the stress on Newport fields. Field /Park Ambassador Program Page 2 •In researching other Recreation Departments, there are generally two different ways, a Ranger or similar enforcement program is organized. Some are organized through the Park and Recreation Departments and others through the Police Department. Some successful "park rangers" are those who do not write citations, but patrol the parks for public relations and education about the park rules and regulations. These park rangers call police for any criminal behavior. (see attached) Proposed for Newport Beach "Rangers or Ambassadors" wilt Have a radio /phone and an alpha pager for communications. This number will be published and put on the City voice mail. Schedule will be c Mondays - Friday 4pm to 10 or 11 pm o Saturday/ Sundays 8amto Dusk • In order to cover the approximately 55 hours per week, it is anticipated that at least three or four part time people must be hired. • The shift will begin City Hall where they pick up a vehicle and schedule of activities for the day or evening. • They will travel to all the parks as required, talk with users as necessary and notify staff of abuse or irregularities. • • If a Municipal Code problem arises or someone not complying with conditions of a special event permit, they can write a DAC (Disturbance Advisement Card) for the code enforcement officer to issue a citation. Call the Police for criminal activity. Proposed Salary and Costs 55 hours per week x 52 weeks per year = 2,860 hours C�I�n� cYnn ainaactinnc• Comparable title Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Cost for hourly only Senior Recreation Leader 9.99 10.48 11.00 11.56 12.13 31,460 Police Community 14.38 15.09 15.85 16.63 17.47 45,331 Services Officer At last month's meeting the Youth Sports Groups represented expressed some desire to pay part of the costs associated with this position. Facility reservations revenue annually is approximately $58,000 for nearly 800 rentals. In order to recover the costs of such a program, youth sports groups would have to pay part of the costs ($18,328 divided among 8 groups) and facility reservations fees raised would cover the remaining direct salary plus benefits costs (benefits are estimated at more than $5,000). It is proposed that facility reservation fees would be raised $21 for each rental. Since rentals are a minimum of two hours, that is an extra $10 per hour. • Attachments: 1. Facility Packet with reservation costs. 2. Park Ranger Handbook for Muskegon 3. Policy Handbook for Costa Mesa 4. Park Ranger Job Description Tempe, AZ 5. Park Ranger Job Description, Santa Barbara, CA 6. Inquiry Responses from NRPA