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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 03-19-2002 - 8f r 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 19, 2002 Action Agenda Item No. SUBJECT: Establish Recreation and Parks Management Director Position DEPARTMENT: Manager's Office/Personnel PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: John Link, County Manager, Major Functions — Extension 2300 Recreation and Parks Management Elaine Holmes, Personnel Director, Director Extension 2550 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 968-4501 Durham 688-7331 Mebane 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To support the organizational structure and resource needs to implement the County's plan for parks, to consider approving a: • Staff realignment in the Recreation and Parks Department, • New position to head recreation and parks management for the County, and • Classification Plan amendment to add the class title of Recreation and Parks Management Director at Salary Grade 75. BACKGROUND: As noted in the "New Era for Parks" report compiled by the Environment and Resource Conservation and Recreation and Parks staff, the County over the past five years has significantly broadened the scope and extent of parks planning as well as seen a similar expansion of planning in other area local governments. Through these efforts, the County is entering a new era of park facilities. Current and proposed County park facilities and their status are listed below: A± �ureciir Open% ;3 It+ nt� 1paing C3 ' . . Mapleview Field Leased No Fall 2002 McGowan Creek Preserve Yes No Trail only— Fall 2002 Little River Regional Park Yes No Spring 2003 Efland Cheeks Park Leased Phase I open Phase 11 — Fall 2004 2 Park/Pacihty. ... Acquired .. .4pen Potential Openin g Qats* Cedar Grove Park Yes 1 field in use Fall 2004 Seven-Mile Creek Preserve Yes (part) No Trail/primitive campsite— Fall 2004 Fairview Park Yes Phase I open Spring 2005 (playground and 1 field) Chapel Hill Township Yes No Phase I —Spring 2005 Park/Educational Campus *Based on draft CIP schedule as of March 18, 2002. As the Board deems appropriate, there also may be other park facilities in the coming years. The County has considered how to best position itself to construct and manage the new parks as well as existing recreation and parks programs. As noted in the New Era for Parks report, the County has not developed parks operation and maintenance expertise or added staff resources to address parks. For example, the Recreation and Parks Department has no staff for parks with the exception of summer temporary personnel who do athletic field preparation work. To put in place the necessary organization and resource support for parks construction, management, operation and maintenance, it is proposed that: • Current Recreation and Parks Director Bob Jones assume the role of Parks Services Director, incorporating the duties outlined in the New Era for Parks report, including supervision of any additional positions for parks maintenance subsequently approved by the Board of Commissioners as well as other facilities management and supervisory duties. Two additional parks maintenance positions are being proposed as part of the 2002-03 budget. • A new position of Recreation and Parks Management Director at Salary Grade 75 be established to head the Recreation and Parks Department, including assuming overall parks management responsibility. The salary range for Salary Grade 75 is $45,397 to $72,182. Attached is a list of major responsibilities of the proposed new position. In summary: ✓ Once a park concept plan is developed by the Environment and Resource Conservation Department and approved, the Recreations and Parks Management Director would direct park construction and development, and, ✓ Once a park is constructed, the Recreation and Parks Management Director would oversee the park programming, operation and maintenance. With approval of the new position, the County will initiate the recruitment and selection process for the Recreation and Parks Management Director. As indicated above, the County's Environment and Resource Conservation Department would maintain its current role in park/open space site selection, land acquisition, park concept planning, and stewardship of natural portions of parks, as well as addressing any 3 environmentally related issues in park planning and management while the actual park construction and operation would be the responsibility of the Recreation and Parks Management Director. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The estimated annual cost of the proposed position is about $70,000 (salary and benefits). Given the time required to recruit and fill the position, the probable starting date would be July 2002 and there would be no salary/benefit cost incurred for the position in the current fiscal year. Without regard to how the County organizes to address parks, the cost for an additional position is one the County will incur in any case to meet the parks needs. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board: A. Approve the following actions effective April 1, 2002. • Staff realignment in Recreation and Parks, • New permanent full time position of Recreation and Parks Management Director at Salary Grade 75 and • Amendment to the Classification and Pay Plan to add the class title of Recreation and Parks Management Director at Salary Grade 75. B. Affirm that the County's Environment and Resource Conservation Department will retain its current role in park/open space site selection, land acquisition, park concept planning and stewardship of natural portions of parks as well as addressing any environmentally related issues in park planning and management. ' 4 Attachment Recreation and Parks Management Director General: Plans, organizes and directs a comprehensive recreation and parks management program for Orange County. Leads, directs and manages the construction, development and operation of new parks and park facilities. Major Functions: 1. Plans, organizes, directs and promotes recreation, athletic and parks programs. 2. Participates and serves on teams involved in the Environment and Resource Conservation Department's parks planning and park concept design process. Provides expertise and feedback from the park construction, operation and maintenance perspective. 3. Once a park concept plan is developed by the Environment and Resource Conservation Department and approved, directs and oversees park construction. In this, pursues value engineering as feasible to support effective and efficient park construction while still fulfilling the vision for the park - such as in purchasing materials for park construction or equipment. 4. Assesses recreation, athletic, and park program needs and opportunities and develops long and short-range plans and objectives to meets the needs. In this, confers with community groups and coordinates with area municipalities 5. Develops guidelines and operational policies for recreation and parks programs and operation. 6. Supervises Recreation and Parks Department staff, including hiring, training, and performance review. 7. Reviews the needs, analyzes, and develops proposed operational and capital project budget. Manages the approved budget. 8. Oversees the development and implementation of public communication programs about recreation and parks programs. 9. Oversees the safety of County park, athletic and recreational facilities. 10.Represents the department before local government bodies and various community organizations. 11.Serves as liaison and coordinates with the County's Environment and Resource Conservation Department on any environmentally related issues or needs in park planning and management such as nature trail maintenance, water quality protection or the like. 12.Serves as staff support and liaison to the County's Recreation and Parks Advisory Council.