NEW BUSINESS  5.

COMMITTEE MEMORANDUM

HISTORY:

At the December 13, 2017 City Commission meeting, a discussion regarding Collins Park and other park security concerns and the Park Ranger program was referred to the Finance and Citywide Projects (FCWP) Committee. On December 15, 2017, the item was deferred to the January 2018 FCWP Committee meeting.

Recently, various members of the community have expressed concern over the lack of security and enforcement at some of the City’s parks. The concerns have been focused on Collins Park, Soundscape Park, the South Pointe Park Pier and the Barry Kutun Boat Ramp in Maurice Gibb Memorial Park. The Administration has reviewed these concerns and subsequently explored viable and effective options to address the needs at each site.

ANALYSIS:

As part of the FY 2017/18 budget process, efficiencies and reductions were made, which included the reduction of contracted security guard coverage. As a result, contracted security guards were removed from Soundscape Park and the pier located within South Pointe Park. Since the reduction took place, the Administration has received concerns from the community as to a lack of security presence within these sites. To date, there has been an increase in the number of violations witnessed at these parks. With the rise in vagrant populations frequenting Collins Park, concerns have also been raised at the need for security coverage here.

The Barry Kutun Boat Ramp (the “Boat Ramp”), located within Maurice Gibb Memorial Park, has also experienced a rise in illicit commercial activity since Park Ranger coverage ceased in October 2017. During prior years, aquatic operators utilized the ramp in furtherance of their commercial activities, including jet ski, boat, kayak and paddleboard rentals.  Since the passing of an ordinance banning all commercial activity from taking place at the Boat Ramp in 2016, Park Rangers assisted in the enforcement of said ban through an overtime detail.  However, in early October 2017, upon adoption of the FY 2017/18 budget, Park Ranger coverage at the Boat Ramp ceased as funding for said post was not included in the current budget. Illicit commercial activity at the Boat Ramp has since escalated. During its October 3, 2017 meeting, the Marine and Waterfront Protection Authority (MWPA) passed a motion urging the City Commission to appropriate funds for the permanent stationing of a Park Ranger at the Boat Ramp (Exhibit A).

The Administration has taken steps to temporarily remedy the aforementioned issues, which include reestablishing a temporary daily Park Ranger post at the Boat Ramp; providing Park Ranger coverage at Collins Park during the recent holidays; and providing Park Ranger coverage at Soundscape Park during Wallcast Concerts and other special events. In addition, Park Rangers posted at South Pointe Park have been spending a significantly greater amount of time patrolling the pier. 

Though these temporary solutions are proving beneficial toward improving conditions within these parks in the short term, permanent solutions are needed. Consequently, these remedies have resulted in a reduction in Park Ranger coverage at other parks, as well as in the utilization of unfunded overtime.

Options and their associated costs are presented below for review and direction:

Collins Park (Twelve hours of coverage, seven days per week)

Option 1 (Recommended):    

 Addition of three new part-time Park Ranger positions, resulting in 4,524 annual coverage hours ($134,000)

 Option 2: 

 Establishing a permanent overtime detail for Park Rangers, resulting in 4,368 annual coverage hours ($162,000)

 Soundscape Park (Twelve hours of coverage, seven days per week)

Option 1 (Recommended):

Addition of three new part-time Park Ranger positions, resulting in 4,524 annual coverage hours ($134,000)

 Option 2:

Establishing a permanent overtime detail for Park Rangers, resulting in 4,368 annual coverage hours ($162,000)

Barry Kutun Boat Ramp at Maurice Gibb Memorial Park (Eight hours of coverage, seven days per week)

Option 1 (Recommended):

 Addition of two new part-time Park Ranger positions, resulting in 3,016 annual coverage hours ($89,000)

 Option 2: 

Establishing a permanent overtime detail for Park Rangers, resulting in 2,912 annual coverage hours ($108,000)

South Pointe Park Pier (Twelve hours of coverage, seven days per week)

 Option 1 (Recommended):

Addition of three new part-time Park Ranger positions, resulting in 4,524 annual coverage hours ($134,000)

 Option 2: 

Establishing a permanent overtime detail for Park Rangers, resulting in 4,368 annual coverage hours ($162,000)

Other Options:

• Establish roving Park Rangers to cover the new sites 

• This would require hiring a minimum of six part-time Park Rangers to rove from site to site throughout their shifts.  This option is not the most recommended as it would only provide limited presence at these parks.  On the positive side, existing coverage at other sites would not be adversely impacted. The cost associated with this option is $316,000.

• Reduce coverage at other parks and relocate some Park Rangers to the new sites
• This is the least favorable, but most cost effective, option. It would result in an estimated cost of $48,000. The additional cost would go toward the purchase of three street legal golf carts for Park Rangers to rove between parks. This option is not recommended as it would provide limited presence at these new sites, while significantly diminishing coverage at existing manned parks.

CONCLUSION:

Committee direction on the implementation of enhanced security presence within parks, as described above.