TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on approaches to Park Equity in the City of Long Beach. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On July 18, 2017, the City Council requested the City Manager work with the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) and the Parks and Recreation Commission and return to the City Council with a report that addressed current recreation programming offerings and participant data, opportunities for enhanced and more equitable distribution of said programming, review of park entertainment permit and fee waiver policies, and updates to core Departmental planning documents, just to name a few. On February 20, 2018, the Department returned to the City Council with the requested information.
During the City Council meeting, more information was requested, and PRM staff was scheduled to return to the City Council for an update. With the call for further study of park equity, PRM convened a Park Equity Change Team including staff from the Office of Equity, the Innovation Team, Economic Development Department and Development Services Department. In addition to these efforts, the Parks, Recreation and Marine Director has begun to visit the City’s parks and is working with groups and social networks that exist around each park, and will continue to brief the Parks and Recreation Commission on these and future efforts.
Striving for park equity will be an ongoing and long-term process that has begun with the new Department Strategic Plan, for which $70,000 was approved by the City Council as part of the FY 19 budget, contingent on the availability of FY 19 General Fund surplus. This funding will help start the development of the Strategic Plan, which will offer PRM opportunities to engage with its users and stakeholders around service, programming, maintenance, and park/open space needs. This process will begin with a staff evaluation of the existing Strategic Plan, followed by a community process to provide input on goals, objectives, and recommendations for a long-term vision for the City’s park system.
Additionally, PRM staff have embarked on a series of early action items that begin to address park equity and have identified future efforts that will continue this equity work. These efforts are informed by the Department Core Values, which include: Access; Equity; Going Green; Inspiration; Community Engagement; and, Effective Communication.
PRM’s efforts are highlighted below as well as in the attached Park Equity Progress Report, which details the Department’s efforts. Since February 2018, PRM has done the following:
• Evaluation and Expansion of Recreational Contract Classes
• Updated RecConnect Contract Class Catalogue with Free Programming
• Established Professional Development and Job Skills Workshops
• Enhanced Department Partnerships with the Health and Library Departments
• Added Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM)-Based Programming Incorporated into Be Safe Program
• Continued Arts Programming in Partnership with Musical Theater West
• Continued Outdoor Youth Connection Teen Leadership Program
• Developing Community Engagement Approach
• Elimination of Glyphosate for Weed Control in Parks
• Implemented Centralized Irrigation Automatic Control System
PRM will also follow up these initial efforts with additional work in the upcoming fiscal year that include:
• Enhancing Communication Through Updated Publications, Website and Signage Consistent with City’s Language Access Policy
• Developing College and University Partnerships for Contract Classes
• Developing Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) Partnerships for Expanded Programming
• Expanding Professional Development and Job Skills Programs with Economic Development Department, Pacific Gateway, and local colleges and universities
• Partnering with City Departments in New Ways, bringing programs into Long Beach parks, creatively leveraging funding to support or expand park programs, and developing new revenue sources for park programs and services.
• Partnering with Professional and Collegiate Sports Organizations
• Collaborating with Partners of Parks to Support Park Programs
• Retooling the Partnerships to Enhance Park, Programs and Services (PEPPS) Program
• Participating in OneLB Community Equity Indicators Initiative
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda T. Vu on September 24, 2018 and by Revenue Management Officer Geraldine Alejo on September 24, 2018.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
At the February 20, 2018 meeting, the City Council requested the item return in six months, which is August 21, 2018. Due to budget hearings and other City Council business, this item was moved to October 9, 2018 to dedicate the appropriate amount of time to the item.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal or local job impact to receive and file a report on the approaches to Park Equity.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
GERARDO MOUET
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER