HomeMy WebLinkAbout23 - Park Patrol ProgramCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 23
July 22, 2003
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Recreation & Senior Services Department
Marie Knight, Director - 644 -3157
mknight@city.newport-beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Council Approval of a Park Patrol Program
Should a Park Patrol program be created and implemented in order to more effectively monitor the
use of our parks and facilities and increase the safety of our patrons? If approved, the Park Patrol
program would consist of two part time staff assigned to patrol and monitor active parks, fields and
recreation facilities enforcing rules, regulations, codes and ordinances, resolving disputes among park
patrons and educating the public on park use.
RECOMMENDATION
At the April 1, 2003 Parks, Beaches & Recreation (PB &R) Commission meeting, the Commission
approved staffs proposal for the creation of a Park Patrol Program in concept with the fee revisions
as outlined in this report that will offset the cost of the program. The Commission recommended the
following:
That the City Council approves the creation and implementation of a self- supporting Park Patrol
Program at a cost of $47,953 per year.
That the City Council approve a revision to City Council Policy B -13 — Public Use of City Facilities
(Attachment A) to add a new fee classification for Youth Sports Commission Member
Organizations (YSCMO) charging $1 per hour for use of athletic facilities, raising approximately
$19,000 in revenue to offset the cost of the Park Patrol Program.
BACKGROUND
The Recreation & Senior Services Department has the responsibility of coordinating the provision and use
of athletic and open fields, picnic areas and park space for City residents, youth groups, citizen groups and
local companies through a reservation system. There are numerous challenges to managing a
"reservation" system, some of which include:
1. Youth Sports organizations need specific time periods allotted to them for their organized
activities. At the same time, there are organized groups, generally adult groups, and "travel' ball or
"Club" teams that look for empty fields to play baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse and rugby. Youth
groups with priority often end up having to ask these players to leave the field, and /or in some
cases forfeiting their fields to these groups in order to avoid confrontations.
2. During rainy periods, fields are closed for play to preserve the integrity of the fields for future use;
however, many groups continue to play during the rain, thereby causing extensive damage to the
fields.
During annual maintenance periods, fields must remain unused for a designated period of time in
order for the fields to be reseeded and the turf to recover; however, many groups and /or
individuals ignore these posted closures and play on fields, thus damaging the work that has been
done.
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 2
4. Bounce houses or other party equipment are often used without permits and the proper insurance,
thus increasing the risk to the City, and damaging the turf.
5. Individuals who have paid fees to have exclusive use of a designated picnic or park area are often
deterred from use by others who have arrived first. Depending on the day, these types of calls to
the Police Department may not be given a high priority.
6. Permit holders sometimes abuse their reservation, claiming exclusive use of a park and chasing
off others who want to use the park.
7. There is $10,000 to $15,000 worth of vandalism in City parks annually, and $15,000 to $20,000 in
repairs and maintenance costs from unauthorized users, much of which could be curtailed with
proper supervision.
8. Small view parks in our community intended for passive use are often overrun with large wedding
set ups and special events that cause negative impacts on the neighboring homes with traffic and
parking problems, public consumption of alcohol, and increased trash.
In Fall of 2001, in response to increased complaints received by the PB &R Commission, the
Recreation Activities Committee was asked to study potential solutions to the above mentioned issues
and the growing concern that although we have developed an extensive permit and reservation
system, we are lacking the critical ability to enforce our system and policies. The Committee identified
several potential solutions that included increased signage at the parks as well as continued
community outreach and education. These measures were implemented, however, the Committee
advised the Commission and staff that a program was needed to assist in the enforcement of the
policies and permits that were issued. At that time staff was directed by the Commission to explore
the creation of a Park Patrol or Ranger program in order to alleviate some of the problems identified.
Although staff has not kept a log tracking complaints and problems that consistently occur at our
parks, we have compiled an anecdotal list of the most frequent problems and the estimated frequency
of their occurrence. (See Attachment B)
The above - mentioned issues are not unique to our City. Many communities in Southern California
have instituted some type of Park Patrol program in recent years in order to address the growing
challenges to providing safe parks. (See Attachment C for a review of other similar programs in the
Orange County area.) After numerous meetings and discussions with the PB &R Commission, local
youth sports organizations, Police Department staff, Code Enforcement staff and the research of other
cities' programs, staff feels that the creation of a Park Patrol program is the next step in providing a
seamless system of parks and facilities reservations and the enforcement of their use and safety.
i7_l i f:Z4I11III[7 tSZ
Job Description
The main role of the uniformed Park Patrol staff will be monitoring the use of the City's 56 parks and
facilities focusing mainly on the 38 active parks, fields and facilities with a scope of work to include,
but not be limited to the following:
• Response to public inquiries and complaints regarding valid permits at picnic areas, community
centers, parks, and athletic facilities and resolving compliance issues.
• Monitoring use of public tennis courts, ensuring compliant use, no skateboarding or persons
utilizing them for commercial purposes.
• Educating park users about park rules.
• Enforcement of park rules and regulations such as:
- No alcohol consumption in parks
- No golf playing on athletic turf
- No skateboarding on walls, benches or tables
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 3
Parking and vehicle regulations
Leash laws compliance
• Enforcement of no public play on all outdoor basketball courts after sunset, especially at 381h
Street.
• Monitor clean up and trash pick -up after youth /adult sports games and permitted events.
• Vandalism prevention, communicating with park users and identifying maintenance issues that
may need to be passed on to General Services park maintenance staff, such as checking
irrigation problems, signage for replacement, etc.
• Monitoring of Special Event Permits.
• Monitoring use of Community Centers.
• If a Municipal Code problem arises or someone is not complying with conditions of a special event
permit, the Patrol staff will have the authority to issue the appropriate citations.
• Contact the Police Department reporting any criminal and /or vandalism activity.
In Attachment D you will find the full job description for the Lead Patrol Staff Position.
Staffin
City parks, facilities and athletic fields are utilized on a year round basis. Although summer is certainly the
heaviest use period, all of the above mentioned challenges to safe parks and facilities occur year round.
This drives the need for the Park Patrol program to be in effect year round as well. In addition, once hired,
the staff for this program will be required to participate in extensive and specialized training. If this program
were only to be operated on a seasonal basis, it is anticipated that there would be a high turnover in staff
from season to season, thus requiring an ongoing financial investment in training. Finally, with a high
turnover in staff, we lose the consistency that is needed to establish strong partnerships and working
relationships with the regular users of our parks and facilities.
The proposed schedule will be:
• Mondays — Friday 4pm to 9pm depending on activity levels
• Saturday /Sundays 8am to Dusk
However, this schedule will change from week to week depending on the time of year, and use
patterns in the park. This schedule establishes an average number of hours. In order to cover the
approximately 53 hours per week in this schedule and allow for days off, it is anticipated that two part-
time people should be hired. One staff member will serve in a lead capacity supervising the other.
Attachment E demonstrates a sample schedule for the two Patrol staff.
Shift Assignments
Attachment F shows a priority list of our parks and facilities based on current usage and rental
patterns, as well as reservation and complaint history. This prioritization will be used to establish the
basic daily assignments for the Patrol Staff. However, use patterns in the parks and complaints
received will dictate that the daily staff schedules will be modified accordingly.
Each day the Patrol staff will receive their assignments from their supervisor. Some assignments will
be routine checks of the parks, permits, and reservations and other assignments will be driven by any
recent complaints or issues that have arisen. In addition, the Patrol staff will modify their shift
assignments based on any calls received while on duty that need immediate attention. It is not the
intent of this program to have every park and facility patrolled during every shift. In identifying best
practices from other cities who have similar programs, we have learned that a great deal of the
success of this type of program depends on the inability for the public to predict when and where the
staff will be monitoring or patrolling at a given time. Attachment G provides a mock schedule of a
daily Patrol Shift to illustrate what types of assignments could be included.
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
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Trainin
As with any type of enforcement related position, training will play a critical role in the success of the
program. Staff recognizes that once you place someone in a uniform and put them in an enforcement
capacity, there are high expectations on their performance, their ability to handle difficult and tense
situations and their ability to understand when a situation is out of their realm of authority and to seek
additional help. In addition, the public will have an expectation that this person also has a solid grasp
of the rules and regulations they are expected to enforce, and the options available to the public for
assistance. Staff has obtained the policies and procedures from several other cities in order to identify
the relevant and available training resources for this program. In addition, the Police Department,
Code Enforcement, and Animal Control staff have offered their assistance in providing training to the
Patrol staff. Attachment H is an outline of the training manual that has been prepared for the
program.
In addition to the internal training identified, Patrol staff will be required to complete within six months
of employment Penal Code 832 training. This training will provide them with a solid foundation
regarding laws of arrest, search and seizure, and discretionary decision - making. In addition, they will
receive training on proper procedures for writing citations, as the Patrol Staff will have the authority to
write administrative citations. This is the same training that our Code Enforcement Officers and
Harbor Resources staff attend in order to obtain a solid understanding of citation procedures.
Proposed Salary and Costs
Due to the level of responsibility these positions will carry, the salary level established will be
comparable to that of a Community Services Officer in the Police Department for the lead position and
a Senior Recreation Leader II for the other staff positions. The budget for program supplies will
include funds to cover uniforms, office related supplies, gasoline for vehicles, and additional
emergency related equipment needed in the vehicles such as flood lights, flashlights, flares, jumper
cables, etc. The Patrol staff will utilize two existing vehicles that are assigned to the Recreation
Division. These vehicles are in use during the day by Department staff; however, not needed in the
evenings and on weekends and therefore available for Patrol staff. '
Comparable title
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Annual Cost
Community Services
$15.51
$16.29
$17.11
$17.96
$18.86
28 hrs /wk
Officer - Lead
x 51 wks at step 3
= $24,433
Sr. Rec. Leader II
$11.67
$12.25
$12.86
$13.50
$14.18
25 hrs/wk
x 51 wks at step 3
_ $16,397
Total Salaries
$40,830
Total Benefits
$2,123
Program Supplies:
$5,000
Gas, equipment, training
TOTAL COST
$47,953
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
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Regulatory Issues
Staff will be preparing an ordinance, consistent with the use policy approved by the PB &R
Commission and City Council, that will establish the standards and procedures governing the use of
parks and give the City the legal authority to enforce — through the issuance of citations or arrest if
necessary — permits authorizing exclusive use of active recreational facilities for a defined period of
time. This ordinance will be in place prior to the onset of the Park Patrol program and the ordinance
will be part of the training for all Park Patrol employees.
Funding Availability
Staff is proposing that the funding for this new program come from the three main areas this program
will be servicing: use of athletic fields, rentals of facilities for meetings and events, and Special Event
Permit supervision.
Use of Athletic Fields.
Newport Beach based youth sports organizations that are members of our Youth Sports Commission
are currently not charged a fee for use of City fields. These organizations have, however, expressed
both a desire for this program and an interest in participating in the funding solution. A large portion of
the responsibilities of our Park Patrol staff will be to interface with these organizations and work with
them to provide a safe, supervised and clean environment for their use.
The Park Patrol program will also assist these organizations with a problem that faces them on a
regular basis, which is outside organizations encroaching on their field usage. Staff is proposing
that the current facility reservation fee schedule be amended to include a new fee classification
that would charge these organizations $1 per hour for use of the fields. These new fees would
raise approximately $20,000. Staff met with these organizations on March 19, 2003 and they were
in unanimous support of the increased fees to offset the cost of this program. In addition, many of
the organizations' representatives were in attendance at the April 1, 2003 PB &R Commission
meeting again voicing support for the program.
2. Facility Rental /Reservation Fees.
Last year the fees for use of Parks and Facilities were raised an average of 14% through the
annual Master Fee Schedule Adjustment. Unfortunately, through staff error, those fee increases
were not implemented. This year staff is proposing another 15% increase to those fees, which will
in actuality increase fees a total of 30% above what is currently being charged. Last year a total of
$67,498 was raised through the rental of City parks and facilities. The fee increases staff will be
proposing through this year's adjustment added to the increase that was approved last year will
raise an estimated $20,000 towards the Park Patrol Program.
The revision to these fees would also include the above - mentioned fee for the YSCMO. In
addition, staff is proposing a new fee that provides a rate at half that of the local non - profit use fee,
to Newport Beach based non - profit organizations who primarily offer youth services such as the
Scouts, Junior Achievement, etc. These organizations do not fall under the same category as the
YSCMO who make a considerable financial commitment each year maintaining the fields that they
utilize. As regular users of our facilities, most likely they could not afford the increased fees. In
keeping with our goal of providing quality activities and services for our youth, we are proposing
that we support these organizations through a reduced fee.
3. Special Events Permit Fees.
Staff is currently working in conjunction with the Planning Department on fee revisions for Special
Event Permits that would help the City recover a greater percentage of the true costs in both the
processing of permits as well as the supervision of the events for overall compliance. The
proposed fees could generate as much as an additional $74,000 per year, of which staff proposes
$20,000 be earmarked for the Park Patrol program. This process will be coming to the City
Council for review in the coming months.
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
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SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the above stated recommendations for the creation
of a Park Patrol Program servicing the City of Newport Beach and the funding sources for the
program.
Environmental Review: None required.
Prepared and Submitted by:
Services Director
Attachment: A.
Council Policy B -13 Public Use of City Facilities
B.
List of the most frequent problems and the frequency of their occurrence
C.
Similar programs in the Orange County Area
D.
Park Patrol Lead Staff Job Descriptions
E.
Proposed Weekly Staff Schedule
F.
Prioritization of Parks and Facilities
G.
Mock Daily Shift Schedule
H.
Training Manual Outline
I.
Letter of Support from the NBPD
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PUBLIC USE OF CITY FACILITIES
PURPOSE
Attachment A
B -13
City facilities, which include parks, playing fields, gymnasiums, community rooms and swimming
pools, are available to the public for civic, social, educational, athletic and cultural activities. It is the
intent of this Policy to provide use regulations and application and scheduling procedures to
accommodate all groups that wish to use City facilities.
PROCEDURE
A. Applications to use the City facilities must be made on forms provided by the Recreation &
Senior Services Department. Applicants must provide all information as may be required by the
Department to assure compliance with the requirements and regulations of this Policy.
B. Applicants will be required to pay a security deposit in an amount that will promote use of the
Recreation & Senior Services facilities in an orderly manner without damage to the facilities.
Security deposits will be refunded upon inspection of facilities and confirmation that no property
damage has occurred.
C. Applicants will be required to acknowledge that neither the City nor the Recreation & Senior
Services Department assumes any liability for injury or loss of personal property. Prior to the use
of the facility, the application must have approval of the Recreation & Senior Services Director or
designated representative.
D. Approval or denial of an application will be provided within five working days of receipt of a
completed application.
E. Reservations for use of Recreation & Senior Services facilities may be made up to six months in
advance, but no later than five working days before the event. Any organization using City
facilities on an ongoing basis shall notify the Recreation & Senior Services Department when
there is a change of officers or of organizational policy.
F. The City of Newport Beach is not liable for any and all accidental injury to any and all persons or
loss or damage to group or individual property. When it is deemed to be in the best interest of
the general public, the City of Newport Beach will require the permittee to furnish a Certificate of
Insurance naming the City of Newport Beach as an additional insured. The amount of the
insurance shall not be less than $1,000,000 per occurrence of commercial general liability
insurance.
G. A contract shall not be transferred, assigned or sublet. All contracts will be issued for specific
facilities and for specific hours, and the premises must be vacated as scheduled.
H. The application must be completed and signed by an adult age 21 and over who will attend,
supervise and be responsible for the entire event or activities. Proof of residency may be
required at the time of application in order to receive the resident rate.
REGULATIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
All uses of Recreation & Senior Services facilities will be subject to the following regulations and
restrictions:
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A. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited and shall not be permitted in or on any municipal facilities
operated by the Recreation & Senior Services Department, except beer and wine may be served
for special occasions at the OASIS Senior Center multi - purpose room when done in compliance
with State Alcohol Beverage Control regulations and approved in writing by the Recreation &
Senior Services Director. Approval to serve beer and wine at the OASIS Senior Center shall not
be deemed to approve service of alcohol in violation of Section 25604 of the Business and
Professions Code. The Recreation & Senior Services Director will require the permittee to pay
City costs to provide additional security.
B. Smoking is prohibited in all City facilities including restrooms
C. For all indoor facility rentals involving young people, 18 years and under, there shall be at least
one adult for every 20 minors, or increments thereof, in attendance, who shall remain in the
facility for the duration of the activity.
D. No group's activities shall interfere with the administration of the Recreation & Senior Services
Department.
E. Non - profit 501 (c) (3) groups may use the facility for fundraising activities and charge entrance
fees and collect donations provided that a detailed plan of the event, including the expenses,
marketing plan and procedure for collecting fees, is submitted with the rental application. The
group treasurer will be required to submit a financial report following any such activity.
F. Facilities and equipment are to be left in the same condition as they were prior to the rental. The
permittee is responsible to pay for any damage to property or loss of property. A fee equal to
total replacement cost will be charged. It shall be the responsibility of the permittee to see that
unauthorized portions of the facility are not used. Continued or repeated use of City facilities will
be contingent upon care of the facility, property and equipment, and observance of all approved
rules and regulations.
G. No gambling of any kind shall be conducted on, or in, City facilities, and the permittee shall
insure that no disorderly or illegal conduct shall be allowed in any facility.
H. The use of public address equipment will be limited to that provided by the facility, unless written
approval has been secured by the Recreation & Senior Services Department through a Special
Event Permit.
I. Private groups wishing to collect fees, donations or admission charges will be considered
commercial users.
J. The capacity of City facilities shall not be exceeded.
K. Storage space will not be granted to any ongoing activity or uses.
L. Facilities are not available for reservations on the following holidays: Christmas Eve, Christmas
Day, Easter, President's Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day, New Year's Eve,
New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Veteran's Day.
M. All persons using the facilities shall observe and obey regulations of this policy, the rules of the
Recreation & Senior Services Department and all applicable City, State and Federal laws, rules
and regulations.
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FEE CLASSIFICATIONS — PRIORITIES OF USE
Permission for use of City facilities shall be granted on a first come first served basis, subject to the
following priorities:
A. All official Recreation & Senior Services Department initiated and /or conducted activities,
including those of the Friends of OASIS at the OASIS Senior Center.
B. All official City of Newport Beach activities.
C. All official City co- sponsored groups and /or activities such as community groups and activities
that are non - profit, self - governing, privately organized and of an educational nature which may
be brought under the sponsorship of the Recreation & Senior Services Department.
D. Official public agency sponsored programs and activities not included in A, B, and C above.
E. Youth Sports Commission Member Organizations
F. Resident non - profit youth serving organizations with 50% or more of membership
consisting of Newport Beach residents.
a._€ Recreational, social or civic activities of groups which are resident promoted and sponsored by
local non - profit` organizations which are open to the public and have 50% or more of
memberships consisting of Newport Beach residents.
H. F Recreational or social activities of private Newport Beach residents that are not open to the
public.
1_6 Recreational, social or civic activities and /or groups which are non - resident promoted and
sponsored by non - profit organizations which are open to the public, but not qualifying under D
above.
J. kl Schools, colleges, hospitals and other similar civic groups not qualifying under the definition of
non - profit.
K.1. Others.
FEES, DEPOSITS AND CANCELLATION PROCEDURES
Fees may be charged for the use of City facilities and shall be established and periodically adjusted
by the PB &R Commission and approved by the City Council. Fees are imposed to cover overhead,
processing, deposits, maintenance and replacement costs for application and scheduling and
maintenance of the facilities.
A. A security deposit will be required for all room rentals. All or a portion of the deposit may be
retained by the Recreation & Senior Services Department after inspection of the facility by the
Department Director or a designated representative and a determination that the facility has not
been left clean and /or in good repair.
B. A separate additional cleaning fee will be charged for rental of the OASIS Senior Center multi-
purpose room.
C. No fee or deposit shall be charged for use of City facilities by the City of Newport Beach, the
Friends of OASIS when utilizing the OASIS Senior Center, during normal business operational
hours, or events co- sponsored by the City of Newport Beach or its departments, with the
exception of set -up charges and fees for lighting usage.
D. Cancellations for any facility other than the OASIS Senior Center multi - purpose room may occur
seventy -two hours prior to the scheduled use of facilities without forfeiting fees collected by the
City, with exception of a City service refund processing fee. Cancellations with less than
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seventy -two hours notice will be charged a cancellation fee established by resolution of the City
Council. In the event of cancellation by the City, notice will be given as far in advance of the
scheduled use as possible.
E. Cancellation of rentals by users for the OASIS Senior Center multi - purpose room that occur less
than thirty days prior to the scheduled use of the facility will be charged 25% of the rental fee.
Cancellations with less than seventy -two hours notice will be charged the entire rental fee.
Non - profit status is defined as an organization that is so defined by the Internal Revenue Service,
§ 501(c) (3) and has a State of California Tax Identification Number.
Adopted — May 26, 1998
Amended — May 8, 2001
Amended —April 23, 2002
Amended & Reassigned —April 8, 2003
Formerly 1 -25
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Attachment B
Anecdotal History Of Parks and Facility Issues and Problems
Although a formal log of incidents and complaints has not been kept by staff,
the following is an anecdotal account of the frequency that complaints and
issues are raised through the Recreation and Senior Services Department.
Important to note is that many complaints are received by other Department's
such as General Services, Harbor Resources or the Police Department that
are not reflected in this history.
1. Group or individual reserves a park picnic area and another group shows
up first, claims the reserved area and then refuses to leave when
requested. This has resulted in some refunds being issued. (2 -3 times
per month, mostly in the summer months)
2. Youth Sports Organizations who have permits for specific field reservations
are faced with a struggle to maintain their reservation by other users who
refuse to relinquish fields. (40— 50 times peryear)
3. Groups leaves trash in park/facility after event, at the present time we
don't have anyone who checks to see that groups have properly cleaned -
up after their reservation /event. (2 times per month)
4. Two groups show up at the same facility at the same time and think that
they have it reserved and are unable to resolve issue on their own. (3 -4
times per year)
5. Groups who have a reservation at a facility or park use more hours then
they pay for. Example: NJB frequently stays longer and uses more gym
time and lights then they have paid for, often displacing other groups who
have paid for that time. (4 -5 times per year)
6. Impromptu, non - permitted wedding ceremonies at parks with large
amounts of people and amplified sound that disturbs neighbors and
creates parking problems.(15 - 20 times per year mostly in summer
months)
7. Wedding ceremonies that are permitted but have more guests than
approved and permitted for. Example: Lookout Point, groups are told that
they may only have 20 guests, however, very often they have many more
than that. Also weddings during the summer months when we don't allow
weddings at certain locations. (10 - 15 times per year)
8. Groups use parks and hire bounce house companies without obtaining a
park permit, additionally, some have bounce houses without permits at
parks that we do not allow them at. (20 -25 times per year)
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9. Surf contests on public beach without permission or permits. (5 - 10 times
per year)
10. Broken or damaged park equipment. Since we don't have staff at the
parks everyday, this often goes unreported for long periods of time. (5 -6
times per year)
11. Special Events use amplified sound before or after the hours they were
permitted to do so, or it is just simply to loud and disturbs neighbors. (2 -3
times per month)
12. Special Events that don't plan for adequate parking and it overflows into
neighborhoods: Example- Toshiba Senior Classic parking issues in Irvine
Terrace area. (3 -5 times per year)
13. Groups /individuals conduct commercial activities in our parks and on our
tennis courts. Example- Private tennis lessons being taught on our public
tennis courts at West Newport Park by instructor who does not work for
the City of NB. (unknown amount)
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Attachment C
COMPARISONS WITH SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN ORANGE COUNTY AREA
TITLE
WHO
ADMINISTERS
ARMED
HOW MANY
FULL OR
PART -TIME
TOTAL HOURS
TRAINING
CITATION
POWERS
Santa Ana
Anaheim
Costa Mesa
Irvine
Beach
Park Ranger
Park Ranger
Ambassadors/Rangers
—Long
Naturalist
Park Rangers
Ambassadors -
Recreation Dept;
Rangers - Police
Police Department
Community Services
Department
Space Division
Parks & Recreation
Yes
No
-Open
No
No
Yes
1 full -time supervisor; with
3 FT Park Ranger I;
23 -40 part-time staff
2 FT Park Ranger II
dependent upon the time of
Ambassadors - 5 part-
(supvr);
3 Full -time; 4 Part-time
the year
time
2
3.76 FTE art-time
1 full -time; 15.12 FTE part-
time comprised as follows:
3.19 FTE as Senior Park
Ranger (field supervisor);
Both - part-time are
11.93 as entry level park
retired police officers
ranger just patrol)
Part time
Part time
Both
The part time staff is
Part-time staff weekly
scheduled for 15 -20
hours varies according to
30 hours per week for
hours but because of the
time of year and number of
FY 03/04 they have a
hiring freeze most are
Approximately 20 hours
staff - usually from 20 -40
budget of $60,000
working up to 50 hours a
per week for art-time
hours per week
Ambassadors only
20 hours a week
week
Training includes tour
and learning all the
facilities and amenities;
they are provided a book
with maps that include
all the field layouts;
New staff received general
Ambassadors receive
new employee introduction;
normal recreation staff
40 hours of field
training (CPR, etc);
experience with protocols
training stressed that
(learning the areas and
their role is that of
parks; memorizing
education and be able to
amenities) - FY 03/04 staff
discuss the City's field
They must have P.C.
has instituted a Park
and allocation policy.
Training is for educating
832 training within 6
Ranger Academy which
Ambassadors are
the public about the
months of employment
will be for 18 hours but are
encouraged to be social
importance of open
from either Rio Hondo or
still working on the actual
in order to get to know
space and
Goldenwest and receive
Academy
trainin rogram
the user Qroups
environmental issues
a Post Reserve Level
.Police
Ambassadors - No;
Yes
Yes
Rangers yes
No
Yes
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
Lead Park Patrol Officer
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Attachment D
DEFINITION: Patrols and monitors active parks, fields and recreation facilities to enforce City
rules, regulations, codes and ordinances and resolves disputes or conflicts among park
patrons.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Uniformed patrol position works a varied seven (7)
day week schedule consisting of part-time hours. Reports to Recreation and Senior Services
Department.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED: Received: Works under general supervision,
regularly performing routine assignments alone. Detailed instructions are received weekly
and work is reviewed frequently. Exercised: Over Park Patrol Assistants
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Duties may include, but are not limited to, the
following:
Essential Job Duties
Monitoring the use of the City's 38 active parks, fields and facilities.
• Response to public inquiries and complaints regarding valid permits at picnic
areas, community centers, parks and athletic facilities and resolving compliance
issues.
• Monitoring use of public tennis courts, ensuring compliant use, no
skateboarding or persons utilizing them for commercial purposes.
• Educating park users about park rules.
• Enforcement of park rules and regulations such as:
• No alcohol consumption in parks
• No golf playing on athletic turf
• No skateboarding on walls, benches or tables, parking and vehicle
regulations
• Leash laws compliance
• Enforcement of no play public on basketball courts after sunset
• Monitor clean up and trash pick -up after youth and adult sports games and
permit holders.
• Vandalism prevention, communicating with park users and identifying
maintenance issues that may need to be passed on to General Services park
maintenance staff, such as checking irrigation problems, signage for
replacement, etc.
• Monitoring of Special Event Permits
• Monitoring use of Community Centers
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 15
• Respond when a Municipal code issue arises or someone is not complying with
conditions of a special event permit, position will write and issue citations for
park and recreation regulations and special event permit conditions only.
• Contact the Newport Beach Police Department reporting any criminal activity
and /or vandalism activity.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:
General security practices, radio procedures, resource and referral information,
Recreation Services policies and procedures, regulations, codes and ordinances as
they relate to park usage.
Ability to:
■ Learn relevant municipal and penal codes and park rules and regulations
• Operate City vehicles
• Learn about City attractions and services
• Communicate effectively with a wide variety of the general public including tourists,
violators and park patrons as well as city staff
• Provide effective customer service
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees and the
public
• Maintain self control in adverse conditions
• Gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion
• Maintain records and prepare reports
■ Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing;
• Appear for work on time;
• Follow directions from a supervisor;
• Understand and follow posted work rules and procedures;
• Accept constructive criticism
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Any combination of experience and training that would
likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the
knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:
Graduation from high school or equivalent supplemented by coursework in Administration
of Justice or security procedures.
Training:
One (1) year of related work experience involving heavy public contact.
Experience supervising staff
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE:
Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid Class "C" California driver's
license. A standard first aid certificate and CPR certificate must be obtained within six (6)
months of employment. Employee will be required to attend PC 832 training (56 hours)
within six months of employment.
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 16
Physical Demands and Working Conditions
While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee may frequently drive
to specific locations; works outdoors and may be exposed to variable weather
conditions. The employee is routinely required to walk, stand, stoop, kneel and use
arms, legs and back to occasionally lift and /or move up to 50 pounds. Employee will
use arms to reach and carry, and use hands to operate, finger and handle objects and
controls. Vision abilities required by this job include close visions, depth perception,
night vision and the ability to adjust focus. Must be able to accurately perceive sound.
Bargaining Group —Part Time Employees Unit
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 17
Attachment E
Recreation and Senior Services Department
Park Patrol Program Proposed Staff Schedule
Staff
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
Sun
Total
Hours
Lead Patrol
X
4 -9pm
4 -9pm
4 -9pm
4 -9pm
Noon -8pm
X
28
Staff
Patrol Staff
4 -9pm
4 -9pm
4 -9pm
X
X
8am -1 pm
9am -2pm
25
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 18
Attachment F
Priority Sites for Park Patrol
Passive
Active
Lookout Point
Lincoln Athletic Center
Inspiration Point
Bonita Creek Park
Peninsula Park*
Arroyo Park
Cliff Drive Park*
Grant Howald Park* & Tennis Courts
Galaxy View Park
38th Street Park
Mariners Park * & Tennis Courts
Bob Henry Park
Buffalo Hills Park
Eastbluff Park
Irvine Terrace Park* & Tennis Courts
Bonita Canyon Sports Park (when opened)
Las Arenas Park & Sailing Program Sites
West Newport Community Center
West Newport Park & Tennis Courts
San Joaquin Hills Park & Tennis Courts
Carroll Beek Community Center
*most popular picnic sites
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 19
Attachment G
Sample Schedule for Park Patrol Officer
Saturday — noon — 8um shift
Noon- Report to Recreation Office. Reviews messages from Recreation Coordinator that include:
• Open Bonita Creek CC for permit group at 2pm
• Picnics scheduled at Arroyo, Grant Howald and Bonita Canyon (permit copies attached).
• Soccer at Bob Henry and Mariners. Basketball scheduled at West Newport.
• Picks up log book, Nextel and keys to city vehicle.
12:15pm Patrol drives to Grant Howald Park, verifies permit signs in place for later picnic.
12:35pm Patrol check on activities at Lincoln School
12:45pm Patrol check on activities at San Miguel
fpm Bonita Canyon Sports Park: Makes contact with picnic reservation person. Reminds them how
to package trash and put in containers. Answers questions about using the field for a game.
1:30pm Arroyo Park: Makes contact with picnic reservation. Finds Bounce House where not has
been permitted. Speaks to organizer regarding policy and need to use a company with
proper insurance within the city. Issues citation (or warning) to permit holder. Reminds
about trash and clean up responsibilities.
1:50pm Arrive at Bonita Creek to open building for permit holder. Shows kitchen, etc. reviews
terms of permit.
2:10pm Receives call from Picnic permit holder at Grant Howald that park patrons tables are taken
over by others without reservation.
2:25pm Arrives at Grant Howald, talks to persons using reserved tables. Gets them to move so
picnic reservation can begin. Spends some time with reservation holder to go over rules
and regulations.
2:50pm Receives call from resident that sprinklers have come on at Bob Henry Park. Drives to Bob
Henry, verifies problem, calls GS for call out response.
3:20pm Drives to Mariners, checks soccer group for reservation.
3:45pm Drives to Peninsula Park to check on group with Special Event Permit for a 5pm. Concert.
They are setting up. Reviews permit sound conditions, emergency access. All looks good so
far.
4:20pm Receives call from resident and drives to Lookout Point. Finds group setting up canopy for
wedding without reservation. Locates wedding planner. Advises group to take down
decorations or citation will be written. Strongly suggests wedding planner avert future
disasters by having a permit or following the city's rules and regulations.
5:15pm Lunch /Dinner Break
5:45 Respond to loud music call for SEP at Peninsula Park. Arrives, talks to organizer. Gets
music turned down.
6:15pm Bonita Creek CC to close /secure facility after rental. Speak with children riding bicycles
making circles in the infield. Talk to park users regarding leash law for dogs
6:30pm Conduct follow up inspections of Bonita Canyon, Arroyo and Grant Howald after picnics.
Clear all for deposit return.
7:30pm Return to office to turn in log reports and leave messages regarding follow up issues for
Sunday shift and administration on Monday. Plug phone in charger. Secure car keys.
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 20
Attachment H
City of Newport Beach
Park Patrol Program Staff Training Manual
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION I: ROUTINE PROCEDURES
Introduction - Purpose Of City Of Newport Beach Park Patrol Manual ........................... 1
Mission/Vision Statement .................................................................. ..............................2
Park Patrol Visitor Contacts ............................................................. ............................... 3
Contacting the Individual Park Visitors ............................................. ............................... 3
SECTION II: PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
RulesOf Conduct ........................................................................... ...............................
5
Uniformsand Equipment .................................................................. ...............................
9
StandardUniform ........................................................................... ...............................
10
AlternateUniform ........................................................................... ...............................
11
UniformEquipment ........................................................................ ...............................
12
Appearance and Grooming ............................................................ ...............................
12
Male Personal Appearance ............................................................ ............................... 12
Female Personal Appearance ........................................................ ............................... 13
Schedulingand Attendance ........................................................... ............................... 13
DisciplinaryAction .......................................................................... ............................... 14
SECTION III: SAFETY AND EQUIPMENT
NextelCellular and Call Signs ........................................................ ............................... 15
Park Patrol Dispatch Operations .................................................... ............................... 17
RadioCodes .................................................................................. ............................... 17
CityVehicles .................................................................................. ............................... 19
FirstAid Kit ..................................................................................... ............................... 20
Blood -Borne Pathogen Exposure ................................................... ............................... 20
FireExtinguisher ............................................................................ ............................... 21
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 21
SECTION IV: NON - ROUTINE PROCEDURES
City -Wide Emergencies .................................................................. ............................... 22
Court Appearances and Testifying ................................................. ............................... 23
AnimalEncounters ......................................................................... ............................... 24
Citizen's Arrest ............................................................................... ............................... 25
Weapons......................................................................................... .............................26
LostProperty .................................................................................. ............................... 26
UnclaimedAlcohol .........................................................................
............................... 27
FatalitiesAnd Suicides ...................................................................
............................... 27
MissingPersons .............................................................................
............................... 28
LostChildren ..................................................................................
............................... 28
Sex - Related Incidents ......................................................................
.............................29
Accidents To The Public ................................................................
............................... 29
ChildAbuse ....................................................................................
............................... 30
Disputes And Crowd Control ..........................................................
............................... 30
HandlingDisputes ..........................................................................
............................... 30
CrowdControl ................................................................................
............................... 31
CitizenComplaints .........................................................................
............................... 32
Confrontations................................................................................
............................... 32
ChemicalAgent ..............................................................................
............................... 32
BombThreats .................................................................................
............................... 33
VehiclesIn The Park ......................................................................
............................... 33
ApprovedAbbreviations .................................................................
............................... 34
ParkPatrol Log ..............................................................................
............................... 38
StatisticSheets ..............................................................................
............................... 38
Park Patrol Incident Report ............................................................
............................... 38
Park Patrol Accident Report ..........................................................
............................... 39
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 22
SECTION V: FORMS
Recreation Division Chain Of Command ........................................ ...............................
40
ParkPatrol Daily Log ..................................................................... ...............................
41
Sample Schedule of Park Patrol Officer ......................................... ...............................
43
IncidentReport ............................................................................... ...............................
45
AccidentReport .............................................................................. ...............................
46
Part Time /Seasonal Timesheet ...................................................... ...............................
47
Employee Injury/Accident Report ................................................... ...............................
48
Facility Directory And Resource Guide .......................................... ...............................
49
Special Event Permit Application ................................................... ...............................
50
FacilityUse Regulations ................................................................. ...............................
51
ParkAnd Facility Rentals ............................................................... ...............................
52
Meeting Room and Gymnasium Reservation Request .................. ...............................
53
Park, Picnic Area And Field Reservation Request ......................... ...............................
54
(3)
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 23
Attachment I
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
POLICE DEPARTMENT
May 1, 2003
TO: Marie Knight, Director
Recreation and Senior Services Department
FROM: Jim Kaminsky, Patrol Division Watch Commander
SUBJECT: Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Dear Ms. Knight,
I have received and read your recommendation to the Parks, Beaches and Recreation
Commission for the creation and implementation of a program that would monitor the
use of the City's parks. One of the main elements of the mission of the Newport Beach
Police Department has historically been one that addresses quality of life issues within
the City. As the parks and beaches are a large part of our City's recreational program,
your focus must also be toward these issues as well. As such, the Police Department
would support any effort that you might advance toward the safety of those who use the
recreational facilities.
We understand the need to patrol the parks for the purpose of maintaining the condition
of the fields, the integrity of permits that might be issued for activities on those fields
and for other uses. While the Police Department routinely conducts patrol checks of
the parks on a twenty -four hour basis, for deployment reasons it cannot perform the
many ancillary duties that you propose in your recommendation to the Commission.
However, we fully, support-the need forthose- ancillary- duties- and- would- be- available to
assist your personnel should they encounter any resistance in the enforcement of City
ordinances. In such an instance, any of your staff could call our dispatch center and
request our assistance.
Should you be successful in implementing this program I would be more than happy to
meet with you to discuss safety and enforcement issues as they relate to this program
and your personnel. Please feel free to contact me at 644- 3299 x2624.
Thank you,
Jim Kaminsky Lieu Want
Patrol Division
Approved,
Paul Henise , apta
Patrol/Traffic Division
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No.
July 22, 2003
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Recreation & Senior Services Department
Marie Knight, Director - 644 -3157
mknight@city.newport-beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Council Approval of a Park Patrol Program
ISSUE
Should a Park Patrol program be created and implemented in order to more effectively monitor the
use of our parks and facilities and increase the safety of our patrons? If approved, the Park Patrol
program would consist of two part time staff assigned to patrol and monitor active parks, fields and
recreation facilities enforcing rules, regulations, codes and ordinances, resolving disputes among park
patrons and educating the public on park use.
RECOMMENDATION
At the April 1, 2003 Parks, Beaches & Recreation (PB &R) Commission meeting, the Commission
approved staff's proposal for the creation of a Park Patrol Program in concept with the fee revisions
as outlined in this report that will offset the cost of the program. The Commission recommended the
following:
1. That the City Council approves the creation and implementation of a self- supporting Park Patrol
Program at a cost of $47,953 per year.
2. That the City Council approve a revision to City Council Policy B -13 — Public Use of City Facilities
(Attachment A) to add a new fee classification for Youth Sports Commission Member
Organizations- (YSCMO) charging $1 per hour for use of athletic facilities, raising approximately
$19,000 in revenue to offset the cost of the Park Patrol Program.
BACKGROUND
The Recreation & Senior Services Department has the responsibility of coordinating the provision and use
of athletic and open fields, picnic areas and park space for City residents, youth groups, citizen groups and
local companies through a reservation system. There are numerous challenges to managing a
"reservation" system, some of which include:
1. Youth Sports organizations need specific time periods allotted to them for their organized
activities. At the same time, there are organized groups, generally adult groups, and "travel" ball or
"Club" teams that look for empty fields to play baseball, soccer, football, lacrosse and rugby. Youth
groups with priority often end up having to ask these players to leave the field, and /or in some
cases forfeiting their fields to these groups in order to avoid confrontations.
2. During rainy periods, fields are closed for play to preserve the integrity of the fields for future use;
however, many groups continue to play during the rain, thereby causing extensive damage to the
fields.
3. During annual maintenance periods, fields must remain unused for a designated period of time in
order for the fields to be reseeded and the turf to recover; however, many groups and /or
individuals ignore these posted closures and play on fields, thus damaging the work that has been
done.
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 2
4. Bounce houses or other party equipment are often used without permits and the proper insurance,
thus increasing the risk to the City, and damaging the turf.
5. Individuals who have paid fees to have exclusive use of a designated picnic or park area are often
deterred from use by others who have arrived first. Depending on the day, these types of calls to
the Police Department may not be given a high priority.
6. Permit holders sometimes abuse their reservation, claiming exclusive use of a park and chasing
off others who want to use the park.
7. There is $10,000 to $15,000 worth of vandalism in City parks annually, and $15,000 to $20,000 in
repairs and maintenance costs from unauthorized users, much of which could be curtailed with
proper supervision.
8. Small view parks in our community intended for passive use are often overrun with large wedding
set ups and special events that cause negative impacts on the neighboring homes with traffic and
parking problems, public consumption of alcohol, and increased trash.
In Fall of 2001, in response to increased complaints received by the PB &R Commission, the
Recreation Activities Committee was asked to study potential solutions to the above mentioned issues
and the growing concern that although we have developed an extensive permit and reservation
system, we are lacking the critical ability to enforce our system and policies. The Committee identified
several potential solutions that included increased signage at the parks as well as continued
community outreach and education. These measures were implemented, however, the Committee
advised the Commission and staff that a program was needed to assist in the enforcement of the
policies and permits that were issued. At that time staff was directed by the Commission to explore
the creation of a Park Patrol or Ranger program in order to alleviate some of the problems identified.
Although staff has not kept a log tracking complaints and problems that consistently occur at our
parks, we have compiled an anecdotal list of the most frequent problems and the estimated frequency
of their occurrence. (See Attachment B)
The above - mentioned issues are not unique to our City. Many communities in Southern California
have instituted some type of Park Patrol program in recent years in order to address the growing
challenges to providing safe parks. (See Attachment C for a review of other similar programs in the
Orange County area.) After numerous meetings and discussions with the PB &R Commission, local
youth sports organizations, Police Department staff, Code Enforcement staff and the research of other
cities' programs, staff feels that the creation of a Park Patrol program is the next step in providing a
seamless system of parks and facilities reservations and the enforcement of their use and safety.
PARK PATROL PROGRAM
Job Description
The main role of the uniformed Park Patrol staff will be monitoring the use of the City's 56 parks and
facilities focusing mainly on the 38 active parks, fields and facilities with a scope of work to include,
but not be limited to the following:
• Response to public inquiries and complaints regarding valid permits at picnic areas, community
centers, parks, and athletic facilities and resolving compliance issues.
• Monitoring use of public tennis courts, ensuring compliant use, no skateboarding or persons
utilizing them for commercial purposes.
• Educating park users about park rules.
• Enforcement of park rules and regulations such as:
- No alcohol consumption in parks
- No golf playing on athletic turf
- No skateboarding on walls, benches or tables
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 3
Parking and vehicle regulations
Leash laws compliance
• Enforcement of no public play on all outdoor basketball courts after sunset, especially at 38"'
Street.
• Monitor clean up and trash pick -up after youth /adult sports games and permitted events.
• Vandalism prevention, communicating with park users and identifying maintenance issues that
may need to be passed on to General Services park maintenance staff, such as checking
irrigation problems, signage for replacement, etc.
• Monitoring of Special Event Permits.
• Monitoring use of Community Centers.
• If a Municipal Code problem arises or someone is not complying with conditions of a special event
permit, the Patrol staff will have the authority to issue the appropriate citations.
• Contact the Police Department reporting any criminal and /or vandalism activity.
In Attachment D you will find the full job description for the Lead Patrol Staff Position.
Staffin
City parks, facilities and athletic fields are utilized on a year round basis. Although summer is certainly the
heaviest use period, all of the above mentioned challenges to safe parks and facilities occur year round.
This drives the need for the Park Patrol program to be in effect year round as well. In addition, once hired,
the staff for this program will be required to participate in extensive and specialized training. If this program
were only to be operated on a seasonal basis, it is anticipated that there would be a high turnover in staff
from season to season, thus requiring an ongoing financial investment in training. Finally, with a high
turnover in staff, we lose the consistency that is needed to establish strong partnerships and working
relationships with the regular users of our parks and facilities.
The proposed schedule will be:
• Mondays — Friday 4pm to 9pm depending on activity levels
• Saturday /Sundays 8am to Dusk
However, this schedule will change from week to week depending on the time of year, and use
patterns in the park. This schedule establishes an average number of hours. In order to cover the
approximately 53 hours per week in this schedule and allow for days off, it is anticipated that two part-
time people should be hired. One staff member will serve in a lead capacity supervising the other.
Attachment E demonstrates a sample schedule for the two Patrol staff.
Shift Assignments
Attachment F shows a priority list of our parks and facilities based on current usage and rental
patterns, as well as reservation and complaint history. This prioritization will be used to establish the
basic daily assignments for the Patrol Staff. However, use patterns in the parks and complaints
received will dictate that the daily staff schedules will be modified accordingly.
Each day the Patrol staff will receive their assignments from their supervisor. Some assignments will
be routine checks of the parks, permits, and reservations and other assignments will be driven by any
recent complaints or issues that have arisen. In addition, the Patrol staff will modify their shift
assignments based on any calls received while on duty that need immediate attention. It is not the
intent of this program to have every park and facility patrolled during every shift. In identifying best
practices from other cities who have similar programs, we have learned that a great deal of the
success of this type of program depends on the inability for the public to predict when and where the
staff will be monitoring or patrolling at a given time. Attachment G provides a mock schedule of a
daily Patrol Shift to illustrate what types of assignments could be included.
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 4
Tralnlnq
As with any type of enforcement related position, training will play a critical role in the success of the
program. Staff recognizes that once you place someone in a uniform and put them in an enforcement
capacity, there are high expectations on their performance, their ability to handle difficult and tense
situations and their ability to understand when a situation is out of their realm of authority and to seek
additional help. In addition, the public will have an expectation that this person also has a solid grasp
of the rules and regulations they are expected to enforce, and the options available to the public for
assistance. Staff has obtained the policies and procedures from several other cities in order to identify
the relevant and available training resources for this program. In addition, the Police Department,
Code Enforcement, and Animal Control staff have offered their assistance in providing training to the
Patrol staff. Attachment H is an outline of the training manual that has been prepared for the
program.
In addition to the internal training identified, Patrol staff will be required to complete within six months
of employment Penal Code 832 training. This training will provide them with a solid foundation
regarding laws of arrest, search and seizure, and discretionary decision - making. In addition, they will
receive training on proper procedures for writing citations, as the Patrol Staff will have the authority to
write administrative citations. This is the same training that our Code Enforcement Officers and
Harbor Resources staff attend in order to obtain a solid understanding of citation procedures.
Proposed Salary and Costs
Due to the level of responsibility these positions will carry, the salary level established will be
comparable to that of a Community Services Officer in the Police Department for the lead position and
a Senior Recreation Leader II for the other staff positions. The budget for program supplies will
include funds to cover uniforms, office related supplies, gasoline for vehicles, and additional
emergency related equipment needed in the vehicles such as flood lights, flashlights, flares, jumper
cables, etc. The Patrol staff will utilize two existing vehicles that are assigned to the Recreation
Division. These vehicles are in use during the day by Department staff, however, not needed in the
evenings and on weekends and therefore available for Patrol staff.
Comparable title
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Annual Cost
Community Services
$15.51
$16.29
$17.11
$17.96
$18.86
28 hrs/wk
Officer - Lead
x 51 wks at step 3
_ $24,433
Sr. Rec. Leader II
$11.67
$12.25
$12.86
$13.50
$14.18
25 hrs/wk
x 51 wks at step 3
_ $16,397
Total Salaries
$40,830
Total Benefits
$2,123
Program Supplies:
$5,000
Gas, equipment, training
TOTAL COST
$47,953
Creation of a Park Patrol Program
Page 5
Regulatory Issues
Staff will be preparing an ordinance, consistent with the use policy approved by the PB &R
Commission and City Council, that will establish the standards and procedures goveming the use of
parks and give the City the legal authority to enforce — through the issuance of citations or arrest if
necessary — permits authorizing exclusive use of active recreational facilities for a defined period of
time. This ordinance will be in place prior to the onset of the Park Patrol program and the ordinance
will be part of the training for all Park Patrol employees.
Funding Availability
Staff is proposing that the funding for this new program come from the three main areas this program
will be servicing: use of athletic fields, rentals of facilities for meetings and events, and Special Event
Permit supervision.
Use of Athletic Fields.
Newport Beach based youth sports organizations that are members of our Youth Sports Commission
are currently not charged a fee for use of City fields. These organizations have, however, expressed
both a desire for this program and an interest in participating in the funding solution. A large portion of
the responsibilities of our Park Patrol staff will be to interface with these organizations and work with
them to provide a safe, supervised and clean environment for their use.
The Park Patrol program will also assist these organizations with a problem that faces them on a
regular basis, which is outside organizations encroaching on their field usage. Staff is proposing
that the current facility reservation fee schedule be amended to include a new fee classification
that would charge these organizations $1 per hour for use of the fields. These new fees would
raise approximately $20,000. Staff met with these organizations on March 19, 2003 and they were
in unanimous support of the increased fees to offset the cost of this program. In addition, many of
the organizations' representatives were in attendance at the April 1, 2003 PB &R Commission
meeting again voicing support for the program.
2. Facility Rental /Reservation Fees.
Last year the fees for use of Parks and Facilities were raised an average of 14% through the
annual Master Fee Schedule Adjustment. Unfortunately, through staff error, those fee increases
were not implemented. This year staff is proposing another 15% increase to those fees, which will
in actuality increase fees a total of 30% above what is currently being charged. Last year a total of
$67,498 was raised through the rental of City parks and facilities. The fee increases staff will be
proposing through this year's adjustment added to the increase that was approved last year will
raise an estimated $20,000 towards the Park Patrol Program.
The revision to these fees would also include the above - mentioned fee for the YSCMO. In
addition, staff is proposing a new fee that provides a rate at half that of the local non - profit use fee,
to Newport Beach based non - profit organizations who primarily offer youth services such as the
Scouts, Junior Achievement, etc. These organizations do not fall under the same category as the
YSCMO who make a considerable financial commitment each year maintaining the fields that they
utilize. As regular users of our facilities, most likely they could not afford the increased fees. In
keeping with our goal of providing quality activities and services for our youth, we are proposing
that we support these organizations through a reduced fee.
3. Special Events Permit Fees.
Staff is currently working in conjunction with the Planning Department on fee revisions for Special
Event Permits that would help the City recover a greater percentage of the true costs in both the
processing of permits as well as the supervision of the events for overall compliance. The
proposed fees could generate as much as an additional $74,000 per year, of which staff proposes
$20,000 be earmarked for the Park Patrol program. This process will be coming to the City
Council for review in the coming months.
City of Newport
Bench
Park Patrol
The Need for the Program
o Increase in overall park and facility
usage creates trash concerns, impact
on neighborhoods, permit compliance
complaints, vandalism
o Intrusion on permitted field users
by outside groups
o Increased need for facility security
History
• Fall of 2001 PB &R Commission receiving
increased complaints and requests for
enforcement
• PB &R Recreation Activities Committee
studied issues and problems
■ Committee recommended action: Creation
of a Park Patrol Program
• Staff Research: Other Cities, Police
Department, Code Enforcement, User
Groups
Problem Areas /Issues
• Permitted groups unable to use area: 2 -3 /month
• Youth groups challenged to keep permitted space:
40 -50 /year
• Non - permitted wedding events: 15 -20/ year
• Non - permitted Bounce House: 20 -25/ year
• Special Event permit non - compliance: 2 -3 /month
• Non - permitted surf contests: 5 -10 /year
• Facility access /lock up /maintenance issues: 2 -3/
month
• Non compliance with Park Rules and Regulations
(Alcohol, skateboarding, golf, hours of -
operation...) Unknown
a3
I
Park •Patrol
Mission Statement
The mission of the Park Patrol
program is to provide the citizens of
Newport Beach an educational and
enforcement presence within city
parks and facilities to enhance the
safety and overall quality of their
park and recreation experience.
Education
Establish a
presence in
parks and
community
centers to
educate and
communicate
with user
groups
What would a Park Patrol do?
a Provide on site customer service, education and
response to inquiries and complaints
a Patrol parks, picnic areas, community centers,
fields and make contact with users to check
permits, proper usage
• Monitor Special Event Permit Conditions
• Enforcement of park rules and regulations
• Alleviate some of the need for Police or code
Enforcement to respond to park nuisance and
complaint calls
Security
• Vandalism .
• Graffiti
• Vehicles
on turf
• Hours of
operation
L
Monitor
Field and Park Users
SPORTS
Routine
_-
visits to
parks
uphill --
according to
hattle
field
_ _
reservations,
_ _-
picnic Or
special event
-
permits
schedule
- - --
�.
R.
rr -
Building Access Control
N
Monitor and
secure
Community
Centers
and their
use
Deposit Retention
Document
abuses and
problems for
deposit
retention, or
billing for
repairs
Facility /Event Issues to Monitor
• Use of P.A. System
• Rental Capacities
• Bounce House Insurance
• Hours of Permitted Use
• Permit Compliance
• Weddings at View parks: no tents,
chairs, tables etc...
3
Park Rules to onitor
• No alcohol consumption In parks
• No golf on athletic turf
• No skateboarding on benches, walls,
tables
• Leash laws compliance
• Report broken equipment or safety
hazards (i•e• s rinkler heads, water
fountains, etc•
• No basketball after sunset
• Conditions of Special Event Permit
�r.
r
• Citizen Complaints
• Park Patrol Dispatch
Priority
Patrol Sites
• Passive
• Bob Henry Park
• Lookout Paint
• Buffalo Hills Park
• Inspiration Point
• Eastbluff Park
• Peninsula Park
• Irvine Terrace Park B Tennis
• Cliff Drive Park
• Bonita Canyon Sports Park
• Galaxy View Park
• Las Arenas Park & Sailing
• Active
Program Sites
• Lincoln Athletic Center
• West Newport COMM. Center
• Bonita Creek Park
• West Newport Park & Tennis
• Arroyo park
• San Joaquin Hills Park &
• Grant Howald Park &Tennis
Tennis Courts
• Carroll Beek Community
• 38a Street Park
Center
• Mariners Park &Tennis
Park Overview
■ 47 parks & 258 acres park space
■ 4 types of Parks in Newport Beach
Mini Parks (8) ' Usually less than an acre, located In neighbobloctls,
focus on one element or small playground (SPygloss Hill Park)
* Ne'ghbomood Parks (18 Generally 1 —8 acres, usually located
adjacent to schools, include such amenities as sports fields, open turf,
play equipment, and picnic facilities (µk sl Newport Park)
Community PalysSl' Usually 8 -18 acres, accessible via arterial
roads, usually have community holdings, and may be theme crouton.
(Mariners Park)
r View Pans 1131' Generallybetween %to 3 acres, passive in nature,
designed to take advantage Of views, most are improved with
landscaping, walkways and benches (inspiration Purr
slaw
Training
• Park Visitor Contacts
• Citizen Complaints
• Park Patrol Dispatch
. Incident Report
Operations
• Radio COtles
. Accident Report
City
Ci
• City
Facility Use Regulations
• First Aid Kit
• Park And Facility Rentals
• City-Wid. Emergencies
• Animal Encounters
• Penal Code 832
• C itizen's Arrest
• Verbal J.d.
• Lost Children
• Disputes And Crowd
Control
ki
Other Cities Programs
Santa Ana
iAnaheim CM -PO:
Long Beach
Garden
PG:
Recreation Park
Recreation
Grove
Park Ranger.
Park Ranger Rangers,
Park Ranger
Recreation
Recommended
Rec: Park
fee
Park Patrol
fee for
Amb...don
Armed
unarm.d Unarmed
Armed
Unarmed
3 FT. 4 PT
t FT, 33 PT 2 FT
5 FT. 8 PT
t FT
Field 2
Rangers
60 6
60
5 PT
Ambassado
re
cimtion
Ovation citation
citation
Qtagon
..the
Authority 'Authority
Authority
Aumoriy
Funding Sources
• Use of Athletic Fields
• Charging Youth Sports Commission Members $1 per
hour per field would generate about $20,000
• Facility Rental /Reservation Fees
An increase in fees of up to 30% over a two year time
period would generate approximately $20,000
• Special Evert Permit Fees
• Increase cost recovery to 50% for residents and 100%
for non - residents to generate approximately $70,000
in additional revenue. $20,000 of which would be
earmarked for the patrol program
Park Patrol Costs- $47,953
■ 2 Part Time Positions $40,083
■ 1 Lead Patrol- 28 hrs per week
■ 1 Patrol Staff - 25 hrs per week
■ Benefits - $2,123
• Part time only
■ Supplies - $5,000
• Gas, equipment, training, uniforms
a.
Fee Comparison
2003 -4
Chart
Current
Approved
fee for
Recommended
17 2
fee
( 22
fee for
40 5
52 5
57
Room
Field 2
23 6
60 6
60
9
2003 -4
2003
� Picnic Area 1
17 2
20 (
( 22
' Meeting 4
40 5
52 5
57
Room
Field 2
23 6
60 6
60
I 10�
Benefits to Residents
• Greater attention and enforcement of
current policies and ordinances
• More timely response to complaints or
problems
• Greater assurance that events in parks
will be monitored
• Improved customer service to all user
groups and residents
• Raises overall quality of park users
experience
9