TITLE:
title
AUTHORIZATION OF AN ADDITIONAL PARK RANGER FOR HARPER PARK SCHOOL FIELD ACCESS AND UPDATE REGARDING ENHANCED SECURITY AT FOUR NEWPORT MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FIELDS ON THE WESTSIDE
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DEPARTMENT: PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
PRESENTED BY: ALMA REYES, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
CONTACT INFORMATION: ALMA REYES, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, (714) 754-5090
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Authorize an increase to the City's Table of Organization by one full-time Park Ranger position in the Police Department and increase the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget accordingly.
2. Receive and file an update on upcoming amendments to the existing Lyons Security Services agreement to increase access to open space at up to four elementary school sites on the Westside (Rea, Wilson, Whittier, and potentially Pomona) for open space during off-school hours, as previously approved by the City Council.
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BACKGROUND:
Developing strategies to increase park access, especially for those living in areas lacking open space has been a primary objective of the City Council and staff. In efforts to address the need for open space for recreational purposes, staff has been meeting with Newport Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) staff to discuss public access to school fields, playgrounds, and basketball courts at specific school sites when fields are not utilized by permitted user groups.
Currently, the Parks and Community Services Department staff coordinates and manages all sports user groups and field allocation for all City of Costa Mesa and NMUSD fields as per the Joint Use Agreement (JUA). During the City's use of the school site fields, the fields are only opened when a reservation by a permitted user group has been made. When fields are not reserved, or field use is canceled by a permitted user group, the fields remain closed.
Both City and NMUSD staff have discussed the opening of school sites including Rea, Wilson, and Whi...
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