Title
Consider role and responsibility of the Board of Supervisors Parks Committee.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended the Parks Committee consider operation of a standing Parks Committee, and make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
SUMMARY:
This report seeks direction from the Supervisors on roles and responsibility of the Parks Committee. Staff has identified three options to consider:
1) Continue with a standing Parks Committee. In this case, staff requests direction to assist in establishing distinction of roles and responsibility between the Parks Committee and the Parks Commission.
2) Return to an ad hoc Parks Committee. If this option is selected, staff would schedule meetings with the Committee members as needed to address specific matters affecting general park operations. We could/would be able to share sensitive information that is not otherwise ready/able to be shared with the public (e.g. negotiations for Lakes Agreement). Staff would schedule meetings about specific parks with the Supervisor of the District where that park is located. General public matters would be vetted with the Park Commission with recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
3) Terminate the Parks Committee. Staff would schedule meetings about specific parks with the Supervisor of the District where that park is located. General public matters would be vetted with the Park Commission with recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
DISCUSSION:
The Board of Supervisors initially established an ad hoc committee to help address options for the disposition of Laguna Seca. This Ad hoc committee also explored options for how to address challenges in the Parks Department, which evolved into Parks Department being integrated into the RMA. As an ad hoc committee, meetings were scheduled as needed and staff was able to share information that could not be presented in public.
Beginning 2017, the Parks Committee was transformed into a standing committee for transparency. This changed the dynamic of what could be presented. In addition, the distinction of roles and responsibility between the Parks Committee and the Parks Commission have become blurred. Staff is challenged identifying items to present to the Committee versus the Commission.
If the Board of Supervisors Parks Committee remains as a standing committee, staff requests direction to assist in establishing distinction of roles and responsibility between the Parks Committee and the Parks Commission. Staff tries to avoid/reduce duplicative effort by scheduling policy items for the committee and operational matters for the commission. This has resulted in fewer items going to the Parks Commission. In many cases the commission wants to consider policy matters, so the question is if those matters go to the committee before or after the commission.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
FINANCING:
Existing staff serve the Parks Committee, so there is no additional cost for any of the options noted above.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Resource Management Agency (RMA) serves as staff for the Parks Committee and Parks Commission. In addition, RMA meets with District staff to address District-specific issues.
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Prepared by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Reviewed by: Shawne Ellerbee, RMA Deputy Director of Administrative Services
Donald D. Searle, RMA Deputy Director of Public Works and Facilities
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
cc: Parks Committee, Parks Commission, Nick Chiulos, Shawne Ellerbee, Don Searle, Cam Sanchez