LA WATCHDOG-The City Council needs to stop treating our Department of Recreation and Parks as the ugly step daughter.
Under the City’s “full cost recovery” program that was instituted in 2010 to help the City close a $485 million budget gap, Recreation and Parks was smacked with $37.8 million in “charge backs,” representing over 25% of the charter mandated appropriations.
Unfortunately, these special assessments for such items as utilities, General Fund Cost Reimbursements (read pensions and healthcare benefits), and refuse collection have increased to over $50 million, representing more than a third of the charter mandated appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
While the hijacking of these funds has helped the City “balance” its books, it has had a devastating impact on Rec & Parks, its grounds and facilities, and its programs.
Over the last five years, there has been a 38% reduction in the number of positions associated with the Department’s programs. At the same time, its maintenance department that serves its buildings, facilities, and open space has been downsized by 23%, or 226 positions.
As a result, the quality of our 420 parks has deteriorated markedly and will require a substantial investment to restore the Department’s building and facilities, its 15,700 acres of parkland, and its numerous programs that serve so many Angelenos, ranging from seniors to at-risk youth.
Perhaps the most telling signs of neglect are the stench of the bathrooms and the amount of debris surrounding overflowing trash bins, especially on holiday weekends.
We cannot continue to abuse our parks and their programs as they are a core City service for all Angelenos, especially those who live in the “under parked” sections of or City.
We also cannot afford to let our parks to deteriorate further, not only because the cost to repair the buildings, facilities, and grounds increases exponentially, but because of the substantial liability associated with mishaps on City property.
The City needs to restore Rec & Parks’ funding to levels enjoyed prior to the “full cost recovery program.” This will require a ballot measure that increases the charter mandated appropriation in an amount to offset the over $50 million in special assessments and any other future charges by the City.
Such a charter amendment would need to be phased in over the next three to four years, similar to Measure L that partially restored the Library’s funding after its charter mandated revenues were raided by the City under the “full cost recovery” program.
Incidentally, Measure L was approved by 63% of the voters in March of 2011 despite significant opposition from selected public unions who were covetous of those revenues and from those against “ballot box budgeting.”
At the same time, Rec & Parks must demonstrate to the public that it is using our money efficiently. This will involve the independent “benchmarking” of its operations and programs, the preparation of a strategic plan, and the establishment of a strong outreach effort to its constituents.
Rec & Parks may also be well advised to establish Public Private Partnerships with the Neighborhood Councils, Homeowner Associations, and other local organizations to oversee and possibly operate selected local parks, including Griffith Park and its over 4,200 acres and the 600 acre Elysian Park, the City’s oldest park.
The first stop on the journey to save our Department of Recreation and Parks from further destruction is to demand action from the City Council’s Arts, Parks, Health, Aging and River Committee chaired by Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell. Other members include Tom LaBonge (Vice Chair), Joe Buscaino, Gil Cedillo, and Curren Price.
We must not allow the City Council to treat our parks like the ugly step daughter. They are a beautiful resource that must be cultivated and treated with love and affection so they can be enjoyed by all Angelenos.
(Jack Humphreville writes LA Watchdog for CityWatch. He is the President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, The Ratepayer Advocate for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and a Neighborhood Council Budget Advocate. Humphreville is the publisher of the Recycler Classifieds -- www.recycler.com. He can be reached at: [email protected]. Hear Jack every Tuesday morning at 6:20 on McIntyre in the Morning, KABC Radio 790.)
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 12 Issue 44
Pub: May 30, 2014
