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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />JUNE 2, 2015 <br />TITLE: <br />PARK RANGER PROGRAM UPDATE <br />{STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 1, 1} <br />CITY MANAGE <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Receive and file. <br />DISCUSSION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 1°t Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2ntl Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />The Police Department assumed responsibility for the Park Ranger Program on April 18, 2015. <br />During this time, officers have focused on patrolling the parks, partnering with neighborhood and <br />sport league representatives, used the results of the park study to identify public safety concerns, <br />and are developing strategies to address those concerns. Since April 18, the program has been <br />staffed with one full -time Park Liaison Officer, 40 hours of police officer overtime, and 20 hours <br />provided by a part -time Park Ranger from Parks and Rec, for a total of 100 hours per week. Due <br />to POST requirements, the City Attorney's Office determined that the current Park Ranger is <br />unable to legally carry a firearm on duty. Therefore, his hours will be supplemented by an <br />additional 20 hours of police overtime in order to provide 100 hours of service to the Park Ranger <br />Program. <br />There are currently three part-time Park Ranger vacancies. The Police Human Resources <br />section has received 102 applications for the three vacant part-time Park Ranger positions. 19 <br />possessed the minimum qualifications required by the job description. Of the 19 applicants that <br />met the minimum qualifications, 15 have failed a testing component or withdrew from the <br />process. Four remain in various stages of the hiring process (two are in backgrounds and two <br />recently passed the oral interview). In addition, the Police Department will be assisting the one <br />remaining Park Ranger to achieve POST recertification. <br />STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT <br />This item supports the City's efforts to achieve Goal #1 - Community Safety, Objective #1, <br />Modernize the Community Policing Philosophy to improve customer service, crime prevention <br />and traffic / pedestrian /bicycle safety. <br />65A -1 <br />