Title
Authorization for Civic Space Park Rangers (Ordinance S-51135)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to authorize two additional Parks and Recreation Department Park Ranger positions (Job Code 40130); and enter into a related agreement with Arizona State University and/or Downtown Phoenix, Inc. to provide funding for ranger patrols at Civic Space Park. Further request to authorize the City Treasurer to accept, and the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The mission of the Parks and Recreation Department (Department) is to build healthy communities through parks, programs and partnerships, and make Phoenix a better place to live, visit and play. Park Rangers assist daily in the proactive education of park rules and enforcement of the Code of Conduct Policy. Common violations that are addressed include loitering in the park after hours, illegal vending, shopping carts on park property, dogs off-leash, smoking, use of park amenities outside their intended purpose, litter and criminal active that requires assistance from police. The Department has 42 daytime Urban Park Rangers dedicated to patrolling 187 flatland urban parks throughout the City.
In an effort to address negative behavior at Civic Space Park, which is adjacent to Arizona State University’s (ASU) Downtown Phoenix Campus, the department was approached by ASU and Downtown Phoenix, Inc. (DPI) to discuss the need for a constant presence of Park Rangers to enhance the safety for visitors and students at the park. ASU requested two Park Rangers be assigned to Civic Space Park during daytime hours, seven days a week. The shifts would consist of one Park Ranger working Sunday through Wednesday and the other Wednesday through Saturday. However, the Department does not have enough resources to dedicate two Park Rangers exclusively to the park; therefore, ASU and DPI have offered to partner with the Department to provide two-thirds of the ongoing funding for two new positions and the one-time related costs. In addition, the Park Rangers may be deployed to other surrounding downtown parks to respond to emergencies, if necessary.
Financial Impact
The initial one-time cost for equipment and a vehicle is $82,587.
The ongoing annual costs including contractual services and salaries (subject to pay step increases) is estimated to be $211,923.
Location
Civic Space Park, 424 N. Central Ave.
Council District: 7
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Parks and Recreation Department.