QUESTION
How are new recruits and returning lifeguards contributing to meeting the staffing needs?
0:48:28
·
76 sec
Council Member Shekar Krishnan questions the strategy for reaching the required number of lifeguards, involving both new recruits and returning personnel, and examines factors affecting the shortage and solutions.
- The current strategy involves a combination of recruiting new lifeguards and rehiring those from previous years.
- Despite these efforts, staffing numbers may still only reach about 50% to 60% of the needed 1400 lifeguards.
- The Parks Department has increased lifeguard pay to $20 per hour, making it competitive with state pay.
- It's unclear if the city offers a retention bonus similar to the state, as the Commissioner is not aware of any such state bonus.
Shekar Krishnan
0:48:28
And so there's so about 500, about to go to the training now.
0:48:32
How do you get to the 800?
0:48:33
Is it because that that list will be whittled down.
0:48:35
Is it a combination of returning lifeguards from last year?
Sue Donoghue
0:48:37
Exactly.
0:48:38
Yes.
0:48:38
Right.
0:48:39
Is it always combination of new recruits that we're adding to the fold and then returning life.
Shekar Krishnan
0:48:44
Got it.
0:48:45
So from my vantage point, you know, I think last year, a year before this year.
0:48:49
Given the numbers, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like you'll end up somewhere around where you were prior years, which is still, you know, about 50% give or take, maybe 60% of what we need to get to the 1400.
0:49:03
And you all are doing everything.
0:49:05
Outreach, you know, PSA phase.
0:49:08
And so I just wanna look at each of the individual pieces of what is causing this shortage.
0:49:12
And how can we think about things differently?
0:49:14
So the first piece of it is commend you I think it was great to see the news about the increase in life card pay.
0:49:20
So is that now on par with the state life card pay of $22 hours an hour $20 an hour, I think, is the parks city parks pay.
0:49:29
Is that on par with the state pay?
Sue Donoghue
0:49:30
Yes.
0:49:30
It makes it competitive.
0:49:32
Absolutely.
Shekar Krishnan
0:49:32
And the retention bonus as well, is that something similar to what the state does to or are there discrepancies in the state and city?
Sue Donoghue
0:49:38
I'm not sure.
0:49:39
I'm not aware that they do a retention or or that they have a bonus.
0:49:42
Okay.
0:49:43
Gotcha.