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Q&A
Discussion on Parks Department staffing and seasonal workforce
4:06:16
·
169 sec
Council Member Restler and Commissioner Donoghue engage in a discussion about the Parks Department's staffing levels, focusing on the seasonal workforce and the decline in part-time headcount over recent years.
- Donoghue confirms the department's reliance on a large seasonal workforce
- Restler points out a 38% decline in part-time headcount since FY 2022
- They discuss the impact of staffing shortages on park maintenance
- Donoghue acknowledges the dedication of current staff but doesn't provide an optimal staffing number
Lincoln Restler
4:06:16
My impression is that the Parks Department is highly dependent on a seasonal part time workforce.
4:06:21
Is that right?
4:06:27
And what are you anticipating for FY '26 for your seasonal workforce?
4:06:37
Got it.
4:06:38
And so when you started in FY '20 '2, do you have those numbers?
4:06:49
My understanding is that the part time workforce, which I think you define it, the numbers that we're looking at are for FY '26, '20 '7 '70 '4 versus FY '22 at 4460.
4:07:05
Does that in terms of parks headcount, and I know headcount can be tracked in a variety of different ways, but the part time headcount has declined by 40% over the course of these four years.
4:07:19
Thirty eight percent.
4:07:46
I I mean, the the concern for me is to just we've seen a steady decline every single year of the Adams administration.
4:07:55
The from 04/1960 going down to every year by significant numbers down to 2774 today.
4:08:03
It just it means that our parks don't have the staffing that is necessary to maintain the conditions that our communities deserve.
4:08:11
And so just, you know, what do you think is the necessary parks full time and part time headcount levels for us to be able to manage and maintain our parks at the levels that our communities expect and that I know the Parks Department aspires to?
Sue Donoghue
4:06:22
Absolutely.
4:06:23
We do have a large influx of staffing every season, yes.
4:06:31
I believe that is we're expecting about 5,000 seasonal employees.
4:06:43
For our seasonal workforce, do we have those?
4:06:46
I think that the number has been pretty steady over time.
4:07:18
Forty percent.
4:07:20
Yeah.
4:07:21
We can absolutely get back to you on those numbers.
4:07:27
There is fluctuation because there's our seasonal staffing, then there's POP, our parks opportunity program staffing that does tend to fluctuate based on kind of incoming people into the program.
4:07:41
So you might see fluctuation there, but we can get back to in terms of what that specific number was season to season.
4:08:34
Thank you, council member, for the question.
4:08:37
And while I don't have an optimal number that I can give you, one, I would say, and you know you experience it regularly, we have an incredibly dedicated staff of workers which I so appreciate and people who give their all every day.
4:08:51
There is no doubt as commissioner it would be great to see more staff and more resources.
4:08:58
But with the team that we have that's out there, they're doing they can to keep our parks clean and safe.