This report recommends amending the Classification Plan and Salary Resolution to include the newly developed classification of Recreation Supervisor.

The City Manager’s Budget Transmittal to Council for Fiscal Year 2002/2003 included an overview of the current state of the Community Recreation Fund. It indicated that "staff has identified the need to reconsider the overall impact of some of the strategies used to achieve this Fund’s remarkable financial success. While representing a significant positive effect on the bottom line, the elimination of four management positions within the Division has caught up with the Department in terms of its ability to manage both day-to-day operations and non-routine projects. Two managers currently oversee a larger operation than six managers did prior to the establishment of the Enterprise Fund, and this has created an ever-increasing strain on staff."

The City of Sunnyvale used to have a Recreation Supervisor classification, but it was eliminated during the creation of the Community Recreation Fund. Since the early 1990’s the only management classifications in the Recreation Division have been those of the Superintendent of Cultural Arts, and Leisure Services Manager.

Many cities employ one manager to oversee all aquatics programs, a separate manager to oversee its senior programs, and yet another to oversee its therapeutic programs. The City of Sunnyvale currently employs one manager (Leisure Services Manager) to oversee all this, as well as all special events and all customer and business services (Division-wide marketing, class registrations, reservations and refunds). This same manager is responsible for not only day-to-day operations, but for managing those special projects and Study Issues related to his areas of responsibility as well (e.g., 50-meter pool partnership and construction of new Senior Center). The Superintendent of Youth and Arts Services, and Leisure Services Manager classifications are Superintendent level positions responsible for the overall planning and implementation of very broad service areas. There remains a need for a lower level management classification to more closely manage specific areas of service delivery (e.g., youth, arts, aquatics, special populations).

The creation of the Recreation Supervisor classification will allow the Department of Parks and Recreation to fill a current void in its management ranks, and to place greater management focus on specific areas of service delivery.

The creation of the Recreation Supervisor classification does not in itself have any fiscal impact on the City.

The eventual recruitment of individuals to this new classification will not impact the City’s current ten-year plan either, given Council’s adoption of the City Manager’s recommended FY 2002/2003 budget, which included the hours and compensation necessary to fund staffing at this level.

The public will be notified through posting of the agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, and the availability of the report in the Library and in the City Clerk’s office.

Staff recommends Alternative #1 above; approve the amendments to include the new classification into the City’s Classification Plan and Salary Resolution.

Prepared by:
Mark Gregersen
Director of Human Resources

Reviewed by:
Robert Walker
Director, Parks and Recreation

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager