Despite considerable concerns, deep cuts in the staff levels of the park rangers are being made.
City Manager Pat West recently sent a letter to the rangers, confirming that the cuts would be made, according to David Sterling, a union spokesman for the rangers
"We will be losing all seven of our part-time rangers, two of our full-time rangers, as well as the two additional vacant full-time ranger positions," he said in an email.
According to the union leader, West cites "continuing financial issues as the reason for being unable to find any of the required funding to reinstate any ranger positions, as was the direction from City Council back in September."
Several council members voiced concerns that cutting the number of park rangers in the city's parks could result in scores of problems, especially in public safety.
The pending cuts are part of the city's attempt to reduce an expected $16.9 million budget deficit for the 2009 fiscal year, which begins next month.
Sterling , director of Park Rangers Association of California's Region 4, said the cuts would result in a $560,000 savings, but expose the public and rangers to danger that could eventually erupt in local parks.
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