Parks cutbacks

By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer

SAN BERNARDINO -- City officials' attempts to cut their way out of a multimillion-dollar budget problem could wind up gutting the parks and recreation work force.

The Parks Recreation and Community Services Department could lose 61 percent of the jobs that are paid for with San Bernardino's general fund during the current fiscal year.

During the 2007-2008 fiscal year, the City Council authorized funding for 61 Parks and Recreation jobs. The department lost funding for a single position when the council sought to save money while crafting the budget, but the faltering economy threatens to result in significant layoffs.

Parks and Recreation could lose 36 positions in a new round of budget cuts. Interim City Manager Mark Weinberg recommended the layoffs as part of a package of proposals to eliminate a $9 million budget gap. The budget shortfall is projected to develop during the remaining months of the fiscal year, which ends June 30.

Parks chief Kevin Hawkins said deep cuts must happen soon.

"In defense of the city manager's recommendation, I know the longer we delay, the worse the city's financial condition," Hawkins said."I know something needs to be done, it's just unfortunate, the type of burden we have to bear in this situation."

"We need to put on the best face we can, show strength and allow people to vent," he continued.

Parks employee Larry Monk said he thinks the elimination of the workers will cause problems for police.

"If the city goes through with the proposal as it stands ... there will be acres and acres of blight in the city," Monk said. "It will encourage homelessness and crime."

Staffing cutbacks would lead to the city outsourcing park maintenance work. The proposed cuts would also entail significant decreases in Parks and Recreation services available to San Bernardino residents.

- The eastern Operation Phoenix youth center, Nicholson Community Center, Norton Recreation and Galaxy Grand Ballroom could all close.

- All city swimming pools except those at the Jerry Lewis Swim Center at Perris Hill Park could be closed during summer.

- The parks department's involvement with Casa Ramona, Westside Community Center and Center for Individual Development could end.

Mayor Pat Morris said the spending reductions would be painful, but necessary to reduce further public safety cuts. Weinberg has also proposed layoffs for sworn police officers and firefighters.

"When you go through the kind of torturous budget cutting that we're going through in our city, you have to set priorities," Morris said.

Morris said San Bernardino's dire financial straits create an imperative to seek grants and partnerships with other agencies the private sector to protect services that the city can't afford.

One nonprofit that San Bernardino has newly established a relationship with is Kaboom, a Washington, D.C.-based group that supports playground construction. Kaboom, he city and corporate sponsors built helped build playgrounds at Lytle Creek, Delmann Heights and Nunez parksin 2008.

An additional Kaboom build took place at SOAR Charter Academy in San Bernardino, and one bright spot for the city's parks is the planning of yet another Kaboom project. The next build is set to benefit Meadowbrook Park.

The recommended layoffs and budget cuts are not yet official, but the City Council is expected to have a chance to vote Feb. 17.

Fifth Ward Councilman Chas Kelley said the city's budget committee will meet behind closed doors Thursday to discuss the proposed cuts and potential alternatives.

"There are options that we're looking at, but I can't be much help to you because I won't tell you what we're looking at," Kelley said.