HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-09-30; Parks & Recreation Dept. Update - Aquatic Centers and Lifeguard Staff (Districts - All); Barberio, GaryTo the memb,rs •f the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date ~ CA ✓CC L
cM L ACM _LocM (3) L
Sept. 30, 2021
Council Memorandum
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Via:
{cityof
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2021184
Re:
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager @.,
Parks & Recreation Dept. Update -Aquatic Centers and Lifeguard Staff (Districts -All)
This memorandum provides an update to i3 previous Council Memorandum dated July 15, 2021,
regarding Parks & Recreation Department services, and specifically, the Lifeguard staffing
shortages that are impacting the city's two Aquatic Centers (Monroe Street and Alga Norte).
Background
Based on the rescinding of the State of California's COVID-19 Roadmap to a Safer Economy
tiered restrictions, the city returned to regular hours of operation and full capacity at its Aquatic
Centers on June 15, 2021. However, in the above refenced previous Council Memorandum
dated July 15, 2021, staff indicated the Aquatic Centers had been significantly impacted by the
nationwide staffing shortages associated with the COVID-19 pandemic recovery. Swimming
Instructors and Lifeguards were in need at both Aquatic Centers. Until the Instructor positions
could be filled, swimming lessons were consolidated at one center (Alga Norte) in order to
concentrate efforts. In addition, until the Lifeguard positions could be filled, neither of the
Aquatic Centers were able to accommodate inflatable aquatic structures.
Both Aquatic Centers continued to be significantly impacted by the staffing shortages,
particularly in the Lifeguard positions, throughout the summer. The Lifeguard staffing
shortages were highlighted by the City Manager via employee updates, calling for assistance in
promoting recruitments. Additionally, a six week digital marketing campaign was conducted by
the Human Resources Department, ~ut it resulted in very few new applications for the
Lifeguard positions.
As the summer came to a close, many of the existing Lifeguards returned to high school or
college classes during weekday mornings and early afternoons, which further depleted the
staffing supply. By Sept. 13, 2021, the Parks & Recreation Department no longer had a
sufficient number of Lifeguards available to staff both Aquatic Centers on weekday mornings
and early afternoons. At that time, staff made the difficult decision to temporarily reduce the
operating hours of Monroe Street, closing it Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Monroe Street remained open to the public Monday through Friday, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.,
open to youth aquatic groups Monday through Friday, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and open to the
Community Services Branch
Parks & Recreation Department
799 Pine Avenue, Suite 200 I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2826 t
Council Memo -Parks & Recreation Dept. Update -Aquatic Centers and Lifeguard Staff
Sept. 30, 2021
Page 2
public Saturday through Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., all of when a sufficient number of
Lifeguards were available to ensure required patron safety.
Staff considered reducing the hours at each of the Aquatic Centers on an alternating basis.
However, Alga Norte could accommodate approximately four times the number of lap swim
patrons as Monroe Street. Additionally, as noted above, all swimming lessons (and other
programs, such as water aerobics) had already been consolidated at Alga Norte as of July 2021.
The public's use of Monroe Street had been limited to lap swimming. Staff notified all
registered aquatic patrons of the ability to accommodate the lap swim use at Alga Norte during
the weekday morning and early afternoon hours, for the same membership fee as had been
paid at Monroe Street. The temporary reduction of operating hours at Monroe Street did
impact one Carlsbad High School physical education class during the weekday morning hours.
However, staff notified school representatives of the ability to accommodate the physical
education class at Alga Norte for the same rental rate as Monroe Street.
Discussion
Since implementing the temporary reduction of operating hours at Monroe Street on weekday
mornings and early afternoons, staff has pursued the following measures to increase Lifeguard
staffing, and offer other means, to restore regular operating hours with required patron safety.
New Full-time Senior Lifeguard Positions
The City Manager's Office authorized the development of four new full-time Recreation
Assistant (Senior Lifeguard) positions, subject to the City Council's final approval. The Human
Resources Department revised the job classification, received concurrence from the Carlsbad
City Employees Association, and initiated the recruitment process.
• Candidates were screened for minimum qualifications, and those candidates passing
the screening received an onsite water skills test and an immediate panel interview
o Two internal candidates accepted job offers and increased their weekly work
hours from 35 to 40, beginning this week
■
■
The net increase of five hours per week for each position was
distributed to fill voids in the Alga Norte schedule to ensure required
patron safety
• The voids in Alga Nerte's schedule change week to week, based
upon the availability of the part-time Lifeguards, the part-time
Senior Lifeguards, and the three full-time Aquatic Supervisors
The three full-time Aquatic Supervisors will continue to fill voids in the
Alga Norte and Monroe Street schedules week to week
• The three Aquatic Supervisors rotate into the schedule seven
days a week, between the two Aquatic Centers, to fill voids in the .
Lifeguard staffing and thus ensure required patron safety
o The recruitment remains open to fill the other two new full-time positions
Council Memo -Parks & Recreation Dept. Update -Aquatic Centers and Lifeguard Staff
Sept. 30, 2021
Page 3
■ The Human Resources Department continues to market the new full-
time positions in a variety of ways, including attendance at job fairs
■ The Park & Recreation Department has also marketed the positions to
colleagues within the field
■ The qualified candidates' onsite water skills tests and interviews will be
made available on a twice weekly basis until the positions are filled
• The successful candidates will be quickly processed with job
offers, background checks and other on boarding tasks
Existing Part-time Lifeguard and Part-time Senior Lifeguard Positions
The City Manager's Office authorized an increase in the hourly pay rate of all existing part-time
Lifeguards and part-time Senior Lifeguards, to be competitive with comparable positions within
the region and better retain staff. The City Manager's Office also authorized an increase in the
starting hourly pay rate of the part-time Lifeguard and part-time Senior Lifeguard positions to
potentially draw a greater number of candidates to the city's open recruitments.
• Existing part-time Lifeguards and part-time Senior Lifeguards were appreciative of the
hourly pay rate increase, but their limited availability to work weekday mornings and
early afternoons remained largely unchanged
• The Human Resources Department has not yet seen a significant surge in the number of
candidate applications for these part-time positions
o The rec ruitments remain open indefinitely
■ The Human Resources Department continues to market the new full-
time positions in a variety of ways, including attendance at job fairs
■ The Park & Recreation Department has also marketed the positions to
· colleagues within the field
■ The qualified candidates' onsite water skills tests and interviews will be
made available on a twice weekly basis until the positions are filled
Lifeguard Academies
• The successful candidates will be quickly processed with job
offers, background checks and other onboarding tasks
The Parks & Recreation Department expanded its Lifeguard Academy offerings in an effort to
potentially draw a greater number of candidates to the city's open recruitment for Lifeguards.
Academy participants attend an approximately 30 hour in-class and in-water educational
program, and must pass several tests to demonstrate competency in Lifeguarding knowledge
and skills, including administering first aid and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. Academy
graduates are encouraged to apply for Carlsbad employment as a Lifeguard. Graduates hired
by Carlsbad receive Academy tuition reimbursement upon completion of 200 hours of service.
• One Lifeguard Academy was completed in September and two additional Lifeguard
Academies are scheduled for October
Council Memo -Parks & Recreation Dept. Update -Aquatic Centers and Lifeguard Staff
Sept. 30, 2021
Page 4
o The September Lifeguard Academy concluded on Sept. 18, 2021, with three
graduates
■ All three graduates are interested in employment with the city
• All three graduates are high school students and are unavailable
for weekday morning and early afternoon shifts
■ One student dropped-out during the last weekend of sessions due to
illness, but is interested in employment with the city
• The Aquatic Supervisor that provides the instruction is
scheduling make-up sessions for that participant to complete the
academy
• That participant has limited availability for weekday morning and
early afternoon shifts
o The first of the October Lifeguard Academies is scheduled to start on
Oct. 9, 2021, and to conclude on Oct. 17, 2021
■ 12 participants have now registered for this academy; this academy is
full, as 12 participants is the maximum occupancy
o The second of the October Lifeguard Academies is scheduled to start on
Oct. 22, 2021, and to conclude on Oct. 30, 2021
■ No participants have yet to register for this academy, which just opened
Beach Lifeguard Certification Equivalency Determination
The California Pool Code specifies a pool Lifeguard must be certified through programs
administered by the American Red Cross, the YMCA of US, or equivalent, as determined by the
California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Beach Lifeguards are typically certified through
a program administered by the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA).
• The Parks & Recreation Department and the Fire Department staff consulted with the
San Diego County Department of Public Health (County DPH) and the CDPH to obtain an
equivalency determination for the USLA's certification.
o The Fire Department received a letter from CDPH, indicating it did not have the
staff knowledge nor the funding to make the equivalency determination
■ The California Pool Code specifies that only CDPH is charged with the
authority to make this determination; no other agency can do so
• County DPH indicated it could review the certification materials,
but it does not have the authority to make this determination
• CDPH declined the city's offer to reimburse it for expenditures
incurred as a result of making the equivalency determination
■ The City Manager's Office sent a letter to Assembly Member Boerner-
Horvath's Office, requesting assistance in encouraging CDPH to develop
alternate means of making the equivalency determination
Council Memo -Parks & Recreation Dept. Update -Aquatic Centers and Lifeguard Staff
Sept. 30, 2021
Page 5
■ The Parks & Recreation Department asked the American Red Cross if
Lifeguards with USLA certifications could receive only supplemental
training for its certification; such supplemental training is not offered
• One Carlsbad beach Lifeguard (USLA certified) is interested in
serving as a part-time pool Senior Lifeguard and has limited
availability on weekday morning and early afternoons; would
need equivalency determination or Red Cross/YMCA ce rtification
• Two Oceanside beach Lifeguards (USLA certified) are interested
in Carlsbad employment as part-time pool Senior Lifeguards and
have limited availability on weekday mornings and early
afternoons; would need equivalency determination or Red
Cross/YMCA certification
MOU Between City and Carlsbad High School
The City Manager's Office requested the City Attorney's Office draft a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the City of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Unified School District
(CUSD) for use of Monroe Street for the one Carlsba.d High School physical education class
ordinarily held during weekday morning hours.
• The MOU would be a contingency for the high school, if future Lifeguard shortages
necessitate the reduction of operating hours at Monroe Street
Next steps
o The City Attorney's Office is drafting the MOU for city staff to review and
comment on it, prior to asking CUSD staff to review and comment on it
■
■
Dependent on minimal comments provided and an expedited return by
CUSD, the City Attorney's Office staff may have the MOU ready for an
item to be considered at the Nov. 2, 2021, City Council Meeting
Per the California Pool Code, Monroe Street could only be open to CUSD
students (no public access), and it must be monitored during the
occupied MOU period by American Red Cross/YMCA certified Lifeguards
• According to Carlsbad High School, its staff are not currently
American Red Cross/YMCA certified Lifeguards
Staff will continue to pursue the above measures and any additional new measures needed to
restore regular operating hours with patron safety at Monroe Street as soon as practicable.
Attachment: A. Council Memorandum dated July 15, 2021
Council Memo -Parks & Recreation Dept. Update -Aquatic Centers and Lifeguard Staff
Sept. 30, 2021
Page 6
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Michael Calderwood, Fire Chief
Nick Ordille, Assistant_ Fire Chief
Ryan Green, Finance Director
Cindie McMahon, Assistant City Attorney
Nathan Pearson, Fire Division Chief
Judy Von Kalinowski, Human Resources Director
Kristina Ray, Communications & Engagement Director
Allegra Frost, Deputy City Attorney
David Harrison, Assistant Director of Emergency Services
Jason Haber, Intergovernmental Affairs Director
Kevin Lynds, Fire Battalion Chief
Mike Pacheco, Recreation Services Manager
Paul Ho, Senior Program Manager
Carolyn DelGrande, Management Analyst
Silvano Rodriquez, Management Analyst
To the members of the:
Cl1Y COUNCIL
Date 7lts}'2.1CA ✓ cc ~
Crvl V ACM ✓ DCM (3) !::_
July 15, 2021
To:
From:
Via:
Council Memorandum
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
. Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Direcl':5
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager ~
ATTACHMENT A
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID #2021139
Re: Parks & Recreation Department Services Update (Districts-All)
This memorandum provides an update on the Parks & Recreation Department services as the
region emerges from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Background
On June 15, 2021, all Community and Aquatic Centers returned to full capacity and resumed in-
person services, except for the Senior Center. On July 6, 2021, the Senior Center reopened for
in-person services, including congregate dining under the meal program. Staff also continues to
offer several virtual programs, and to provide meal delivery service for patrons that qualify.
There are currently very few limitations to the Parks & Recreation Department's regular in-
person services.
Discussion
Summer Camps
The Parks & Recreation Department is offering in-person and virtual summer camps, ages three
to 16. This year's lineup includes 60 different camps including sports, arts, science and more.
Thus far, 3,700 participants are signed up for 184 total weeks of summer camp offerings, which
represents an increase in community demand prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several camps
have wait lists for participants. In response, staff has added camps and is exploring offering
more weeks of high-demand summer camps. The schedule of camps currently runs parallel
with the Carlsbad Unified School Districts' ten-week long summer break that started
June 14, 2021, and ends Aug. 20, 2021.
Food Assistance
There has been a significant increase in requests for food assistance throughout the region
during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, city staff have consistently administered the San
Diego County's Aging and Independent Services Senior Nutrition Meal Program (Program) to
Carlsbad residents. Under this Program, on July 6, 2021, San Diego County required the city to
suspend meal pick-up service and limit meal delivery service in deference to in-person
congregate dining of meals at the Senior Center. With.that in-person dining now resumed, and
Community Services Branch
Parks & Recreation Department
799 Pine Avenue, Suite 200 I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2826 t
ATTACHMENT A
Parks & Recreation Department Services Update (Districts-All)
July 15, 2021
Page 2 .
the balance of the Senior Center now reopened, city staff and volunteers will continue to
address the requests of residents for home delivery of meals, as resources allow.
Transportation Services
The nationwide staffing shortages associated with th.e COVID-19 pandemic recovery have also
contributed to difficulties in recruiting part-time 'Class B' bus drivers for transportation services
of seniors. Due to a reduction in available drivers, and the need to address the above home
delivery of meals, transportation services of seniors are currently limited to medical
appointments on pre-scheduled days.
Aquatic Centers
The Aquatic Centers have also been significantly impacted by the nationwide staffing shortages
associated with the COVID-19 pandemic recovery. Part-time instructors and lifeguards are
needed for both Aquatic Centers. Until the instructor positions can be filled, all swimming
. lessons have been consolidated at one center (Alga Norte) in order to concentrate efforts. In
addition, until the lifeguard positions can be filled, the Aquatic Centers cannot accommodate
inflatable aquatic structures due to the additional dedicated lifeguards required during this use.
Next steps
Staff will continue to explore offering more weeks of summer camps. Staff will also continue to
work with the Human Resources Department on strategies to recruit part-time staff. Recently,
a six-week digital marketing campaign for lifeguards and recreation leaders (drivers) was
completed. The campaign resulted in 770,000 impressions (views of a link to the job page on
websites such as Google/Bing/YouTube) and 1,016 clicks, but very few new applications.
Additionally, the Human Resources Department will be conducting salary surveys this fiscal ye 9r
to ensure the pay ranges for part-time staff are competitive with surrounding entities.
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services
Judy Von Kalinowski, Human Resources Director
Mike Pacheco, Recreation Services Manager
Mick Calarco, Special Projects Manager
Bonnie Elliott, Senior Management Analyst
Paul Ho, Human Resources Senior Program Manager
Silvano Rodriquez, Management Analyst
2