Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCORRESPONDENCE - 65CMitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 9:11 AM To: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Cc: Trujillo, Rose Ann; Orozco, Norma; Gerardo, Abigail; Alcala, Abigail Subject: FW: More on Park Rangers Categories: Correspondence Please add to correspondence for this item. Thank you. From: Magallon, Becky Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 8:43 AM To: Huizar, Maria Subject: FW: More on Park Rangers Forwarding an email that came to some of the Councilmembers regarding the Park Rangers program. From: Ann Salisbury [ Sent: Monday, February 02, 2015 7:51 PM To: Pulido, Miguel; Martinez, Michele; Reyna, Roman Subject: More on Park Rangers Good Evening Mr. Mayor and Council Members Martinez and Reyna, Thank you again for your support of the Park Rangers program. I did want to highlight one thing you may not have been aware of: Staff Option C moves the Park Rangers to the Police Department. Buried on page 3 of the Staff Report, is this sentence, "Option C would be to begin recruitment of part time Park Rangers that qualify to carry guns, are not CaIPERS retirees, and report to the Police Department." (Emphasis mine.) To the extent you wish only to replace only the people, and not make any other changes the program, you will have to make a motion using your own wording rather than describing an option in the Staff Report. To assist you, please allow me to provide you with "Option S" (for "status quo"): Direct staff to (1) begin hiring non-CalPERS annuitant park rangers with the same criteria used in previous recruitments, (2) rescind the termination notices of existing Park Rangers until their replacements are hired and trained, and (3) continue the existing Park Ranger program in all other respects. I expect you to get push -back for not terminating the current Rangers by February 18th, but the reality is that the job flyer for replacement Rangers is already drafted and could have been posted in January 2014. For reasons unknown to me, it was not. Ifanyone is puttingthe City at risk, it is management. CCM 02/03/2015 65C Also, the Rangers (all former law enforcement) are adequately trained, but their certifications have lapsed because they were not approved time or funds to keep their certifications current. Ifan oy ne is putting the City at risk, it is management. Thank you very much for your time and attention to this issue that means a great deal to many of us. Sincerely, -Ann Salisbury Mitre -Ramirez, Norma From: Huizar, Maria Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 4:40 PM To: Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Cc: Trujillo, Rose Ann; Orozco, Norma; Alcala, Abigail; Gerardo, Abigail Subject: FW: Park Ranger Program Please add to correspondence. From: Lopez, Mike Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 4:38 PM To: 'Rip Ribble' Cc: Huizar, Maria; Mitre -Ramirez, Norma Subject: FW: Park Ranger Program According to the Clerk's Office, you need to forward this email to Maria Huizar or Norma Mitre - Ramirez. They will print it out as handouts for the Council. This is their policy. Thank you. From: Rip Ribble[ Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2015 2:00 PM To: Lopez, Mike Subject: Park Ranger Program Unfortunately, I am unable to attend tonight's City Council Meeting. I would like to have someone read my message to the City Council, To: Members of the Santa Ana City Council From: Rip Ribble, former Exec. Dir. of the City's Parks, Rec. & Community Services Agency Subj: Park Rangers Program As the past Exec. Director of the City's Parks, Rec. & Community Services Agency, I took a personal pride on the work and services provided by the Park Rangers Program. Prior to beginning the Program, which was established prior to my coming to the City, many of our 40 Parks were overrun with gangs and gang activities. Those that we serve were afraid to be in the parks at night, few attended the Parks after-school or on the weekends. I clearly remember the day that Mike Lopez, our Parks Superintendent, and I ,were visiting Alona Park to share a sack lunch and to discuss any necessary repairs or improvements to that particular park. As we finished lunch and were heading back to my car, two vehicles were arriving, and I thought to myself, if l didn't know better, they sure look like gang members. Upon returning to the Department, we learned that two gangs had just met at the Park, to settle a fight that occurred earlier that day at a continuation school. Two gang members were shot, one died later that day. To this day, I wonder that happened to the two ladies swinging their kids on the park swing, and what happened to the man and three boys that were playing over -the -line on the softball field. The City has thousands of residents and the majority of those have children. They need the Parks and it's our responsibity to keep the Parks as safe and sound as possible. CCM 02/03/2015 65C The Park Rangers also provide hands on assistance and good will. They make sure that the fields are being used by those that completed the field reservations and they work to enforce no drinking of alcoholic beverages in the Parks. They encourage all users to clean up after themselves, cutting down of the Monday Morning work and expense of the Parks crews. As soon as you remove the Park Rangers Program, we will be right back to gangs taking over and people being afraid to visit their local Parks on a regular basis. I simply ask the Members of the Santa Ana City Council to not take this process lightly. we need the Park Rangers Program to keep our Parks safe and secure. I thank you, in advance, for your consideration and support.