Oceanside is considering the creation of a park ranger program to help manage its system of 17 community parks, 16 neighborhood parks, recreation centers, aquatics facilities, a regional park, five skate parks, and miles of trails and open space.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission this month unanimously approved the initiation of a feasibility study to determine the costs and benefits of a ranger program, something city officials have considered for years, but never had the money to do.
“It is something we are hearing constantly there is a need for,” said Manuel Gonzalez, the city’s parks and recreation director.
The neighboring cities of Carlsbad and San Marcos both have ranger programs with full-time employees who help enforce regulations, assist with events and programs, and maintain a safe and welcoming environment for park visitors.
The feasibility study would review park ranger programs used elsewhere and evaluate Oceanside’s needs and costs, Gonzalez said. It also would address important issues such as staffing levels, enforcement powers, and whether rangers should be armed, though it’s unlikely they would carry firearms.
“I’m not comfortable with the parks department overseeing a program with rangers who are armed,” he said.
A likely setup would be for the parks department to run the program separately but in cooperation with the Oceanside Police Department and code enforcement officers.
“Certainly, we would not want to duplicate efforts, but definitely there are places where we could supplement what’s going on,” Gonzalez said.
Aside from maintenance and operational issues, the Police Department now is primarily responsible for responding to issues in city parks.
“Current staffing levels and the volume of calls received throughout the city require that the Police Department prioritize their response to calls, and there can be delays in their response to issues that are not an immediate threat to public safety,” states a city report.
“A park ranger program would allow the Parks and Recreation Department to respond to issues within the park system that do not rise to the level that requires a response from the Police Department,” it states.
The initiation of a feasibility study does not require the Oceanside City Council’s approval as long as the costs are not excessive, Gonzalez said.
“I can’t imagine we are talking more than $15,000 to $20,000 to have a consultant’s recommendation,” he said.
A ranger program itself would be a significant expense for the city, he said, though no estimate was available. It would require hiring employees and purchasing vehicles and equipment with ongoing maintenance and operational costs, which the feasibility study will help determine.
Approval of the program would be up to the City Council, and only after extensive planning, budgeting and public review.
“It’s going to take some time,” Gonzalez said, adding that a final approval is at least “a couple years” away.
The feasibility study also could indicate possible revenue sources to help pay for the program, Gonzalez said. For example, the city could charge fees for services or rent space or equipment at parks.
So far, Oceanside has budgeted no money for the program, though it could qualify for funding from the city’s voter-approved Measure X sales tax revenue. Also, the city could pay for it from the general fund.
A few commission members suggested things they would like to include in the feasibility study.
Commissioner Genevieve Wunder said it should include details of the program’s costs, an explanation of the rangers’ authority and law enforcement capabilities, and the process used to select the rangers.
Commission Chair Lisa Russell said the program should include upward mobility for the rangers to encourage them to stay in their jobs and offer them a chance to advance to the Police Department or other agencies.
City Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa, the council’s liaison to the commission, said the program could include an educational element for park visitors, and that it could help deter illegal activities in parks.