HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 0698INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 23-0698
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
May 2, 2023
Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: STAFFING OF COMMUNITY CENTERS AND AQUATIC FACILITIES
The purpose of this Informal Report (IR) is to provide information regarding methods the Park &
Recreation (PARD) and Neighborhood Services (NSD) Departments utilize to proactively address
staffing shortages in both community centers and aquatic facilities. The IR also explains how
community centers work with community partners to enhance programs, services and overall
operations.
Proactive Steps to Address Staffing Shortages
PARD and NSD utilize the following methods to proactively seek qualified job applicants for
community center positions:
• Conduct and/or participate in hiring fairs
o March 17, 2023 for Summer Day Camp Leaders
o April 7, 2023 for Literacy Support Specialists
o April 15, 2023 Citywide Hiring Fair which netted 47 Camp Leaders and 15
Recreation Assistants
o May 20, 2023 is the next hiring fair for Camp Leaders and Literacy Support
Specialists
• Post positions (Community Center Supervisor, Recreation Programmer, and Program
Coordinator) on the job sites of the National Recreation and Park Association and
Texas Recreation and Park Society
• Post all positions on City website and hiring websites Indeed and Handshake
• Conduct university visits and actively promote summer positions to:
o Texas Christian University
o Texas Women's University
o Texas Wesleyan University
o Tarleton State University
• Post positions on social media
• Implemented incentive pay program
• Modified the age requirement to 16 for Recreation Assistants
• Partnering with Workforce Solutions as a pilot to allow placement of those obtaining job
skills
Current Status:
• As of April 21, 2023, Human Resources had 4 open requisitions for Camp Leader with
240 applicants. Of the 92 camp leader vacancies there are only 20 openings remaining.
PARD utilizes the following methods to proactively seek job applicants for aquatics positions:
• Distributed position availability information to:
o Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) Family Communications and
Community Outreach Specialist
o FWISD Industry Partnership Specialist
o Executive Director for FWISD Parent Partnerships
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 23-0698
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
May 2, 2023
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: STAFFING OF COMMUNITY CENTERS AND AQUATIC FACILITIES
o FWISD Assistant Director of Athletics over Swimming/Diving to target ISD Swim
Coaches
• Work with Sigma Swimming to discuss this year and future programming options to
increase lifeguard numbers going forward
• Attended Tarrant County Job Fair on April 15, 2023
• Offer lifeguard training to new hires or interested applicants to prepare them for the
requirements of the position
Current Status:
• Four requisitions for lifeguards have resulted in 59 applications, of which 14 are in
process with 3 openings left to fill
• Pool attendant requisitions received 52 applications with 6 in process (no vacancies left
to fill)
Aquatics staff is also utilizing positions from Forest Park Pool to on -board additional staff at
Marine Park Pool this season. This will provide opportunity for:
• Preventing reductions in hours and days of operation
• Opportunity to offer more rentals
• Increase safety and allow first time lifeguards to be partnered with experienced staff
• Resolve issues with burnout over the course of summer
• A better pool of experienced staff available to return next year when Forest Park Pool
reopens
• Provide coverage for staff who take off for illness or vacation, or return to school
Use of Partnerships to Enhance Programs, Services and Operations
PARD and NSD collaborate with numerous community organizations and individuals to enhance
the programs, services and operations. Agreements fall into four categories:
• Program Provider: Individuals and/or companies provide programs and services for a
fee paid by the City of Fort Worth. Examples:
o 619 Productions
o Creature Teacher
o Snapology, LLC
o Impact Activities, LLC (Lifetime Tennis)
o Katrice Reed
o Chefsville
o The American DJ Company
o International Sister Cities Association of Fort Worth, Inc.
o Stay Ready Strategic Defense Shorin-Ryu Karate
• Supplemental Program Provider: Organizations provide programs and services at no
charge to participants or the City of Fort Worth. Examples:
o Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 23-0698
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
May 2, 2023
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: STAFFING OF COMMUNITY CENTERS AND AQUATIC FACILITIES
o Volunteers of America Texas, Inc.
o Future Leader Outreach Network
o Amon Carter Museum of American Art
o Family Pathfinders of Tarrant County
o Tarrant Area Food Bank
• Contract Instructor: Individuals and/or companies provide programs and services for
a participant fee that is split between the instructor and the City of Fort Worth.
Examples:
o Dallas Gust — Gymnastics
o Tong II Lo Martial Science
o Tiger Rock Tae Kwon Do
o Working with Weights, LLC
o Yoga by Design
o Numerous other community members instructing in a variety of programs from
art to Zumba
• Facility Use: An organization, by contract, utilizes City facilities to conduct their
programs for a specific audience.
o One agreement through a Partners with a Shared Mission contract is with the
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County to use Diamond Hill Community
Center and the Atatiana Carr -Jefferson Community Center at Hillside for the
Comin' Up gang intervention program. This agreement does not extend the
public operating hours of the facility, but allows use of the facility after it closes.
o AB Christian Learning Center serves as a Freedom School as a recipient of
Children's Defense Funds. Additionally, this program receives funding from
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Crime Control Prevention
District (CCPD), and provides year-round programming (Afterschool and
Summer Day Camp) at no cost to youth attending Martin Luther King
Community Center. This program is fully staffed by contractors employed by the
partner organization.
Community Center staff are always seeking partners to enhance the existing portfolio of
programs and services. While the program provider, supplemental and contract instructor
agreements do not allow staff to extend the centers' hours of operations, they certainly allow staff
the opportunity to focus on other areas of facility operation while offering valuable programs for
the public. Facility use agreements have the potential to extend the service hours of the center,
but not necessarily ensure that those hours are open to the general public.
Please contact Park & Recreation Department Interim Director Dave Lewis at (817) 392-5717, or
Neighborhood Services Assistant Director Sonia Singleton at (817) 392-5774, for additional
information.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS