Director of Recreation and Parks
Alex Posada
(805) 925- 0951 extension 2156 (Administration)
DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:
Responsible for the daily operations and management of the Recreation and Parks Department. Provide staff support to the City Manager's Office, City Council and Recreation and Parks Commission. Supervise a staff of 30 full-time and 32 permanent part-time, assigned to 5 major divisions: Parks, Landscape Districts, Urban Forest, Recreation, and Administration. Services are provided in the following areas: city parks (225+ acres), part of Los Flores Ranch Park, publicly managed trees (30,000+), street medians, storm basins and rights-of-way (45+ acres), Santa Maria Town Center landscaping and parking structures, 7 major recreation facilities offering specialty recreation classes and programs and support to community based recreation programs i.e., youth basketball, youth soccer, etc.
Mission Statement
To enrich the lives of the residents of Santa Maria and surrounding areas through the provision of quality recreation and park facilities, programs and services, while being intuitive and responsive to the leisure needs of our customers.
2024-25 Goals and Objectives
- Make forward progress on implementing a Citywide Landscape Maintenance District, including a sustainable supplemental funding source for the district.
- Develop implementation plan for installation of public art across the City in alignment with the recommendation of the Community Leisure Needs and Public Art Five-Year Master Plan.
- Make forward progress on the construction of the Sports Complex. Continue to seek out additional funding sources for the project.
- Finalize the implementation of the department’s operational restructuring, including expanded front-line supervision and middle management, employee training and development towards succession planning, and enhanced efficiencies in customer service.
- Make forward progress on capital projects including, DeJoy Avenue and Taylor Street pocket parks projects; the Veterans’ Memorial Park project; the Smith-Enos House and Japanese Community Center projects; and Battles Road Multi-purpose trail beautification projects. Continue to seek out additional funding sources for these projects.
- Bring forward the Recreation and Parks Commission final recommendations for the Community Leisure Needs and Public Art Five-Year Master Plan. Conduct a comprehensive review of current youth programs, assessing their effectiveness, relevance, and fee structures, while utilizing the Leisure Needs Assessment framework to guide the development and implementation of future youth programs. Expand and diversify the Mayor’s Youth Task Force to prevent youth violence. Develop and implement a plan to increase youth programming, including at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center.
- Promote safety in an around public spaces, encourage environmental sustainability, and create opportunities for social engagement, through the implementation of new technologies, increased Ranger training, and public education around parks and open spaces.
- Implement the Urban Forest Master Plan, including education, outreach, and updates to the City Municipal Code (including staffing).
