Kern County Grand Jury • 2023-2024

Report: Kern County and Bakersfield City Park Rangers

Published: May 22, 2024 15 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

F1
Both Park Ranger Programs have dedicated employees who want parks to be a safe and clean environment for the citizens, making the parks more enjoyable.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
City Rangers are a self-sufficient program, making them less reliant on other City services.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Occasionally, vehicles being driven through the Kern County parks do not follow posted speed limit signs, endangering visitors.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Speed bumps be installed on the main roads in the County parks to decrease the speed of vehicles driving through the park by January 1, 2025. (Finding 3)
F4
Since most illegal activity occurs after dark in both City and County parks, daylight operating hours would be preferable for safety concerns.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Both the City and County review and evaluate the operating hours of the parks to reduce unwanted activities within the parks. Exemptions could be considered for special events at the parks. The review should be initiated by January 1, 2025. (Finding 4)
F5
Security at various County buildings have multiple types of security levels to monitor the building, which may be a less efficient use of staff.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Staffing of security personnel at County buildings be reviewed for efficiency and better utilization of County Rangers by September 1, 2024. (Finding 5)
F6
County parks in outlying areas may not receive the same maintenance scheduling because of staffing deficiencies.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Develop an MOU with outside vendors, e.g., Work Release Program, to monitor the maintenance of parks in outlying areas of Kern County by September 1, 2024. This would help with staffing shortages. (Finding 6)
F7
Kern County high schools and colleges are a good source for recruitment into the Rangers’ Programs. COMMENTS: The Bakersfield City Park Rangers and the Kern County Park Rangers Programs are both staffed with hard working individuals. As with most government departments, staffing and budget are the biggest issues. Both Programs are doing the best they can with the resources they have available, and are working hard to protect the citizens and their desire to have safe and clean parks for their families. As crime and homelessness continues to increase around our parks, these programs need the full support of the political leaders within the City and County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Kern County Rangers and the Bakersfield City Rangers contact high schools and colleges throughout Kern County to inform students of the opportunities of joining the Ranger Programs to help with staff recruitment, beginning September 1, 2024. (Finding 7) NOTES: • The Kern County Sheriff’s Office and Bakersfield City should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: https://www.kerncounty.com/government/other-agencies/grand-jury • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website at: https://www.kerncounty.com/government/other-agencies/grand-jury RESPONSE DEADLINE: • REQUIRED WITHIN 60 DAYS FROM: Kern County Sheriff’s Office (Findings 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and Recommendations 1 o through 5) • REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM: Bakersfield City Council (Findings 1, 2, 4, 7 and Recommendations 2 and 5) o Kern County Board of Supervisors (Findings 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and o Recommendations 1 through 5) RESPONSES ARE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO CAL. PENAL CODE §§933 (c) AND 933.05 WITHIN 90 DAYS TO: • PRESIDING JUDGE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF KERN 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 • TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Cal. Penal Code §929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury.

Comments 7