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Recreation and Parks report shows strong event participation; staffing and transportation trends highlighted
Summary
Recreation manager Linnea Palmer and other staff reported high participation in seasonal events and leagues, progress on field and park maintenance, and raised continuing issues: staffing shortages in some roles, transportation program usage patterns, and preliminary planning for a playground replacement using Measure A funds.
Recreation Manager Linnea Palmer provided the commission with a fourth-quarter update on programs, registration, events and operations, reporting strong participation across youth and adult programs and identifying ongoing staffing and service questions for the department.
Palmer said the quarterly guide and program registration show rising engagement: the department reported 78 class offerings in the current period, 110 new social media followers and 64 posts in the quarter, and early rec-ID renewals that produced 424 El Segundo IDs and 30 Wiseman IDs. Seasonal events and programs showed substantial turnout, including a two-performance Nutcracker (27 participants and 191 tickets sold), winter camps (33 participants for ages 6–11 and 38 participants for ages 3–5), and a large beach-city swim meet with more than 800 swimmers and nearly 2,000 attendees, the report said.
Staff also summarized sports-league participation: a four-division basketball program with 286 participants forming 28 teams, a 165-team JingleFest pickleball tournament, and fall adult leagues including a 109-team pickleball league. Maintenance projects include infield work at George Brett Field and Stevenson Field and preventive measures at the dog park slope; staff said they are working with FEMA for funding for permanent slope stabilization.
Commissioners and staff discussed Candy Cane Lane (the seasonal neighborhood event) and the department's use of Prop A funds to support transportation. Linnea said staff received positive feedback from residents and social media about a transportation pilot and that the program is expensive but currently funded from Prop A for this year. Ali added that staff heard "over 200 people riding it every night" on some nights and said the department will evaluate expanding the service next year.
Commissioners asked for more data on resident vs. nonresident usage of temporary transportation services and noted continuing hiring challenges for part‑time and lifeguard positions. Staff said a recent pay increase helped aquatics recruitment and that a full‑time analyst position remains open and is affecting budget and contract management work. For capital projects, staff said they have submitted a Measure A application and draft resolution to the city attorney's office to seek permission to apply for per‑capita funding for a rec-park playground replacement project; community meetings are planned to gather input on playground elements.
The commission received the departmental reports; no formal votes were taken on the program items presented.
