Parks deputy director: staffing at 82%; department recommends pay and process changes to retain workers

Deputy Director Angela Nelson presented department staffing data and exit-interview findings to the commission, saying the department "still remain[s] at 82%" of budgeted positions. Nelson identified recruitment challenges for specialized roles (CDL-required maintenance positions and some recreation roles), onboarding delays tied to HR processes, pay-structure limits imposed by salary ranges, and a lack of clear internal career ladders for many one-off positions.

Nelson reviewed steps already taken, including a $2 hourly increase for long-tenured part-time employees to improve retention, and said the department currently has 131 budgeted positions. Her recommendations included adjusting wages, offering retention or certification bonuses, broadening recruitment channels (colleges and industry ads) and streamlining coordination with HR to shorten time-to-hire.

Commissioners asked about the hiring workflow and timing. Nelson explained jobs typically advertise for two weeks on the NeoGov platform, HR forwards a candidate list for department review, and offers and negotiations can prolong hiring if salary grade changes are required. Commissioners and staff agreed better internal tracking and faster candidate response times could improve outcomes; Nelson said she would continue to advertise and reclassify roles where necessary.