Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Curry County aims to expand aquatic safety program and staff over three years
Summary
Aquatic Safety lead Luke Martinez proposed expanding prevention, visitor safety and workforce development with a three‑year staffing plan (targeting 3 FTE and seasonal staff), funded by grants, tourism contracts and partner organizations.
Luke Martinez described the Aquatic Safety Program as a certified open‑water lifeguard service covering coastline and inland waterways that focuses on prevention, outreach and response. He said baseline metrics include contacts, preventative actions, K–12 education outreach and rescues/assists.
Luke outlined three primary goals: reduce risk through increased presence and targeted outreach to high‑risk populations; support tourism and visitor safety through partnerships with destination management organizations and state agencies; and build workforce capacity via a junior lifeguard pipeline. The staffing plan calls for two full‑time aquatic safety officers in the next fiscal year, seasonal staff in year two, and three FTE plus seasonal staff in year three.
Funding strategies include grants, maritime and tourism contracts, partnerships (Wild Rivers Coast, Oregon State Marine Board) and program revenue from youth programming; Luke noted the Southern Oregon Workforce Investment Board provided $20,000 in scholarships last year and said his JJ program charges about $200 per student.
What’s next: pursue state and grant funding, expand youth programming and provide ongoing metrics through the program’s reporting system.
Sources: statements by Luke Martinez at the April 1 workshop.
