9 parks, 120 maintenance workers, down from 210 in 1995. The smaller staff is unable to complete all the maintenance work -- especially preventative maintenance. Workers concentrate primarily on grass cutting and garbage collection. In North Park, it takes about two weeks to cut 1,800 acres.

Recommend the county continue with direct delivery, while implementing changes to help build the department’s capacity. 1) restructuring at the employee and park level, 2) partnerships and volunteers, 3) some managerial improvements to help monitor the level of service being provided.

Restructuring (HIT BULLET)

>NOW: Employees defined by what they do ($10.69 litter; $11.69 mowing)

> Westmoreland County: Four skill levels, work up, broad skills.

>NOW: Too many people involved in decision making = not many decisions being made & acted on

>City of Pittsburgh: Teams responsible for all aspects of park; work assignments, prioritizing. Drawing skilled workers from countywide team.

Partnerships (HIT BULLET)

>North Hills, Harrison Hills, Round Hill Farm > Model for the county to build upon

Volunteers

> PAST: volunteers conducted routine maintenance

> NOW: practice was discontinued last year (labor and unions)

> BUT: Municipal governments have been able to deflect labor tensions when using volunteers, however. Stress it is building capacity; get workers involved

Managerial Improvements (HIT BULLET)

>Cost and performance measurement >Get a handle on what is actually being done

>Better position to monitor current performance and bargain if contracting/mgd comp is ever done