"In a public letter sent to city leaders Nov. 7, Commissioner Ken Brennan warned that mismanagement within the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department has hamstrung the agency's ability to maintain the more than 200 parks that it is responsible for throughout the city. "My concern is they don't really understand how inefficient and unproductive (the parks department) is and how poorly the decisions within (the agency) are being made," Brennan, who represents District 10 on the 11-member commission, told San José Spotlight."
"The warning comes as city leaders consider a parcel tax ballot measure next year to help fill a longstanding funding gap that has led to an estimated $550 million backlog of deferred park maintenance. Brennan argues that before San Jose considers providing the parks department with additional funds, the City Council must reassert control over an agency he alleges has been allowed to skirt oversight and set its own agenda for years."
""Our Parks Commission is not operating as it is supposed to," Brennan wrote to councilmembers and other city leaders. "It has effectively been dormant for years, and bureaucratically skilled (parks department) staff have filled this void by taking effective control of the development of the annual (commission) work-plan.""
Commissioner Ken Brennan warned of mismanagement in the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department, saying staff inefficiency and poor decisions have hamstrung maintenance for more than 200 parks across the city. A parcel tax ballot measure is being considered to address an estimated $550 million backlog of deferred park maintenance. Brennan contends the Parks Commission has been effectively dormant and alleges department staff bypassed protocol to develop the commission's annual work plan, cutting commissioners out of the process. Brennan urges the City Council to reassert oversight before approving additional funds. Parks officials state the department followed city policies in developing the work plan.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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