San Franciscans shared the qualities they want in the Recreation and Parks Department’s next general manager at a forum held at Minnie & Lovie Ward Recreation Center on Wednesday evening.
Around a dozen residents attended the forum, the second of three held at the request of Mayor Daniel Lurie in advance of the Recreation and Parks Commission's national search. CPS HR Consulting was tapped to find a replacement for 16-year General Manager Phil Ginsburg, who left late last year under a cloud caused by the implosion of the nonprofit Parks Alliance.
The next general manager will step into a highly public-facing role overseeing a department with a $255 million budget, over 230 parks and open spaces, and more than 1,000 employees.
Recreation and Park Commission President Kat Anderson emphasized the importance of the position, describing it as “like being a mayor.”
“So what kind of mayor do you want to have over Rec and Park?” she said.
The forum opened with executive recruiters Pamela Derby and Fatima Nukic introducing themselves and their process. Afterward, about six people stood up to share what they want in a new parks boss.
Steven Depont-Kalani, who represents District 11 on the Park and Recreation Open Space Advisory Committee, spoke first to call for the appointment of an insider who is well-versed in the law enforcement needs across the parks.
Makato Valdez, vice president of the Rec and Park chapter of Service Employees International Union Local 1021, recommended federal candidates from the National Park Service be considered.
Denise Louie, a native plant enthusiast and advocate for wildfire prevention in San Francisco, got up several times throughout the meeting and called for the incoming general manager to understand “the danger posed by dense groves of unirrigated eucalyptus trees.”
“We need someone with the ability to prioritize the budget to address this public safety issue because we are all at risk,” Louie said.
The Gardens of Golden Gate Park’s CEO, Stephanie Linder, emphasized that the next general manager must have experience in philanthropy, given the department’s budget constraints.
“We need a general manager who understands how to leverage private philanthropy to really take care of our public-private participation,” Linder said.
Louie jumped up in response to Linder’s presence and echoed the need for someone versed in biodiversity.
“This is not about having a light show in the Botanical Garden, or a Ferris wheel in Golden Gate Park,” Louie said.
Jan Chernoff, a property manager and resident of the Buena Vista neighborhood, told the room that the discussion was missing the recognition of Ginsburg’s visionary leadership.
“[They have] got to be more than just a manager of people and a manager of budgets,” Chernoff said. “He had a really strong idea about what the parks should look like and how they will look 10 years from now.”
Mary Harris, president of the Ocean View-Merced Heights-Ingleside Neighbors In Action, said she had scored park report cards for Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth before Ginsburg’s tenure.
“I discovered that not all parks and clubhouses were treated equally, until Phil improved all that,” Harris said. “But I really want that to be equitable, and every community deserves a beautiful park, rec center, has good employees and programming and all that. I just want to make sure that we don't go backwards.”
After all of the feedback was given, Anderson echoed the need for a forward-looking leader but cautioned that they will also need to make tough decisions in the years ahead.
“People are going to see things they don't like, and you're going to hear the word ‘privatization’ a lot,” Anderson said. “You're going to hear that City Hall is doing stuff to us instead of for us a lot. The fact of the matter is, we have to find ways to make money and pay for systems.”
When asked what privatization might look like, Anderson told The Light that the parks would remain public, but management could be handed over to private companies.
“Similar to a golf course, where there might be a management agreement, but it's still a public course, it's just managed in a different way,” Anderson said. “I don't expect you're going to see a lot more of anything like that, but in that vein, you might see one thing happen.”
Once the commission interviews the finalists, it can submit up to three names to Lurie, who will ultimately make the appointment.
San Franciscans can provide feedback on Rec and Parks new leader via an online survey or the third and final forum via Zoom on Feb. 9 at 6 p.m.
