Oceanside Parks & Rec Committee To Examine Fairness At Public Fields

OCEANSIDE, CA — Are Oceanside public spaces fair to everyone or is there bias in who gets access? A new committee will look into any unfairness in permits and the fair allocation of the many public fields, facilities, outdoor courts, gymnasiums and aquatic centers throughout the city.

At its January meeting, the Oceanside Parks and Recreation Commission approved a new standing committee on equity and fairness in field and facility allocation within the city. This comes after members of the community repeatedly raised concerns about problems trying to obtain permits for booking the city’s fields and facilities.

The new committee was recommended based on a report from the ad hoc committee that was established last year to look into the facility fairness issue. The ad hoc committee included Parks and Rec commissioners Wilson Godinet, Lisa Russell and Genevieve Wunder with a focus on gathering community input through public forums where locals shared their difficulties trying to obtain permits. As a result of the public outcry, Commissioner Godinet proposed the standing committee to fully investigate whether field and facility time is fair for everyone and recommend solutions to address any inequities.

The new standing committee was approved in a vote of 5-2-1 with only Commissioners Thomas Frankum and Kelly Murphy voting against it, while Commissioner Kelyn Hsu abstained.

A total of 15 members of the public spoke at the January meeting in favor of creating the new committee.

Arleen Hammerschmidt/Ms Henry, longtime Oceanside High School teacher and coach, attended the meeting and shared the following report with the Patch:

Following the final report of Parks and Recreation Ad-hoc Committee on Access and Equity in Permit Approval and Field/Facility Assignments, and hearing support from 15 community leaders, the vote was 5-2-1 to approve the Standing Committee charged with investigating Field/Facility Equity, and making recommendations for correcting issues and inequities found related to Permits, Lease Agreements, Accessibility and the fair allocation of public fields, facilities, outdoor courts, gymnasiums, and aquatic centers.

This action follows several years of concerns and frustrations voiced to the Parks and Recreation Commission about suspected favoritism toward some groups, including youth sports organizations, while other groups believed they’d been treated unfairly; disrespectful treatment on the part of Parks and Rec. Administrative personnel toward group leaders of underserved communities; charges of perceived conflict of interest; questionable/incorrect/subjective decisions made by Parks and Recreation Administration regarding categorization of users, Lease Agreements, Accessibility when applying for field/facility permits; and more.

All issues uncovered by the Ad-hoc Committee could not be fully investigated to include recommendations, in the time allotted the Ad-hoc Committee, including how and why an unjust, unfair, unsportsmanlike, unacceptable and unauthorized decision by a Parks and Recreation manager to award a local charter academy school the incorrect status of OUSD Joint Use Authority School occurred.

Wilson Godinet, Chair of the Ad-hoc Committee said, “The fact that at least four gangs claim John Landis Park screams for collaborative stakeholder attention. Parks and Recreation Commission should consider ourselves stakeholders as well! How can city Parks and Recreation contribute to the grassroots efforts of anti gang, mentor oriented role models, law enforcement, cultural or faith based volunteers and youth advocates? Re-establish trust with the community.”

“We are looking forward to tackling field/facility equity. Stay tuned to attend these open meetings.” stated Ad-hoc member Lisa Russell.

FINDINGS:

1. Community distrust of Parks and Recreation administration.

2. Ad-hoc Committee’s request for a full transparent, detailed, public, accounting of why a Parks and Recreation manager made the incorrect “OUSD Joint Use Authority ” (OUSD JUA) school, including the resulting disadvantage to legitimate OUSD JUA school groups remains unmet.

3. Unfair allocation of permits, lease agreements, field and facility access.

4. Culturally insensitive and unacceptable level of communication and customer service to multiple sports organizations in Oceanside.

5. No identified ‘Change Agents’ as mentioned in Parks and Recreation Mission Statement.

6. Many in the Pacific Islander community, involved with field sports (football, softball, rugby, athletic fitness training) feel ‘snubbed’ by the subjective manipulation of The User Group Classification Guide.

a. Currently, any Recreation administrator has the discretion and authority to charge one group a rate fee for a field/permit, but charge no fee to another group.

7. The reality of at least 10 Oceanside gangs, with some staking claim to various parks in our community, must be taken much more seriously, especially with regard to Parks and Recreation centers located in ‘gang claimed’ neighborhoods.

a. This is a constant threat to the health and wellness of all citizens and visitors to any and all Park and Recreation Centers in Oceanside, evidenced by the recent gang related tagging and shooting near Balderrama Park and Resource Center, and repeated rival violent gang tagging at Landis Park.

8. Additional fields/space for practice/games could be found in City parks not currently included in user permit options at less central locations.

9. Some City parks are classified in a manner that could put unaware users in harm's way.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Fairness and equity in the allocation of lease agreements and permits.

2. A clear and objective Classification Guide.

3. The voices of community and cultural leaders must be included in distribution of funds to create trusted and collaborative partnerships in Oceanside’s most troubled parks and neighborhoods.

4. Outdated User Group Classification Guide corrections needed immediately.

5. Oceanside’s marginalized populations must be acknowledged, respected, and treated with dignity and must have equal access to public fields, facilities, courts, aquatics, and general amenities, particularly those near their homes.

6. Identify and implement Parks and Recreation/Community ‘Change Agents’.

7. Consider separating Sports and Athletic Field and Facility User Groups from non-sports entities.

8. In the Sports Category Guide: Prioritize and define clearly “Seasonal Sports” (i.e.: football, soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.

a. List all season start and end dates.

b. Immediately review and reconcile current seasonal field permits against the Parks and Recreation Equity and Fairness Standards.

9. Create and incorporate Parks and Recreation Equity and Fairness Standards that ensure equal access to fields and facilities inclusive of Oceanside residents who live nearby and play organized sports.

10. Implement Criteria for measuring whether Parks and Recreation Administration operates with the best interest of Oceanside’s multi-ethnic and diverse population

a. Establish and implement Performance measures and clearly stated Criteria for Measurement.

11. District 1 and 2 Councilmembers should receive weekly updates by members of designated Stakeholder groups (i.e.: Save Our Streets) until trust between the community and Parks and Recreation is restored.

a. Because Districts 1 and 2 have multiple fields and facilities and a significant portion of underserved, at risk youth, gang presence, and minimal funds allocated toward collaborative efforts.

12. As a gang prevention partnership, after school programs, intramurals/sports, mentorship programs, security and resident input should be prioritized, in conjunction with the 2019 Parks and Recreation Master Plan objectives (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design).

13. Confer with community leaders and reclassify several parks.

a. Take into account existing conditions and concerns (youth and seniors services, socio-economic conditions, density, safety and security, diversity).

b. Parks and Recreation Department, Neighborhood Services Department, Oceanside Police Department and residents collaboratively serve a ‘Neighborhood Park’, with a unified effort in reaching objectives stated in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

14. Immediate reclassification of John Landis Park from Community Park to Neighborhood Park.

15. Reclassification (temporary or permanent) of both John Landis Park and Joe Balderrama Park.

16. Inclusion of Pastor Sheldon Brown (Save Our Streets) as stakeholder in collaboration with the team reopening John Landis Park.
a. He’s already entrenched in John Landis Parks’ outdoor volunteer activities, and continues to request the City for support re: renovations, resources, youth activities/programs, park enhancements, and outdoor basketball upgrades.

17. A pause in the allocation of John Landis Park field and facility permits to all entities outside the immediate neighborhood, for example sports teams and athletic organizations.

18. Parks and Recreation Department reassess the Parks and Recreation Classification list adding descriptions of specific parks that identifies unique traits, cultural artistry, and the ‘personality’ of each park.

19. Grassroots stakeholders be identified and invited to give their input, and perspective of neighborhood needs.

20. Trusted and passionate staff personnel serve as liaisons between City management and City Council.

21. Establish neighborhood partnerships and collaborative efforts focused on youth and teen activities, designed to prevent drug and gang involvement, with consistency, presence and trust.

22. Transparent and equitable distribution of funds to support authentic partnerships.

23. The City of Oceanside Parks and Recreation Department must offer trust, passion, and commitment through staffing, resources, low income fee waivers for after school activities, youth sports equity, and a fair and equitable allocation of field and facility permits for residents, mentors, sports teams, while prioritizing local children and families living nearest to any ‘gang claimed’ Parks and Recreation center.

For more information visit, Oceanside Parks and Recreation Commission

Editorial Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Oceanside-Camp Pendleton Patch.