Parks and Recreation Department Organizational Assessment Services

The City of Santa Cruz, incorporated in 1866 and operating under a Council/Manager form of government since 1948, seeks an independent organizational assessment of its Parks and Recreation Department to enhance operational efficiency, staffing structures, service delivery, and long-term sustainability. Situated along the northern edge of Monterey Bay, the city spans 15.8 square miles and supports a diverse population of 65,000, with a robust array of municipal services including public beaches, open space management, refuse collection, law enforcement, fire protection, and utility systems. Home to cultural landmarks like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the UC Santa Cruz campus, and the Santa Cruz Harbor, the city leverages its coastal location and tourist appeal to sustain community services. The Parks and Recreation Department, facing evolving community needs and rising service demands, requires an objective evaluation of its current structure and practices to identify actionable, fiscally responsible improvements that align with existing or realistically attainable budget and staffing constraints. The solicitation, identified as PR-0318 and posted on July 31, 2026, invites qualified consultants to deliver a comprehensive review of the department’s organizational effectiveness. The assessment must evaluate internal workflows, resource allocation, personnel roles, and service outcomes while ensuring feasibility within current fiscal parameters. Responses are due by August 22, 2026, and the work will be performed in Santa Cruz, California. Primary contact for the procurement is Bonnie Lipscomb, Director of Parks and Recreation, with Emeline Nguyen, Principal Management Analyst, serving as secondary contact. The procurement is managed under the state and local government (SLED) category, reflecting the city’s commitment to transparent, data-driven governance and continuous improvement in public service delivery.