Page 67 - Ranger Manual 2017_Neat

Chapter
9

Open Space and Mountain Parks

Scheduling Requirements

Overview
Rangers (lead ranger, ranger I and ranger II) are members of the Boulder Municipal Employees
Association (BMEA). The BMEA contract defines pay rates and requirements for overtime, standby
duty, vacation, and sick time.

Rangers’ work schedules vary seasonally, depending on ranger availability and the Open Space
and Mountain Parks (OSMP) system’s patrol needs. Rangers are required to work weekends and
holidays to provide public and resource protection during peak recreation times, work variable
shifts and evening/night shifts, and work other special patrol shifts as needed. Rangers are also
responsible for after hours, on-call responses that are handled through standby rotations.

Rangers are eligible to take vacation time after their prescribed probationary period has passed.
The ranger operations supervisors in charge of scheduling must approve all vacation time; all
vacation requests should be made as far in advance as possible.

Weekly Shift Scheduling
• Rangers provide daily patrol coverage by working two shifts, 10 hours each, four days a
week. The “front end” shift is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. The “back end”
shift is Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday;

• A lead ranger or ranger II should be scheduled every day, preferably for shifts that
correspond with a ranger I to provide him or her proper guidance;
• Rangers’ shifts are designed to provide ranger coverage from dawn to dusk; ending shift
times will be adjusted throughout the course of the year to provide this coverage;
• The daily work schedule should have at least two rangers start at dawn (typically 6 a.m.)
and at least two should end their shift at dusk (defined as civil twilight). The supervisor or
lead ranger will determine the appropriate schedule for minimum staffing situations;

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