Page 148 - SAC - DYPCE - AMB 04 11 19

Brent Dennis
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 9:24 AM
City of Sacramento
Director of Youth, Parks, and Community Engagement
Phone Screen Questions
General Questions
1. Why are you interested in the YPCE Director opportunity with the City of Sacramento? Why are
you actively or passively looking for a new position?
Has had a long history in California; most recent position was in Tucson was aligned with the position
in Sac, setting up intergenerational programs through Parks and Rec; told his colleagues he would
only move back to Ca if something in Sac or SF opened up; definitely of interest, has had his career
followed by recruiters and colleagues (healthy grapevine); works to build his network and is an
extravert; parks and rec network is close knit, so when this opened up he heard about it; has been in
parks and rec during the trying times and feels that he can bring that skill set.
2. Please describe your most recent position and day­to­day responsibilities.
In Tuscan, focus is on Parks and Rec, golf course is an enterprise; oversees the City zoo as well; in
Columbus, OH and in SF had management agreements; works on collaborations and join use
agreements; have to be savvy with politics and the local community, sometime health care; forge
new opportunities to work within the budget; parks foundation helps deliver scholarships and a
contributing role in capital projects, etc. Being in a new leadership opportunity the last few roles, his
leadership has been very impressed with how quickly he builds relationships; his parks are accredited
and he works to maintain the credential; 128 parks, adding 4 more, 20 rec centers, extensive aquatic
complex with 19 swimming pools, adding splash pads/playgrounds
3. How many employees do you supervise? Who do you report to?
Has 6 direct reports and 400+ FTE, has a large volunteer base `1500, they help with special events and
park cleanups; he reports to CM/City Council. Works with the Parks and Rec Commission and other
ad hoc groups. Connects with the corporate community for grants and underwriting
Position Specific Questions
4. Describe your experience with each of the three areas of the department: Youth, Parks, and
Community Engagement.
At Anaheim worked with a Council member to set up a Youth Commission, had a Senior Commission
but not youth. Worked together to create the Youth Commission through Ordinance. Provided a
voice for the young people in terms of what they wanted to see in parks and rec, was also responsible
for the libraries; worked with schools. Tries to look for opportunities by coaching youth sports on his
free time; attends all the parks and rec programs and kick offs, like after school programs, and the
summer camp programs; has a direct engagement with the community
Gets into town hall meetings and neighborhood events, wants to see what people enjoy and includes
that into the offerings
As a landscape architect so brings that perspective; he was asked to City Hall by the Mayor and CM at
Tuscan, he was asked about putting a bond on the ballot to add funds to the parks and rec program;
the bones of the parks system was there but with diminished resources and staffing, needed
reinvestment; bonding formula did not raise property taxes so it was a slam dunk; he put before the
voters a parks and connections bond (trails), got the voter approval by 56%. Brings $225M of capital
projects improvement money; will add 300 miles of bikeways and multi­fitness; first landscape
architect at Tuscon he really thinks about the beauty, aesthetics, and maintenance; negotiated a park
ranger program with the police department, introducing it through the police academy to keep a
better eye on the public safety aspect
Parks build community; farmer's markets, street fairs, parties at the parks, family celebrations and
neighborhood events; lots of opportunities to see the diverse communities in the parks; has
introduced labeling native plants to encourage residence to plant similarly; partners with libraries
and school systems; going out to read the Lorax to connect kids to the importance of trees on Arbor
Day (his favorite holiday)
5. Tell me about the riskiest or most difficult management decision you have made in recent years.
What was your thought process that led you to move forward? Would you do anything differently
today?
Responsible for bringing to the Mayor and Council on April 23 an Organic First City program; he has
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researched, Bayer has had a lot of court settlements around roundup use; it is a challenging project
because of the range of attitudes and beliefs; want mayor and council to feel comfortable; some of
the precious desert plants are being taken over by some invasive plants that crowd them out and
becomes a fire hazard, there is only one chemical that can kill buffalo grass, Tuscan Water has
purchased thousands of acres of land that are covered in the grass; no scientific research that proves
that glycosphate causes cancer, but there are lawsuits making the link, very challenging issue. Has
talked to scientists, differing opinions. Taking a middle of the road approach, for the 23 , can't ban
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anything that the EPA hasn't banned in Tuscon, so there will be certain exempt areas where there
isn't human contact. All the athletic fields and turf areas have already started in this direction going
Organic first. Some of Bayer's facilities where they are developing the GMO corns and testing their
chemicals, it is also an election year for some of the Council members. Visited Irvine several times to
learn.
6. Please describe your experience in coordinating, tracking and reporting out on the implementation
of organizational goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
Reports directly to the Deputy CM, but CM recently realized he had not gone to the rec centers, took
him out of the office and visited the, has biweekly meetings and meets regularly with the Mayor and
Council quarterly to keep them up to date, does the "round robin" with the Council members to
acclimate them. Has lead a strategic planning session with his direct reports to align their strategic
plan with the City's culture map. Customer service, financial sustainability, and smart Cities initiative,
fourth is focus on employees. Most people haven't had merit increases since 2008 until this year.
CM modeled service awards after the program that Brent did in his department; had a ceremony and
pinned everyone who had served 20 years. The programs he has been leading are being employed at
a greater level. CM likes the Parks and Rec is known as the department of fun, so they have new
initiatives and programs to make parks fun and enjoyable. meets weekly with his team to go over the
metrics and programs, good for accountability.
7. Please describe a project in which you played a major role in creating pathways for improvement
for those in your community.