Page 153 - SAC - DYPCE - AMB 04 11 19

Tracee Crockett has seen that side. Worked in aviation department. has worked for two former mayors which has
bolstered her political acumen, community impacts of parks.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019 9:24 AM Community Enrichment: ran a program with aviation to acquire properties in the air zone, ran a
project to help the residents who stayed to resolve their concerns; took a case management approach
and stayed engaged in the process. The community needs to feel that you are part of the community
City of Sacramento not just working in the community from 8­5. Elected officials are working with their core values and
Director of Youth, Parks, and Community Engagement need to be accountable to the residents making sure we are doing things that we can speak to and be
Phone Screen Questions able to explain the why.

5. Tell us 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?
General Questions
1. Why are you interested in the YPCE Director opportunity with the City of Sacramento? Why are you Personnel issues are always tough, especially terminations. If you enjoy firing people, you're in the
actively or passively looking for a new position? wrong business, but if you can't fire people, then you're in the wrong business. She works with her
deputies through these issues. One employee did not want to fire someone because she like the
Was not actively looking for a new position, but in the last several months has been willing to consider employee despite the egregious behaviors. If you did not like her would you be advocating at the
if a good opportunity came up. She gets contacts from recruiters, and when Sac came up because of same level. Consistent with the process.
the City and the size of the Parks system, the diversity and the fact that the department oversees the Recently had a music festival and the decibel level was consistent with what they said, but the bass
youth programming. She is open to another opportunity, and this is a Council/Manager form of level was too high. There were a lot of complaints. They ended up on a 10pm conference call that
government. night. They met first thing the next day, which was Saturday and she stayed through Sunday to be
sure they were addressing noise. Contractually, they did not have the option to shut it down, but had
2. Please describe your most recent position and day­to­day responsibilities. to help work through the process because one of the electeds wanted to shut it down. It was rap

She is the Assistant Director, there are four geographic regions that she oversees, IT and accounting, music so the bass level is different and the community wasn't used to that level. The deputy for the
parks development, does not oversee HR which reports to the Director, but she works closely with HR; division was on site and they worked with the PIO to address the concerns. They had staff going
doesn't supervise natural resources division and mountain preserves, and special operations which are around with noise readers and kept telling them to turn it down. There were no wins in the situation,
the pools and athletic fields, but works with those divisions. Oversees the budget and procurement. and it was the end of the festival so people were very frustrated. It just happened and the festival will
Assists the deputies in running special events, keeps Council and Mayor briefed as well as key not be returning and they have some new requirements for noise they are considering.
community members. A focus is team leading, lead consistent operationally so that there is 6. Please describe your experience in coordinating, tracking and reporting out on the implementation
consistency. Ensuring staff is trained in soft and technical skills. of organizational goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
3. How many employees do you supervise? Who do you report to?
Has an annual report that the PIO constructs, they provide the content. They use scan cards that track

Oversees 6 deputies and there are about 600+ FTE under her side of the organization, includes union how many people attend the community centers, how many go to some of the events like the free
relations. Reports to the Director. fourth of July event. They have a Parks Commission and she reviews all of the materials. The
Position Specific Questions presentations could have been better, so she implemented a practice session with the presenting staff
so that they are prepared. Have a strategic plan, the last one was a three year plan that just wrapped
4. Describe your experience with each of the three areas of the department: Youth, Parks, and up. Has a deputy leading that effort now. Helping them dive into that project to finalize, they have
Community Engagement. update measures. She has liaison groups (e.g. field allocations, fees, etc.) some groups were meeting
more regularly than others; has asked for quarterly reports and an annual report to help her staff
Youth: in her current role, provides services to youth, offers summer programs. Centers of varying know that it is being tracked and keeps them on track. 2008­2009 went through serious budget cuts,
sizes in different income areas. A lot of the larger centers in more affluent areas were providing better cut a lot of positions based on vacancies rather than a more consistent approach. Now has two teams
field trips and summer activities. She talks to her staff about social equity and ensuring that kids, working on why one area might have more staff than another and try to identify the needs and
regardless of their parents' income levels, have access to the same services and activities. They have a recommendations. They will come to her with the information to see if more positions are need,
teen center. Checking in with the youth to see what topics they are interested in, for instance job reallocation needed, what are the maintenance levels and what is needed optimally. Now that we are
training, life skills, etc. To help them along the way. Started her career in the youth center providing stable, don't necessarily have money, but the staffing doesn't always make sense, so evaluating
programming, was a case manager for teen moms and provided them resources. Throughout her through staff to find the solutions.
career has had the opportunity to be deeply involved in youth issues. 7. Please describe a project in which you played a major role in creating pathways for improvement for
Parks: Was part­time in parks and rec when she started her career. She has an understanding of the those in your community.
recreation side, has had her kids participate in the programs as a parent and community member and