The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Efficiency Initiative was developed in 2008 to encourage staff to take a fresh look at how we do our work and establish efficiency ideas. Using an email campaign, then inviting all employees to a series of Efficiency Idea Forums, more than 400 different efficiency ideas were generated. Six teams of employees studied these ideas, obtained inputs from County and private subject matter experts, and identified high-impact ideas for increasing revenues and reducing costs. They completed key studies resulting in six “green” efficiency ideas. To date the Department has received slightly more than $5 million in funding to implement several of the top ideas. In January 2009 the teams hosted an Efficiency Conference to present recommendations to the County Chief Executive Officer for savings across the County. The result of this resourceful, ongoing project has been to promote group and intergovernmental cooperation in addressing shared problems. CEO William T Fujioka has used the project as a model for other departments, saying “if it has a return, I will absolutely listen to it.” A central steering committee was established and meets regularly to review new efficiency ideas and actively manage a portfolio of efficiency projects at various stages, keeping everyone informed of the status.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is one of the largest in the Country, owning and managing 153 facilities in the greater Los Angeles County. The Department of Parks and Recreation has a responsibility to demonstrate conservation and sustainable "green” practices. In 2008 we recognized compelling needs to expand our responsibilities by developing a comprehensive program for inspiring and cultivating sustainability behaviors to help save costs and increase revenues throughout our own operations. The program generated creative ideas that would not only save the Department money and time while simultaneously carrying out one of the Department’s missions to be more environmentally conscious.
