Parks Department Reorg Shifts Sanitation to Public Works; New Sustainability Deputy Named

The Parks, Recreation and Beaches Advisory Board heard a department update describing a citywide organizational restructuring that moved the sanitation group out of Parks and Recreation and into the Public Works Department, department leaders said.

Amy G. Betsy, deputy director, told the board the sanitation staff — about 67 positions and several part-time roles — moved to Public Works effective Oct. 1. She said the department gained a sustainability and special projects division, led by Dr. Nancy Gassman, and that a new capital projects department will manage the parks bond work and other capital efforts.

Carl (staff) told the board the change aims to focus divisions on core functions and make project and operations oversight more efficient. He said marketing and promotions staff now report to Strategic Communications, while capital projects and bond work will be managed by the new Capital Projects department. The department will brief the board at a future meeting on the structure and services of each division.

Staff also reported several awards from the Florida Recreation and Parks Association recognizing the department’s work, and described a fall-to-winter slate of events including an international tennis tournament at the Jimmy (Chris) Everett facility and a series of seasonal “light-up” events across the city.