1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: June 10, 2025
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Marisa Garcia, Park, Recreation and Community Services Director VIA: Grace Coronado, Assistant Park, Recreation and Community Services Director
BY: Paula Ohan, Senior Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: Introduction of an Ordinance to Amend Title 2, Chapter 1, Article 3, Section 315 of the Burbank Municipal Code to Replace the Name of the Park, Recreation and Community Services Department with Parks and Recreation Department
RECOMMENDATION
Introduce AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AMENDING TITLE 2, CHAPTER 1, ARTICLE 3, SECTION 315 OF THE BURBANK
MUNICIPAL CODE TO REPLACE THE NAME OF THE PARK, RECREATION AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT (Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND
On November 7, 1950, Burbank voters approved a City Charter (Charter) amendment establishing the Park and Recreation Department (Department) and the Park and Recreation Board while abolishing the existing Park Commission and the Playground and Recreation Commission. Subsequently, on February 6, 1951, the City Council (Council) adopted Ordinance No. 1091, adding Section 2 -503, Article 5 to the Burbank Municipal Code (BMC), formally establishing the Park and Recreation Board.
In 2000, the addition of "Community Services" to the Department’s name reflected its expanded responsibilities, including youth employment, transportation programs, management of the Castaway Lease Agreement, and limited economic development.
This change was intended to better represent the Department’s diverse range of services.
2 As a result, a Charter amendment ratified by voters on April 10, 2001, officially renamed the Park and Recreation Board as the Park, Recreation, and Community Services (PRCS) Board. Ordinance No. 3617, effective March 22, 2003, further updated the BMC to align with the Board’s new name and responsibilities.
DISCUSSION
Between 2013 and 2014, the Department underwent a reorganization, developed a new mission statement and introduced updated branding. As part of this process, staff recommended renaming the Department from PRCS to Parks and Recreation (PR) as it is a clear and widely understood phrase that communicates the Department ’s core functions. Due to the high cost and lengthy process of amending the Charter, the City Manager approved the name change in August 2014 under BMC Charter Article 6, Section 605, which states: “Any department or function provided for in this Charter or by ordinance, may be subsequently combined with other divisions or departments, redivided, or otherwise reorganized at the discretion of the City Manager.” The proposed Ordinance aims to officially codify the Department’s 2014 name change (from PRCS to PR) in the BMC.
Furthermore, Charter section 700 states that there shall be a Parks, Recreation and Community Services Board. Staff acknowledges that changes to the Charter must be placed on a ballot for consideration by the voters during an election. Staff intends to place this item, in conjunction with other Charter amendments, onto a future ballot.
PRCS desires to provide the community with a clear goal and mission. A name change that accurately reflects the Department’s goals and mission is essential. As such, PRCS is proposing to update the entire BMC to accurately reflect the Department name.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Staff presented the proposed Amendment to the Park, Recreation, and Community Services Board (Board) on February 13, 2025 (Attachment 2). The Board recommended Council adopt the proposed Amendment by a vote of 5-0.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
An amendment to an existing o rdinance has no potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost to update the Burbank Municipal Code for the requested name change with the City’s codification vendor General Code LLC, will be an amount up to $500. Funding for
3 this update will be provided by the City Clerk’s Office as part of the FY 2024-25 Budget (001.CC01A.62170).
CONCLUSION
The proposed amendment will officially codify the Department’s name as Parks and Recreation throughout the BMC and will provide the community with a clear understanding of the Department’s goals and the services provided.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Proposed Ordinance – BMC § 2-1-315
Attachment 2 – Park Board February 13, 2025 Staff Report