MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
The first weekend in October brings the start of fall as well as the Giant Pumpkin Festival. The Cosumnes Community Services District first held the event in 1994 as a small harvest festival. The event has grown over the years and so have the pumpkins.
There are hours of amusement for festival goers with carnival rides, arts and crafts, petting zoo and pony rides, musical acts, many autumn-inspired contests, pumpkin patch, pumpkin carver, and much more.
Giant pumpkin growers have traveled great lengths with their produce to compete in the District’s Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off. The inaugural festival’s first winning pumpkin weighed 389 pounds. Last year, the champion weighed 1,623 pounds.
Another festival favorite is the Pumpkin Regatta. Some of the “smaller” 500- to 900-pound pumpkins from Saturday’s weigh-off will be hollowed out and carved into pumpkin boats and raced across the park’s lake on Sunday at noon.
It started in a small parking lot and picnic area, but now the festival encompasses most of the 122-acre Elk Grove Park.
Not only has the size of the festival grown but also has the District. One of the invaluable aspects of the festival is the amount of cross-functional opportunities personnel benefit from. It is not every day that members from different departments get the chance to work together to execute ideas or projects let alone a festival for 65,000 people to enjoy.
Whether this is your first time or your 28th time at the festival, thank you for your hard work and creativity to produce this annual tradition for the community.
Joshua Green, General Manager
1
September 2022
DISTRICT POLICIES
Below is a list of policies that have been recently updated.
PAYCHECK CHANGES
Effective with the pay period ending October 31, 2022, the District will transition non-exempt full-time hourly employees in the Teamsters 150 & 853 and Unrepresented Group from 86.67 hours per pay period to actual hours worked as reported on their timesheets.
Please visit Cosumnes Connect to familiarize yourself.
As a result of this transition, full-time, non-exempt hourly employees will experience varied hours for each pay period, resulting in variations in their paychecks. This transition will not change the employees' pay dates, pay periods, or hourly rates.
The District has chosen the effective date to be an upcoming pay period in which most employees (depending on work schedules) have the potential to have 88 actual hours worked, ensuring employees experience only a slight variance in the first several pay periods.
EGUSD BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CARE RFP AWARD
On behalf of the District, Parks and Recreation Director, Mike Dopson, recently submitted a bid for the Expanded Learning Opportunities RFP posted by Elk Grove Unified School District. The District has been selected as the award recipient for the RFP and now has the opportunity to provide afterschool care at three elementary school sites. The District is looking forward to expanding the partnership with the Elk Grove Unified School District and furthering outreach efforts in the community.
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3150 – Working Out of Class 3117 - Recruitment and Selection 3315 – Catastrophic Leave
ELK GROVE NATURE PARK
Elk Grove Nature Park, located behind the Cosumnes Community Services District Administration Building, opens this month.
Amenities include a boardwalk, benches, and picnic tables. Winding walkways will include interpretive signage for education about the local wildlife.
The new park was designed with the intent to manage stormwater runoff, provide wildlife habitat, promote environmental awareness, and contribute to the well-being of our Elk Grove Community.
As funding becomes available, future phases of construction are planned to include a nature play area, a visitor center, and additional stormwater management planters.
FIRE STATION 77
The construction of Fire Station 77 is progressing according to schedule. The contractor has poured the concrete slab and footings. Underground site utilities are being installed and framing began at the end of August.
Future project features include a communications tower, solar panels, and electric vehicle charging stations. Stay tuned for more updates and progress photos.
3
U-MATTER RECAP
The District’s U-Matter Celebration honoring part time staff was held on September 8th at Laguna Town Hall.
The celebration brought together some of the District’s front-line teammates who often are the first to arrive or the last to leave and recognized them for the important service they provide on behalf of the District.
Many lasting memories were made as staff enjoyed each other’s company, laughter, and positive energy.
OPEN ENROLLMENT
The open enrollment period to make changes to your CalPERS Health, Delta Dental, Vision Care Services (VSP), and American Fidelity runs through October 14, 2022.
Any changes made during this time will be effective January 1, 2023. If you wish to make changes to your coverage, please complete and return your completed Enrollment/Change forms to human resources (CSDHR@yourcsd.com). If you do not wish to make any changes to your medical, dental, and vision coverage, you do not need to do anything. Open enrollment details can be viewed on Cosumnes Connect.
POOL OF PUMPKINS
Stay tuned on upcoming programs and events hosted by Parks and Recreation!
Mark your calendar for October 15th from 1 pm - 4 pm at Wackford Aquatic Complex for Pool of Pumpkins.
Programs & Events
This event includes pumpkin picking from the pool, decorating stations, carnival games, and fall family fun!
4
YEARS OF SERVICE & ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Annually we come together to celebrate staff for their years of service and recognize individuals or groups for their dedication and commitment through the presentation of the Excellence and Achievement awards.
Due to the Covid pandemic, we did not hold our annual celebration in 2021. Now that things have settled, we are happy to be picking up where we left off and will be celebrating on October 26th at District 56 to showcase staff’s milestones and achievements.
GPF STAFF SUPPORT
SOCKTOBER
The District will be collecting new socks, gloves, mittens, and hats from October 3rd through November 4th at various locations throughout the District.
Donations will be given to the Elk Grove School District Student and Family Empowerment Center (SAFE Center) to be shared with Elk Grove youth that are experiencing homelessness.
Spread the word about Socktober with your friends and family and be on the lookout for donation bins near you!
The Giant Pumpkin Festival is right around the corner on October 1 & 2. As we gear up for the festival, remember that “many hands make light work”. Staff support is needed from Monday 9/26 – Monday 10/3 to help run the event.
Stay tuned on upcoming programs and events hosted by Parks and Recreation!
If you aren’t sure where or what to help with, please connect with your supervisor and any of the co-chairs (Drew Goblin, Teri deRosier, James Lutz, Traci Farris) to get placed on the schedule.
Programs & Events
5
August
On November 6, 2022, Fire Captain Eric Williamson, will join a team of 50 athletes, in the New York City Marathon, who are raising awareness and funds for type 1 diabetes as ambassadors for Beyond Type 1. These athletes are showcasing how they live beyond their diagnoses and supporting crucial efforts and programs for others affected by this condition.
Fire Captain Williamson is running the NYC Marathon not only to support others affected by type 1 diabetes but also to show the world that diabetes doesn’t control you, you control diabetes.
To read Captain Williamson’s full story and donate to the fundraiser visit: https://donate.beyondtype1.org/fundraiser/3970784
PROMOTIONS:
Douglas
Alexandria
Colin
Kirsten
TRANSFERS:
Clyde Udasco, Recreation
SEPARATIONS:
Kevin O’Keefe, Fire
Michael Hatcher, Firefighter
Tre
Dylan
Garshaun Recreation
Denise Hallock Park Ranger
6
Masters, Fire Captain
Jackson, Recreation Coordinator
Medina, Recreation Coordinator
Potter, Recreation Coordinator
Coordinator
Captain
Ewell, IT Technician
Goodwin, Firefighter
Singh,
Coordinator NEW HIRES
BEYOND TYPE 1 MARATHON
