MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI
CITY OF LOS ANGELES
August 18, 2014
MAYOR GARCETTI NOMINATES MICHAEL SHULL AS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF RECREATION AND PARKS
LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti nominated Michael Shull Friday afternoon as the permanent General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP).
“Our city parks and recreation centers are critical to out neighborhoods’ quality of life, providing open space, activities, and gathering spaces in every corner of Los Angeles and for people of all ages,” said Mayor Garcetti. “Michael Shull has deep experience in not just operating our parks and recreation centers but also in reimagining them for the future.”
“I’m proud to partner with Mayor Garcetti in his vision to build stronger neighborhoods and a healthier city through the Department of Recreation and Parks,” Shull said. “Our parks and recreation centers can and should dramatically impact people’s lives, and I look forward to finding new ways to engage Angelenos with their neighborhood parks, and in doing so, each other.”
Mayor Garcetti also announced Jon Mukri, the previous RAP General Manager, is being appointed to a senior position at the Port of Los Angeles, harnessing his experience at RAP, previous experience reforming the General Services Department (which manages city buildings and other assets), and as a Navy logistics officer.
Michael Shull has served as Interim General Manager of RAP since December 2013. He began his career with the City of Los Angeles in 1990 with the Bureau of Engineering in the City’s Department of Public Works after graduating from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering. During his 14 years with the Bureau of Engineering, Shull served as Project Manager on a variety of large municipal projects before becoming involved in the implementation of many RAP projects where his knowledge and interest grew around the many challenges facing the City’s park system.
In 2005, Shull joined the City’s Recreation and Parks team when he accepted a position to rebuild and manage the Department’s Advance Planning Section. Upon successful implementation of the Department’s planning efforts and reorganization of the Department, he took on additional responsibilities as an Assistant General Manager where he managed nearly 800 employees in the Advance Planning, Real Estate, Environmental, Construction, and Maintenance Branches. His responsibilities included overseeing all park planning, capital improvements, property acquisitions, environmental issues including water and energy conservation programs, leasing, and building and grounds maintenance on over 430 parks.
Shull’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the City Council.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mike Shull for more than 12 years, and he is the consummate professional and problem solver,” said Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, chair of the City’s Arts, Parks, Health, Aging, and the Los Angeles River Committee. “No one knows the department better than Mike, and no one knows its challenges, history, and how to work collaboratively and creatively to make things happen. He has the respect of the entire department, and I wholeheartedly support his permanent appointment as general manager.”
The Department of Recreation and Parks maintains and operates more than 400 sites for recreational use. The Department establishes, operates, and maintains parks, swimming pools, public golf courses, recreation centers, museums, youth camps, tennis courts, sports programs, and programs for senior citizens. It also supervises construction of new facilities and improvements to existing ones. For more information, visit www.laparks.org/
