County Hires Away State Parks Super

San Luis Obispo County has reached into the ranks of the State Parks Department for its new parks and recreation director.
Nick Franco, who has been State Parks’ Coast District superintendent since 2003, will be the new County Parks and Recreation Department director, the County announced Jan. 7.
County Supervisors approved Franco’s hiring Jan. 6 and he begins his new job Feb. 2, replacing the retiring interim parks director, Curtis Black.
“The Board is proud to have someone with Mr. Franco’s experience and expertise on staff to lead our Parks and Recreation Department,” said Frank Mecham, chairman of the County Board of Supervisors. “He is experienced, innovative and high performing, and we’re confident that his skills will only enhance the County’s leadership.”
Franco will manage a department with a $10.5 million budget and some 55 full-time employees. Franco’s annual base salary starts at $127,000, add in benefits and he will receive $199,000 a year in total compensation. Just the remainder of this fiscal year — through June 30 — he will get $83,000.
“Nick is well known within the parks and recreation management industry as an experienced leader, who has a record of effectively managing a large and diverse parks and recreation team,” County Administrator Dan Buckshi said. “We’re proud to have him join the County in this leadership role.”
Franco’s old job had him overseeing 11 State Park “units,” including Hearst Castle, Montaña de Oro, San Simeon and Morro Bay State Parks, Harmony Headlands, and San Simeon and Morro Strand Campgrounds among several others.
Originally from Carpinteria, Franco’s career with State Parks started in 1983 as a park aid at Carpinteria State Beach. He became a park ranger in 1988, and has worked in the Santa Monica Mountains, Oceano Dunes, Big Basin Redwoods and San Juan Bautista State Parks. He was promoted to superintendent on Angel Island State Park in 1998, and took over the local Coast District in 2003.
“I’m excited to continue my lifelong parks career with the County of San Luis Obispo and its excellent group of park professionals,” Franco said. “As the new director of SLO County Parks and Recreation, I hope to provide great service to the public and protect our resources for future generations.”
Franco caught some heat last year after he approved Lady Gaga renting Hearst Castle for a music video, which included filling the badly leaking Neptue Pool for the shoot, this in the face of the drought declaration by the Governor. Even though the water was provided by Hearst Ranch and later used again, Franco was suspended for a short time by the brass in Sacramento and then reinstated after a couple of weeks.
Franco holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Cal Poly and lives in Atascadero with his wife and two daughters.