10.B.3. PRSR 08-13-2003 ITEM # 10.B.3.
City of
Elk
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michele Bergh, Recreation Manager
DATE: July 21, 2003
SUBJECT: Recreation Department Update
Highlight of Summer Programs
Summer is going very well. We have many of our traditional programs running as well as
some new sports camps that are going very well and our expanded theme day program,
which is now 5 full days a week and includes outings. We have 12-30 children participating
in the Lions Den Summer Camp, depending on the day of the week. Tuesdays and
Thursdays are our most popular days —these are the days we have outings. Safety Camp was
a big success once again. The numbers were down a bit, with about 80 children
participating,but we had a great group and some new topics. Safety Camp is such a great
example of several city departments working together.
Summer Staff
We have approximately 30 staff members this summer working the various programs. This
is similar to past years. I am very pleased with all the staff and have had positive feedback
from the participants as well.
Lions Park Center
The center is busy almost every day. Major events have been occurring about once a month.
We are continuing to look for ways to market the facility.
Fall Programming
Our September/October 2003 program guide is at the printer and will be delivered the first
week in August with the Star News. We have Girl Power, Parent's Night Out, Skating
Academy, Pee Wee Sports, Lions Den (offering activities on all non-school days), leagues,
and more available. In November,we will be adding a program at the Boys and Girls Club
on Saturdays and Sundays in which you can purchase a pass and then attend during hours we
will have staffed and have activities planned. We hope that this program will generate
revenue to help with the rental fees we are paying.
Skate Park
The skate group has raised $7,000 to date. They continue to work on their fundraising
efforts. They are looking at purchasing a few pieces now with the money they have so far to
get something in this season. The soil corrections are almost done and then the concrete
pad will be put in place.
Wellness Committee
We have a walking program in place now that includes a component based on the FISH
philosophy. The FISH philosophy is a moral builder that encourages employees to find ways
to have fun while they work, to be in the moment when dealing with other employees and
customers, to "make someone's day", and to choose their attitude every day they come to
work. This program runs through the end of the summer. We also have a team of 10
employees who are participating in the Relay for Life event in August.
N /
City of
Elk
River
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michele Bergh, Recreation Manager
DATE: July 21, 2003
SUBJECT: Drivers Training
Elk River Recreation offers introductory athletics, leagues, family activities and safety
related classes such as firearms safety, babysitting, first aid, and CPR.
We began offering Drivers Education in the fall of 2002 through a partnership with Life
Skills Driving School, based out of Milaca. We decided to explore this opportunity as we
had received many phone calls from people who said there was a need and we felt it was
a good fit with our programming and with Lions Park Center being directly across from
the schools.
We worked with Gordy Leaf, of Life Skills Driving School, to come up with a mutually
agreeable arrangement in which we schedule drivers training around everything else in
the building at the latest possible date so as to not interfere with rental requests. We
collect $15 for each participant in the classroom only and $20 for each participant who
signs up for both classroom and behind the wheel, which is arranged completely by Life
Skills Driving School. This relationship has allowed us to help meet the needs of the
community as well as generate a small amount of income towards Lions Park Center,
which we wouldn't have received otherwise.
This past spring we asked the Boys and Girls Club if the classes could be moved there as
we had a lot of activities going on at Lions Park Center. Duane Howard was very
agreeable to this arrangement so we committed to a regular schedule for the summer
months. The classes will be moved back to Lions Park Center this fall.
This type of partnership is common for our department. Some examples are:
• Pinewood Golf Course to provide golf lessons and a league
• Skyhawks Inc. to provide sports camps throughout the summer
• ProExcel Soccer to provide soccer camps throughout the summer
• Elk River Cheerleading Booster Club to provide cheer clinics