4.3. PRSR 09-08-1999 rA
ITEM 4.3.
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MEMORANDUM
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Rl`jerTO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Pat Klaers, City Administrator
DATE: August 16, 1999
SUBJECT: Community Recreation
The Community Recreation Board meets on Monday, August 16, 1999. One
of the main agenda items for this meeting is the 2000 budget.
Councilmember Motin is scheduled to be at this meeting and to update the
City Council on 8/16/99 on the results of this Community Recreation Board
meeting.
I have seen an early draft of the budget and it looks very good from my point
of view. If the budget is approved as presented, I would recommend the city
continue being an active member of the organization and the joint powers
agreement. The city can always decide to withdraw in the future (after
4111 providing adequate notice) and undertake our own recreation program if the
situation changes. I think everyone believes that Elk River will ultimately
have its own park and recreation department at some time, especially to deal
with park issues, but the current situation seems to be working alright and it
is expected to improve if the budget, as presented, is approved.
The Community Recreation budget reflects some changes that will help
establish its identity, clear up the confusion about Community Education and
Community Recreation being the same entity, and allows Community
Recreation to set up its own operation. If approved, the budget will make it
very clear that Community Recreation is a separate entity and not a
subgroup of the school district or Community Education.
A key change that is provided for in this budget and the amended 1999
budget is a new office location. The budget recommends that it fund capital
improvements up to $8,000 to create offices and a work area for Community
Recreation at the city owned Emporium. The building official and the
interim community recreation director have looked at Emporium and it is
very possible to create some office space at this facility for somewhere in the
neighborhood of$8,000. Approximately one third of the space used by
Emporium would be dedicated to Community Recreation. The city would
• absorb the very limited additional operating expenses that come with these
offices. According to the interim community recreation director, having
offices at Emporium also provides some benefits for the management of
Emporium. (Community Recreation being officed at Emporium is not
intended to be a long term situation or solution, but I also don't foresee the
13065 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 490 • Elk River, MN 55330 • TDD &Phone: (612) 441-7420 • Fax: (612)441-7425
city selling this property for a redevelopment project until the trailer park
project is substantially complete.)
Another change proposed in the Community Recreation budget that will help •
more clearly establish Community Recreation's identity and help eliminate
confusion between Community Education and Community Recreation is the
establishment of a separate brochure. A separate brochure, along with better
use of city newsletters, will help us to market and better inform the public
about community recreation programs.
Finally, the budget proposal keeps Michele Bergh as the recreation
programmer, has two part time employees underneath her management, and
does not call for the replacement of Jeff Asfahl as the community recreation
director. This employee approach is more or less a "wait and see" attitude
and I support this recommendation.
Overall the budget provides for more recreation programming opportunities,
helps identify community recreation as a separate, independent entity from
the school district, and allows all the communities to continue working
together for community recreation. The budget doesn't duplicate services
and allows for a better understanding and identification of what Community
Recreation is for our residents.
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