4.4. SR 05-17-1999
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Item #4.4.
MEMORANDUM
Mayor & City Council
FROM: Pat Klaers, City Ad~ator
DATE: May 17, 1999
SUBJECT: Discussion on Community Recreation
Program
The city Park and Recreation Commission met on Wednesday, May 12,1999,
and the Community Recreation Program/Director was added to the agenda
for discussion. The commission noted that this is a very significant issue for
the city, and that a long range point of view needs to be taken rather than
only considering the immediate 1999-2000 needs. In this regard, some study
of the issue is required and the commission established a subcommittee made
up of John Kuester, Stoffel Reitsma, and Lana Huberty. They will meet in
the very near future to begin discussion of the issue.
The Community Recreation Board meets on Monday afternoon, May 17,
1999. Councilmember Motin and I are anticipated to be in attendance at this
meeting. I believe two issues are key in determining the future of the
program. The first issue is the commitment from the city of Otsego to remain
as a member. Assuming we are going to try to continue and improve the
current program, this commitment from Otsego is very important in terms of
trying to recruit quality applicants. By this I mean, how are we going to
attract a good candidate from a good job when there is the uncertainty of
Otsego dropping out if the budget increases and the entire program dissolves.
In this regard, if the current program is to be maintained, the city is going to
have to be the fallback employer and, accordingly, the position will have to be
filled with our input as the top applicant would have to be as qualified as a
city park and recreation director as they are for the community recreation
director position.
The second issue is if some or all of the communities will participate by way
of a contact with Elk River if the city decides (or is forced) to take over the
program. This point is very important in terms of scheduling field usage
throughout the area, not just in Elk River, as a service for youth
organizations (especially baseball and girls softball).
Both Paul and I should be able to update the council as to the discussion at
. the Community Recreation Board meeting.
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330. TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
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TO:
Mayor Stephanie Klinzing
Council Members: J?hn Dietz, Daryl Th~mpson, L~~ Farbe~ ~nd Paul Motin
Lana Huberty - ChaIr: Parks and RecreatlOn COmmlSSIOn LLt1
Hiring process for filling Director of Community RecreatiQProgram position.
May 17,1999
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
During the May 12 Meeting of the Elk River Park and Recreation Commission, City
Administrator Klaers indicated to the Commission that any advice and/or formal recommendation
pertaining to the hiring of a replacement Director of the Community Recreation Program would
be welcome by the City Council. Mr. Klaers also stated that the Council needed to allay the
concerns of Joint. Powers members, as well as those of regional athletic associations, as quickly
as possible on this matter. Finally, Mr. Klaers suggested that this was an opportunity for the
Commission to offer the Council some advice about the feasibility of creating a separate city
Recreation Department.
The Commission discussed Mr Klaer's request and made the following observations:
1. The Community Recreation Program is scheduled to present a quality program this
summer under the leadership of Interim Director Michele Bergh. Maintaining a
quality program should effectively deal with the short-term concerns of Joint
Powers members and recreational associations.
2. The hiring process for a replacement Director is a timely opportunity to look at the
question of whether the person hired is to maintain the current program, or to
make changes.
3. The hiring process the Council follows will be shaped by its priorities( i.e. maintain the
status-quo, make major changes in the current system, or build the capacity to
eventually establish a separate Elk River Recreation Department.)
4. The hiring process of a replacement Recreation Director can be an avenue for hiring a
person with the qualifications to make a transition from the current combined Streets
and Parks Department to a separate Parks and Recreation Department.
The Commission has stated that one of its goals for 1999 is to examine the pros and cons
of establishing a separate Parks Department, as well as the pros and cons of maintaining the
current Streets and Parks Department format. When it established this goal, the Commission
assumed that it would take 3-6 months to study the issue and to make carefully researched
recommendations to the Council. It is possible to expand this research to look at examples of
combined parks and recreation departments.
In order to be of assistance to the Council on the hiring process and the separate department
issues, the Commission requests direction from the Council as follows:
1. Will the job description of the new hire give priority to maintaining the status quo,
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making real changes to the status quo, or establishing a new department?
2. Does the Council want the Commission involved in revising the job description,
soliciting input from the General public and recreation associations, sitting in on
hiring interviews, etc?
3. Does the City Council desire that the Commission prepare a study concept which will
outline how it would research the pros and cons of a combined Elk River Parks and
Recreation Department. The actual study could take 3-6 months to complete.
The Commission appreciates the Council's request for feedback on this important matter. We
look forward to receiving direction as to the most helpful role for the Commission.
CC: Pat Klaers, Phil Halls, Michele Bergh