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City Council Minutes January 11, 1995 Page 2 POLICY AGENDA INDOOR PLAYROOM PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION Park and Recreation Director Kriegler explained the details of the contract negotiated between Falcon Heights United Church of Christ and the city for the use of space for the pilot Indoor Playroom program. The proposed agreement included: 1) No rental fee for city use of the church space and 2) the city will provide for consumables such as facial tissue, diapers, and dish detergent and the church for bathroom related consumables. In return, the church will have use of the city's play equipment. The church has been willing to give up some of its old play equipment. Kriegler proposed that there be an initial expenditure of $1200 to buy new, large toys for the playroom, with the idea that the equipment would be different than what most children have in their basements. The initial program fee was proposed to be $2 per tot, $3 per family and $5 per day care group of no more than five children. Kriegler also indicated that tentative plans are to hold an open house at the new site on February 4, 1995. Kriegler also explained that the city's scholarship program would be available to program participants whether or not they lived in Falcon Heights. Councilmember Hustad suggested that a program be established to encourage donations to the program. Fees charged to use the facility will only cover operating costs; donations could be used for new capital items such as books and toys. Councilmember Jacobs expressed concern with the clause in the rental agreement that states that the city would retain ownership of the play equipment and toys and would give the church the first option to purchase them if the program does not continue. Jacobs did not feel it would be fair to the church if it disposed of the old toys in the nursery and then had the city decide to leave the church with the city play equipment, leaving the church nursery without any equipment or toys. Jacobs indicated that he wold prefer to donate the toys to the church in the event that the city opted out of the arrangement with the church. The council discussed several options with respect to the toys. On Acting Mayor Gehrz's suggestion and the council's concurrence, staff was directed to consult with the city attorney regarding the legality of donating the toys or selling them for a very nominal amount if the city severs the space agreement with the church. The city would retain ownership if the church severed the relationship. Acting Mayor Gehrz expressed concern that the fees for the playroom would not cover the operating costs of the program, which the city tries to do with each new program. She also had questions regarding the provision allowing for large day care groups to use the facility, because of the space limitation of fourteen children at any one time. The city's intent was for this facility to allow for interaction between adults as well as provide play space for children. Nan Knutsen, 1825 Arona Street, explained that she has been working with Kriegler on this project and outlined the reasoning for the proposed fee structure. She urged that the council not prohibit day care groups from the facility since home day care providers also need adult interaction. She suggested that there be a limit on the number of day care children that could be brought in with one adult to control for the possibility of the playroom being dominated by one or two large groups.