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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />SEPTEMBER 9, 2015 <br />Miller stated that with participation numbers down, is the plan that when <br />the current Parks & Recreation Director retires he would not be replaced <br />with another full-time Director. Keis suggested that that is a fair statement <br />and indicated that anything is in play. Keis stated that there has been a <br />full-time Director and two part-time Assistance in play for as long as he <br />can remember. Keis stated that a question that needs to be asked is <br />whether or not the department is overstaffed. Keis felt everything is on <br />the table. <br />Miller stated that he did not feel the Department was overstaffed. Miller <br />felt it was important to have a full-time Parks & Recreation presence at <br />City Hall. Keis asked if the programs had declined to the point where it <br />was not possible to keep a full-time person busy. <br />Montour noted that the Council will be reviewing the preliminary 2016 <br />Budget this evening and indicated that the budget as being presented this <br />evening calls for a 6.25% levy increase. Montour stated that there is no <br />way that he will support an increase of that size, and that there will be cuts <br />that will need to be made. Montour stated that everything is on the table at <br />this point. <br />McGraw stated that his concern is that the City spends its tax dollars <br />wisely and indicated that he has to justify the way the City spends tax <br />dollars to property owners. McGraw stated that there are no sacred cows <br />in considering where to cut the budget. McGraw agreed that there needs <br />to be a 3 to 5 year plan for the Parks & Recreation Department. There <br />needs to be some new programming ideas. McGraw felt there needed to <br />be discussion about the big picture and where the City wants the Parks & <br />Recreation Department to be. McGraw noted that the Department was <br />implemented in 1994, and indicated that it has to consider what the <br />Department will be in 2017 and beyond. McGraw reported that he is on <br />the Ramsey County Arena Task Force and that task force is discussing <br />participation levels, so this is not an issue unique to Little Canada. <br />McGraw agreed there are issues of changing demographics. However, <br />consideration needs to be given to what the parks and recreation program <br />will be and how we get there. <br />Fischer agreed. He also indicated that if the City puts its attention on a <br />new scrapbooking group, it will go. The key is to keep your eye on the <br />ball. Fischer pointed out the tremendous job that the Parks & Recreation <br />Department has done in the past, but felt it was time to take a strategic <br />look at things. Fischer stated that one of the reasons he moved to Little <br />Canada was because of its parks system. He indicated that he sees people <br />playing volleyball in the parks frequently and suggested that there is a <br />need for more volleyball courts. He stated that the City has to figure out <br />what to focus on and then move forward. <br />5 <br />