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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />OCTOBER 14, 2015 <br />Keis indicated that it is not the Council's intention to take the Parks & <br />Recreation Department apart. The goal is to reorganize it in some fashion <br />and there are multiple ways to do that. Keis noted the positive experiences <br />that his children have had in the recreation program as well as his own as a <br />coach. Keis noted that participation numbers have fallen. He indicated <br />that the department is currently staffed with two full-time equivalent <br />positions and indicated that a question is whether this can be reduced to <br />one and one-half. Keis also pointed out that while the Committee is here <br />to explore these issues, it is the City Council that makes the final decision. <br />Keis then noted the information that was proved to the Committee in <br />preparation for this evening's meeting. <br />With regard to information on school enrollments, McGinnity pointed out <br />that there are many Little Canada children enrolled at Parkview, which is <br />kindergarten through 8th grade. <br />Keis asked about the Parks & Recreation Department's mission or vision <br />and suggested that this be reviewed to determine whether or not changes <br />were needed. Fischer indicated that he has been involved in developing <br />mission and visioning statements and suggested that this is a process that <br />should be undertaken for the department. <br />Joriman noted the article that the City Administrator sent out relative to <br />how recreation sports programs are changing. He pointed out that Little <br />Canada offers the core sports, and felt that the mission would be to look at <br />what changes should be made to keep moving forward. He pointed out <br />that one activity that is being looked at is scrapbooking. Joriman also <br />pointed out the skateboard park that was developed and the use that this <br />facility is being put to. Joriman felt it was difficult to put a value on a <br />facility such as the skateboard park. Joriman indicated that the Little <br />Canada Recreation Association (LCRA) has dollars to donate to the City <br />for facility improvements, etc. He asked how that would work if the City <br />did not have a full-time Parks & Recreation Director. Keis again clarified <br />that going forward there will be a Parks & Recreation Department that <br />would work with LCRA on projects, etc. whatever its staffing levels are. <br />Fischer stated that he was a strong supporter of youth activities as well as <br />the City's parks and trail systems. He agreed that the issues were one of <br />the 2016 Budget as well as the committee task to figure out the future of <br />the Parks & Recreation Department. Fischer felt that the committee <br />needed to determine what the City is good at in terms of delivering parks <br />and recreation activities, where the City needs assistant in terms of <br />collaboration with surrounding communities and what is better managed <br />in a partnership with those communities. Fischer felt the committee also <br />needed to determine what is being missed in terms of providing <br />2 <br />