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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />OCTOBER 14, 2015 <br />& Recreation Department staff at Council meetings, perhaps monthly <br />reports. <br />McGraw suggested that when there are staffing changes in the Parks & <br />Recreation Department, there are likely college grads with double majors <br />that would be able to work for the City in a couple of capacities. McGraw <br />pointed out that the Council is looking at the 2016 Budget and has to make <br />some decisions on reducing the levy, but pointed out that the Council does <br />not have all the answers yet. McGraw stated that he is willing to make the <br />necessary budget cuts with the understanding that the staff reorganization <br />will be very fluid over the next 3 to 6 months. He also stated that he <br />values the comment that once staff is reduced, it is very difficult to add <br />staffing back. <br />Fischer stated that he does not know what the vision is for the Parks & <br />Recreation Department at this point. He also pointed out that the Council <br />has to deal with the budget. Fischer felt that at this point it might be <br />necessary to take a step back before going forward. Fischer felt that a <br />planning process should be undertaken to identify what the City's <br />opportunities are in the future. Fischer indicated that he was disappointed <br />that when the Council asked the Parks & Recreation Department what its <br />plan was for future programming opportunities, nothing was provided. <br />Fischer indicated that the current participation numbers and programs are <br />what they are at this point. Fischer suggested that the City had to think <br />about the future. <br />Deb Morelan suggested that if the Park & Recreation Director were cut to <br />half-time and City staff is being restructured, there would likely be <br />someone in the office that could answer phone calls. Keis agreed. <br />McGraw suggested that if the Director position is cut to half-time, until <br />staffing reorganization is completed, perhaps the City Administrator could <br />pick up some of the duties for a period of time. McGraw indicated that he <br />gets the sense that people think the Parks & Recreation Department will be <br />an orphan and that service deliveries will be negatively impacted. <br />McGraw did not believe that to be the case. McGraw also stated that the <br />City has to find a better way of providing these services. <br />Sullivan stated that there are ways to address the issue of having someone <br />available during the day to answer parks and recreation phone calls. Deb <br />Morelan indicated that because a department is being restructured does not <br />mean that services will not be provided. <br />Fischer stated that a fair amount of what he has achieved in his career he <br />can attribute to what he learned from participating in team sports. Fischer <br />8 <br />