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Workshop Minutes <br />Parks and Recreation Commission <br />March 3, 2016 <br /> <br />these changes may help the Commission understand the position the City <br />is currently in. The City Administrator noted the Commission should share <br />ideas they have with the Council and himself. Councilman Fischer echoed <br />this and added that new ideas make it a lot easier for the Council. <br />Chair Miller asked the City Administrator if a full time position would <br />ever return to the Parks and Recreation Department. He noted that the <br />position had been reduced to cover the budget shortfall and wondered how <br />that would affect the future of the position. The City Administrator <br />explained this time of transition would determine the future of the <br />position. Chair Miller again asked how long this would take to determine <br />the effectiveness of the new situation. The City Administrator explained <br />the next couple of months would show the council the effectiveness of the <br />situation. Horwath agreed this was a good plan and if the strategic plan <br />went well it would make the transition much easier. He also noted he felt <br />there should be a full time office presence for the Parks and Recreation <br />Department. The City Administrator reminded the Commission the end <br />result the Council would like to see is one full time position and one part <br />time position. The Director commented he would be retiring at the end of <br />the year. He explained the final transition should be made within this time <br />to ensure his knowledge and experience remains with the department. The <br />City Administrator agreed with the Director but stated he did not know the <br />Director’s plans for retirement any further than the Director had stated at <br />this meeting. <br />Maida stated he was disappointed in the Council’s poor visioning process. <br />He thought the reduction in staff and the lack of a full time presence of the <br />department would negatively impact the effectiveness of the Parks and <br />Recreation team. Maida noted the Council did have to come up with a <br />solution to address the budget shortfall, but couldn’t understand why a <br />budget shortfall was resolved with a staffing reduction. Horwath echoed <br />Maida’s disappointment, but explained he felt he had to be in agreement <br />with the transition because it had already been made. Councilman Fischer <br />explained the Council had set a target to limit tax increases to residents. <br />He further explained when the Council reviewed all of the budgeted items <br />it seemed necessary to look at reducing staff costs. Councilman Fischer <br />stated his work, leading the Committee, was a product of his belief and <br />support in theof Parks and Recreation Department. He reminded the <br />Commission theis budget reductions was alsoere a result of a continuing <br />downward trend in recreational program participationming. There has <br />been a downward turn in team-based programs; not only in Little Canada, <br />but also in surrounding areas as well. As for the increasing Parks and <br />Recreation Commission’s strategic planning role, Councilmember <br />FischerHe explained the Council had come to this decision after looking at <br />the process holistically and feeling like there was more the Parks and <br />Recreation Commission could do to better serve their purpose.