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MINUTES <br />PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION <br />March 3, 2016 <br />account the mission statement and goals of the Parks and Recreation <br />Department to help decide the future of the Director’s position. <br />Maida shared his disappointment with the Council’s lack of future vision <br />in defining success in the Parks and Recreation staff, parks, programming, <br />and department as a whole. He explained he recognized the downward <br />trend but was disappointed to see it result in cutting staff before trying to <br />address the situation. He would have liked to see the Parks and Recreation <br />Commission more involved in a more effective decision. Maida pointed <br />out that there is a lot of valuable information and identified goals in the <br />Park System Plan, the Council adopted as part of the City’s <br />Comprehensive Plan in 2009, which was not considered by the Transition <br />Planning Committee. He also was angered that comments had been made <br />about the Parks and Recreation Commission being an idle Commission in <br />the eyes of the Council. Maida told the Commission he would like to <br />tender his resignation, effective immediately following this meeting. He <br />thanked the Director for his work in the department and wished the <br />Commission the best in finding new opportunities to change the falling <br />trend of recreational programming. Horwath asked Maida to reconsider his <br />resignation because he believes Maida’s experience and care with the <br />Commission would benefit the future of the Department. The Director <br />agreed with Horwath asking him to reconsider. The Director stated he <br />respected Maida’s opinion and has appreciated his service to the <br />Commission. Maida explained he has been on the Commission for eight or <br />nine years and in that time has worked on some great parks projects and <br />appreciates what the Commission has done for the community. <br /> Darling noted that she had never heard of the Parks System Plan and asked <br />where she could get one. The Director explained it was a part of the <br />Comprehensive Plan and was originally distributed in print form. <br />Currently it can be found on the website. Chair Miller stated it would be a <br />good idea for everyone to read it. Darling explained she had the <br />impression the Council would need the Commission to justify having a <br />full time Director if the Commission deemed it necessary. Darling thought <br />the first step should be to address the downward trend, and asked where <br />she could get more information about the falling recreational <br />programming numbers. Horwath explained there were many resources the <br />Commission could use including the National Park and Recreation <br />Association, the Minnesota Park and Recreation Association, information <br />from surrounding cities, and professional journals. He noted it may be <br />difficult for the Commission to find and read these articles, but the <br />Director and Recreation Supervisor could help. Schletty explained since <br />he was new to the area he would need to know more about what the trend <br />is internally and where the trend is coming from. He wondered if it was a <br />result of demographics, affordability, or possibly another source. Horwath <br />agreed and reasoned it may be time for the department to consider <br />alternative forms of communication to spread the word about programs.