07-05-2017 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 5, 2017 APPROVED 223 alternative options to get information from contractors or architects who specialist in 224 remodeling. 225 4.5) New Facility Rental Charges Impacting Recreation Department —Rick 226 DeGardner and Brian Hronski were present. Director DeGardner reviewed his written 227 report outlining charges for facility use that have been instituted by Centennial School 228 District (CSD). He reviewed the fall 2016 programs offered by the city and how the 229 revenue for those programs will not cover the costs of facility rental and result in a 230 significant deficit situation for the department. He reported that staff has attempted to 231 work this out with CSD but they are firm in their determination to charge the fees. The 232 department has worked hard to move what programs they can to city facilities or other 233 non -charge sites; some programs may have to be discontinued. He identifies two 234 scenarios within the staff report to deal with the situation — either challenge the 235 Recreation Supervisors to come up with solutions, or let certain programs go and hope 236 that the school district picks up on those activities and with that a loss of a recreation staff 237 position. 238 239 Mayor Reinert suggested that there's been a deterioration in the relationship between the 240 city and the school district in areas such as this and he fears it is mostly on their side. He 241 recalled ways that the city has worked with the district to assist. He suggested that there 242 are ways to charges back city costs to the district. He'd like to see if CSD would 243 reconsider. 244 245 Council Member Manthey asked if the school board members are aware and supportive 246 of this action. Mayor Reinert said he would write a letter to the superintendent and copy 247 the school board members; he'd rather unwind this before having to look at charging 248 back. 249 250 Director DeGardner remarked that the youth sports organizations have been given a 251 higher priority and as a result an exemption from the use fees. This would be a big 252 impact to the department and he can state that they have tried to work this out with his 253 contemporaries but that hasn't worked. He is really faced with a "what do we do for this 254 fall" and he is recommending the direction to staff to work on solutions. 255 256 Mayor Reinert asked that staff help him with a letter to the Superintendent, copied to the 257 school board members and perhaps a visit to the next school board meeting. 258 259 Council Member Kusterman said he is frustrated especially because he would like to see 260 more budgetary consideration to providing even more recreation opportunities. He 261 agrees with going to the school hierarchy to attempt to work this out. 262 263 The council directed staff to proceed with their recommended option one, including the 264 change to the $10,000 contribution. C