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Mounds View City Council August 22, 2016 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br /> <br />classes at the childcare facility. He noted Creative Kids made use of the YMCA’s gym space <br />when the weather was inclement. He viewed the relationship between the two organizations as <br />positive. <br /> <br />Mr. Garg believed this to be true and stated he tried to keep his space separate from the YMCA. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty inquired why the YMCA was suggesting a change at this time. Mr. Danielson <br />explained the growth at the Community Center had led him to make this request. He reported <br />there was a need for additional space for programming in the evening hours. He believed it <br />would be ideal to make a change to the childcare programming in August before the new school <br />year began. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty questioned what had more value to the YMCA, the space or the daycare. Mr. <br />Danielson commented he was here to serve the community and its families. He explained the <br />YMCA has been a partner to the community for the past 17 years and there was great value in <br />extending the partnership the YMCA has with the City by offering childcare. <br /> <br />Sangeeta Jain, Creative Kids Academy, requested the Council deny Resolution 8617. While she <br />understood the Council was to act in the best interests of the community, she did not believe that <br />the closing of Creative Kids would be in the City’s best interest. She discussed the importance of <br />high quality childcare to a community and believed Creative Kids provided the highest early <br />childcare education services. She questioned why the City had not completed any analysis or due <br />diligence. She feared that the closing of Creative Kids would appear to be discriminatory in <br />nature. She discussed her public service, family history, and commented on the key to early <br />educational intervention. She highlighted the curriculum that was provided by Creative Kids <br />staff, as well as noting her business provided healthy, fresh food. She recommended the City <br />reconsider the Resolution before them and not replace a small, minority owned business with a <br />bureaucratic conglomerate. She feared how the children within her center would be disrupted if <br />Creative Kids were forced to evict this space and suggested the City Council not place a subpar <br />childcare provider in the Community Center. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty understood both the YMCA and Creative Kids were exceptional organizations. <br />He understood that Creative Kids was a great childcare provider to the community. He did not <br />believe the situation to be a hostile takeover, but rather the YMCA was making a request on how <br />to better utilize the space within the Community Center. He noted this request would not be <br />considered lightly. <br /> <br />Stephanie Thomas, YMCA Childcare Services, discussed the high quality childcare programs <br />being offered by the YMCA. She believed the YMCA would be able to strengthen their options <br />through an extended partnership with the City. She stated early childhood education was a <br />mission for the YMCA and believed the YMCA could positively impact the achievement gap <br />through its programming. She understood that transition was hard however, she hoped there <br />could be some collaborative efforts. It was her opinion the YMCA provided high quality <br />childcare services within its eight current facilities. She then discussed the collaboration that <br />would be offered between the YMCA and the childcare facility.