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Mounds View City Council September 12, 2016 <br />Regular Meeting Page 5 <br /> <br />City Administrator Ericson understood that Creative Kids Academy was providing high quality <br />child care services to the community. He indicated the issue before the Council was the <br />opportunity to have YMCA provide these services in order to create greater efficiencies within <br />the entire building than were presently being considered. He commented on the benefits this new <br />model would have on the community and City. He requested the Council further discuss the <br />YMCA proposal and make a determination if this would be the best direction for the City. <br /> <br />Mayor Flaherty explained this topic has been discussed on two separate occasions by the City <br />Council with the owners of Creative Kids Academy and representatives from the YMCA. He <br />reported the Council would be making a determination on this matter this evening. He requested <br />comment from both parties at this time. <br /> <br />Greg Waibel, COO of the YMCA, stated the YMCA was a non-profit that has proudly served the <br />community of Mounds View for the past 17 years. He believed the YMCA’s proposal offered <br />residents a better use of the space at the Community Center. He reported the YMCA would work <br />diligently to provide a smooth transition for the new child care center. He encouraged Creative <br />Kids Academy to work with the YMCA on this matter. He noted he has spoken to the State <br />licenser and have been told the process can be seamless. He believed a “No” vote would not <br />honor the residents of Mounds View, while a “Yes” vote would affirm the proper use of tax- <br />payer resources. <br /> <br />Mr. Garg, Creative Kids Academy, was disappointed with this entire situation and how he was <br />being made out to be the bad guy. He felt that his business was being taken from him. He then <br />read off a top ten list of why Creative Kids Academy was the proper choice for the City Council. <br />He explained if his lease was terminated over 300 lives would be impacted, many of which were <br />Mounds View residents. He did not believe the proposed savings were valid. He explained that <br />families that qualified for State subsidies would not be allowed to be a part of the YMCA <br />program until they were four star certified, which would take over a year to receive. He feared <br />how his teachers and staff would be impacted by losing their jobs. He stated this was not just a <br />business to him, but rather this was his passion. He indicated he enjoyed building relationships, <br />providing support to families, and healthy food for hungry children. He requested the Council <br />not discount the positive work that was being done by the Creative Kids Academy. He described <br />the enrichment programs offered by CKA noting these were being offered free of charge to <br />students. <br /> <br />Mr. Garg encouraged the Council not to disrupt the lives of countless children in Mounds View <br />by terminating his lease. He feared how these children and families would be stressed. He <br />believed the City should not fix something that was not broken. He commented on the amount <br />funding he had available to assist families in need and did not believe the YMCA would have <br />this amount of money available. He reported 40% of his families required a subsidy. <br /> <br />Mr. Garg explained CKA was the only small child care provider in Mounds View that was <br />accredited and four star. By letting his lease terminate, Mounds View would lose this <br />opportunity for all of its families. He feared how Mounds View families would be impacted by <br />only having KinderCare and the YMCA as their child care provider options. The differences