Agenda Packets - 2016/09/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council August 22, 2016 Regular Meeting Page 5 classes at the childcare facility. He noted Creative Kids made use of the YMCA’s gym space 1 when the weather was inclement. He viewed the relationship between the two organizations as 2 positive. 3 4 Mr. Garg believed this to be true and stated he tried to keep his space separate from the YMCA. 5 6 Mayor Flaherty inquired why the YMCA was suggesting a change at this time. Mr. Danielson 7 explained the growth at the Community Center had led him to make this request. He reported 8 there was a need for additional space for programming in the evening hours. He believed it 9 would be ideal to make a change to the childcare programming in August before the new school 10 year began. 11 12 Mayor Flaherty questioned what had more value to the YMCA, the space or the daycare. Mr. 13 Danielson commented he was here to serve the community and its families. He explained the 14 YMCA has been a partner to the community for the past 17 years and there was great value in 15 extending the partnership the YMCA has with the City by offering childcare. 16 17 Sangeeta Jain, Creative Kids Academy, requested the Council deny Resolution 8617. While she 18 understood the Council was to act in the best interests of the community, she did not believe that 19 the closing of Creative Kids would be in the City’s best interest. She discussed the importance of 20 high quality childcare to a community and believed Creative Kids provided the highest early 21 childcare education services. She questioned why the City had not completed any analysis or due 22 diligence. She feared that the closing of Creative Kids would appear to be discriminatory in 23 nature. She discussed her public service, family history, and commented on the key to early 24 educational intervention. She highlighted the curriculum that was provided by Creative Kids 25 staff, as well as noting her business provided healthy, fresh food. She recommended the City 26 reconsider the Resolution before them and not replace a small, minority owned business with a 27 bureaucratic conglomerate. She feared how the children within her center would be disrupted if 28 Creative Kids were forced to evict this space and suggested the City Council not place a subpar 29 childcare provider in the Community Center. 30 31 Mayor Flaherty understood both the YMCA and Creative Kids were exceptional organizations. 32 He understood that Creative Kids was a great childcare provider to the community. He did not 33 believe the situation to be a hostile takeover, but rather the YMCA was making a request on how 34 to better utilize the space within the Community Center. He noted this request would not be 35 considered lightly. 36 37 Stephanie Thomas, YMCA Childcare Services, discussed the high quality childcare programs 38 being offered by the YMCA. She believed the YMCA would be able to strengthen their options 39 through an extended partnership with the City. She stated early childhood education was a 40 mission for the YMCA and believed the YMCA could positively impact the achievement gap 41 through its programming. She understood that transition was hard however, she hoped there 42 could be some collaborative efforts. It was her opinion the YMCA provided high quality 43 childcare services within its eight current facilities. She then discussed the collaboration that 44 would be offered between the YMCA and the childcare facility. 45