Agenda Packets - 2016/10/10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council September 12, 2016 Regular Meeting Page 5 City Administrator Ericson understood that Creative Kids Academy was providing high quality 1 child care services to the community. He indicated the issue before the Council was the 2 opportunity to have YMCA provide these services in order to create greater efficiencies within 3 the entire building than were presently being considered. He commented on the benefits this new 4 model would have on the community and City. He requested the Council further discuss the 5 YMCA proposal and make a determination if this would be the best direction for the City. 6 7 Mayor Flaherty explained this topic has been discussed on two separate occasions by the City 8 Council with the owners of Creative Kids Academy and representatives from the YMCA. He 9 reported the Council would be making a determination on this matter this evening. He requested 10 comment from both parties at this time. 11 12 Greg Waibel, COO of the YMCA, stated the YMCA was a non-profit that has proudly served the 13 community of Mounds View for the past 17 years. He believed the YMCA’s proposal offered 14 residents a better use of the space at the Community Center. He reported the YMCA would work 15 diligently to provide a smooth transition for the new child care center. He encouraged Creative 16 Kids Academy to work with the YMCA on this matter. He noted he has spoken to the State 17 licenser and have been told the process can be seamless. He believed a “No” vote would not 18 honor the residents of Mounds View, while a “Yes” vote would affirm the proper use of tax-19 payer resources. 20 21 Mr. Garg, Creative Kids Academy, was disappointed with this entire situation and how he was 22 being made out to be the bad guy. He felt that his business was being taken from him. He then 23 read off a top ten list of why Creative Kids Academy was the proper choice for the City Council. 24 He explained if his lease was terminated over 300 lives would be impacted, many of which were 25 Mounds View residents. He did not believe the proposed savings were valid. He explained that 26 families that qualified for State subsidies would not be allowed to be a part of the YMCA 27 program until they were four star certified, which would take over a year to receive. He feared 28 how his teachers and staff would be impacted by losing their jobs. He stated this was not just a 29 business to him, but rather this was his passion. He indicated he enjoyed building relationships, 30 providing support to families, and healthy food for hungry children. He requested the Council 31 not discount the positive work that was being done by the Creative Kids Academy. He described 32 the enrichment programs offered by CKA noting these were being offered free of charge to 33 students. 34 35 Mr. Garg encouraged the Council not to disrupt the lives of countless children in Mounds View 36 by terminating his lease. He feared how these children and families would be stressed. He 37 believed the City should not fix something that was not broken. He commented on the amount 38 funding he had available to assist families in need and did not believe the YMCA would have 39 this amount of money available. He reported 40% of his families required a subsidy. 40 41 Mr. Garg explained CKA was the only small child care provider in Mounds View that was 42 accredited and four star. By letting his lease terminate, Mounds View would lose this 43 opportunity for all of its families. He feared how Mounds View families would be impacted by 44 only having KinderCare and the YMCA as their child care provider options. The differences 45