Agenda Packets - 1997/08/18 - Laserfiche WebLink

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checking account and formal meetings to be replaced by more social gatherings including card playing, picnics, trips and special entertainment. Seniors are looking forward to the availability of the Community Center for a place to gather and socialize. These program delivery changes have had minimal impact on each activity but has greatly eliminated staff time which can be used to redirect energies in assuming other responsibilities. Duties and responsibilities that have been assumed include: * The preparation of the City Newsletter has been assumed by Mary Johnson. An Editorial Board has been formed to assume overall responsibility for the content of the City Newsletter. Tracy Sanchez will be assuming the preparation of the City portion of the City Newsletter and Mary Johnson will continue with the preparation of the Recreation Activities portion of the City Newsletter. * I have taken the role of instigator for initiating changes that will empower groups and organizations to take a greater role in providing for themselves. Groups include Festival in the Park Committee and MVCT Board of Directors, youth athletic associations and seniors citizens groups. * Temporary staff including Recreation Program Supervisor Andy Singleton and Intern Mike Schnur have assumed the proficient supervision of summer playground programs, • Lakeside Park lifeguarding activities, youth trips and special events and summer youth clinics. Two highlights of the quarter include: 1. Staff prepared a Youth Initiatives grant application which was awarded and will provide additional $325,000 funding for the Community Center. 2. Staff worked with Ramsey County for the improvements to the Ramsey County Compost Facility located at Ardan Park- and better defined Ramsey County's operation responsibilities. Making changes has meant leading recreation staff in a new direction. There has been a natural reluctance to changes. Changes regarding department procedures and activities have not always been accepted with ease. Department action plans for"letting go" of some responsibilities and assuming other responsibilities(as described above)has been difficult for recreation staff, and some residents of the community. The new direction requires a change in philosophy-to one that provides empowerment support rather than actually doing everything-which has been difficult for recreation office staff to adopt. Experts state that change is often times difficult and sometimes it takes employees time to "buy into" a new concept or direction. While the department is yet in transition, I am hopeful that we will continue to move in a direction that provides efficient and • effective leisure recreation delivery system to the residents of the community.