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Mounds View City Council November 25, 2002 <br />Regular Meeting Page 13 <br /> <br />think that a knee jerk reaction would serve the public well although it might serve specific <br />agendas. He further commented that he felt it would be appropriate to re-establish the required <br />committees and begin discussions to determine whether the programs can be turned around <br />before looking at an alternative. <br /> <br />Council Member Marty reiterated his previous comments stating he felt there was not enough <br />information to act at this time and he would like to step back and re-establish the committees <br />before acting. <br /> <br />Council Member Thomas indicated she did not feel it would be possible to get a department up <br />and running in 180 days as something of this magnitude requires a lot of planning. She then said <br />that the amount of money be shoveled into the YMCA program is inappropriate but the City <br />needs to research and that takes time. <br /> <br />Mr. Linke agreed with Council Members Thomas, Marty and Stigney and said that it would be <br />hasty to terminate the contract with the YMCA before looking into planning and costs associated <br />with the City having its own Park and Recreation Department. He further commented that the <br />City is setting is budget and there is no Park and Recreation Department in that budget. <br /> <br />Mayor Sonterre stated that he feels that a department could be up and running within 180 days <br />and operated under the existing budget. He then said he would be happy to restate the figures he <br />had given earlier. He then summarized that the City has doubled its subsidy from $50,000 to <br />$100,000. He further commented that the figures are staggering and the time to act is now <br />regardless of whether it takes longer than 180 days to get the department up and running. He also <br />commented that there was talk of reducing costs by one percent and this is ten fold that. <br /> <br />Council Member Stigney indicated he had no problem in looking at the issue but it is too <br />premature to take action on the issue. He then said he would like to have the figures to review <br />and have a discussion at a work session to see why the projections are not being met and what, if <br />anything, can be done prior to issuing them a 180 day notice. <br /> <br />Council Member Marty commented he would like to see the committees re-established and the <br />matter discussed at a work session when there is further information. <br /> <br />City Administrator Miller commented that it would be very difficult to accomplish anything with <br />the committee as set out meeting twice per year. She then indicated she has met with the YMCA <br />on a regular basis usually in response to problems most notably the one dealing with security. <br />She further suggested that, if Council is going to suggest that those meetings would be a way to <br />correct the problems, she would suggest breaking that large group into smaller entities and that <br />would mean more meetings. <br /> <br />Council Member Marty agreed that twice a year would not work but he thinks the City does need <br />to start meeting. He then said you could not have a well-oiled machine if you only grease it <br />periodically. He further commented that the City needed to work on this before doing anything <br />hasty.