Minutes - 1998/11/09 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 10 November 9, 1998 Mounds View City Council biggest concern should be is: "How will the kids benefit? How will the adults benefit? And how will the City benefit from hiring the YMCA to manage the Parks and Recreation Department?" Mr. Sonterre asked if the budget proposals would be based on the City's operation of the Parks and Recreation Department or the YMCA's proposal. Whiting stated that would be a discussion held by the Council in the following weeks prior to approving the budget. Harvey Feldman, New Hope, MN, stated he had been the Minneapolis Park and Recreation's Assistant Superintendent for Administration for 20 years. During that time he had the opportunity to write 21 "joint facility agreements" with the Boys' and Girls' Clubs, Pillsbury United, and many with the School Board. Government is being asked to provide more services with less money, as Mr. Quick eluded to, he said. Mr. Feldman suggested not proceeding with any agreement with the YMCA without an agreement signed by the Board of Directors of the YMCA; the main governing board. He suggested not approving any agreement until the new City Council was in place. Mr. Feldman offered a lengthy list of items to include in an agreement if and when it is reached. He suggested agreeing to nothing less than afive-year time period for the agreement. Mr. Feldman offered his advise as an interested professional if and when the City decides to proceed with hiring the YMCA as its Community Center manager. He also added that the YMCA, as part of its operating function, can take profit from its existing operations to support other facilities that it is running, and Mounds View must be aware of this fact. Gunn asked the Commission if it came to increases in fees or taxes how much they would be willing to pay to keep the operation of the Parks and Recreation Department "in-house." The Commission answered they would be willing to pay higher fees to keep the services in-house. Terresa Lexan, 5229 Jeffery Drive N.E., expressed her concern that the personnel that would be working out of the Community Center under the YMCA organization would be entry level, inexperienced people, replacing the City's experienced staff. She stated she was happy with the City's staff running the Park and Recreation programs. Ms. Lexan suggested not looking at the issue as an "all or nothing type of choice." It might be possible to have the City and the YMCA work together to operate the facility, she said. Stigney advised the Council to consider the comments of the incoming Council members in any discussions held on the Community Center management issue. This would give the Council "eight people looking at the issue instead of five. He offered his appreciation to the YMCA staff for taking into consideration all of the questions and comments being offered at this meeting.