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Page 9 <br />November 9, 1998 <br />Mounds View City Council <br />Mr. Sonterre expressed his concern that this process of the proposed dismantling of the Parks <br />and Recreation Department was the beginning of "out sourcing" for City services. He stated he <br />was not opposed to the YMCA proposal but he is concerned at the speed that the process is going <br />at. The City has a successful quality service (Parks and Recreation) and yet they are considering <br />turning over the management responsibilities of that Department to an organization that has no <br />past experience in running a parks and recreation department. <br />Mary Saarion, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Mounds View, gave a brief <br />overview of the services that the City's Parks and Recreation Department provides. These <br />include parks facilities, recreation programs, obtaining grants for facility and program <br />impxovements, training of citizen volunteers to help in operating the facilities and programs, and <br />employing and training youth in park and recreation programs. The Park and Recreation budget <br />has been reduced from $800,000 in 1988 to $500,000 in 1998. This has been done with study <br />into more efficient operations and scheduling, with service evaluation, and with hard work. The <br />current budget cannot be cut any more without cutting either services or staff . Ms. Saarion <br />encouraged the YMCA to take over the operation of the Parks and Recreation Department if they <br />thought they could furnish the same quality and Level of services that are now being offered. She <br />stated of the 104 recreation program areas, only 14 of those areas are to be held at the <br />Community Center. The remaining 90 programs are held out in the community, in the schools, <br />churches and parks. "Who is going to manage this remaining 87 percent of the programming?" <br />she asked. Ms. Saarion urged the staff and Council to make sure that the service delivery would <br />meet the communities expectations. <br />Mike Sapanski, 2485 Oak Court Drive, expressed his concern that the City built a Community <br />Center and doesn't know what they are going to use it for. He also expressed his concern that the <br />City's "vague proposal" to the YMCA, would yield dollar savings that are just as vague. Mr. <br />Sapanski expressed his concern with "outsourcing" of the City's labor. <br />Scott Denz, Park and Recreation Commission, Commissioner, agreed with all of the previous <br />comments made by Parks and Recreation Commissioners. He asked staff to provide to the <br />Commission a detailed YMCA proposal and any specifications that were provided to the YMCA <br />to make their proposal on. Mr. Denz asked staff who would be handling grant applications if the <br />YMCA was to take over the operation of the City's Parks and Recreation Department. He sated <br />his opposition to hiring the YMCA to manage the City's Parks and Recreation Department. <br />Whiting stated grant applications would have to be a joint effort between the YMCA and the <br />City. He added a meeting would be held with the current Parks and Recreation Commission <br />i before any final decision is made. <br />"'" John Craiger, 8280 Pleasant View Drive, said his biggest concern, and what the communities <br />