07/26/1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMO TO: COUNCILMEMBER QUICK V&7m FROM: MARY SAARION, DIRECTOR PARKS, RECREATION AND F DATE: JULY 11, 1990 SUBJECT: POP MACHINES V I met with Mr. Parsons from Coca- Bottling Company regarding the feasibility of pop machines in the park. I expresse my primary concern of vandalism. Mr. Parsons did not feel that vandalism would be a problem and stated that it would be the company at risk, not the City. After discussion of activities and use of various parks, Mr. Parsons recommended that one machine be placed under the large picnic shelter at City Hall and one at the new picnic shelter at Silver View. He suggested the six -select machine at $14.00/month. At $.50 per can and a minimum of 25 cases per month, at the two above locations, profits would be $375.00 for a 5 month operation period (May - September) per machine. I have reviewed this with the Parks and Recreation Commission and they expressed two concerns: 1. Who will be responsible for filling the pop machine and how often does it need to be filled? I shared my opinion in reference to this question that the public works employees would be the logical ones to fill the pop machine during regular trash and facility inspection tasks. It was then the Commissions' question as to whether or not the public works has enough time to take on another task. 2. The concern about collecting money was expressed. Would money need to be collected every day; every two days? If money was stolen would it be the City's liability? Who would be responsible for collecting the money? Generally, the Commission wanted to be sure that any profits generated could compensate time spent to manage the tasks involved. I still am concerned about vandalism. Mr. Parsons did not know of any machines in area parks. I asked if Minneapolis parks or anywhere else in the metro area used their machines in parks. He was not aware of any, although, he said that most golf courses have pop machines. My basic concern is that even if we are not liable for any damage done to the machine, I am reluctant to give any more "opportunities", or enticements for vandals to be detrimental to park facilities. On the other hand, the pop machines do provide a service to the park users and may provide profit monies for additional park amenities. I would like to suggest that we try one machine at City Hall picnic shelter from May September in 1991 on a trail basis to actually see the use and profit potential of a pop machine in the parks and evaluate the profit versus the cost of operating a pop machine service.