10/22/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Innovative Images bid proposed to manage the community center as contracted management similar to the city's recent arrangement at the golf course. Ms. Linke would oversee and manage a staff at the community center and make marketing and programming a large emphasis of her work at the community center. She gave a very detailed description of how she would propose going about advertizing, what groups to market to, and seek profitability in the programming. Additionally, she would oversee programming for the city's parks facilities as well. Essentially, this proposal was to replace what the city would otherwise do in recreation and add a strong marketing component for the community center. Her familiarity with the community and existing city operations was seen as a strong asset. The YMCA's proposal emphasized their programming abilities and their building management Meetings with the YMCA suggested their programming goals were not too different from Mounds View's and that a programming mix of existing city programs and Y programs could be complementary assuming they would be kept affordable for Mounds View residents and that the Y would be willing to take on program management the city would want. Their personnel costs were noticeably less than the other proposals because they would utilize their own staff and payroll policies. What they did not do strongly was marketing and event management. With their alternative, the city would need to figure that area of oversight some other way. The YMCA and Innovative Images were talked with as to whether the YMCA's building management and programming abilities could be paired with Sharie Linke's marketing and events management abilities, essentially giving the city the strengths of their two proposals. Some coordination would be needed to keep both answerable to the community, likely by reporting to the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Administrator's office. Existing parks maintenance would be shifted to public works as well. This arrangement is still being discussed but does appear to be a viable and cost effective option for City consideration. The Mounds View's Parks and Recreation staff have been working on much of the same issues as reviewed by the bidders. Obviously a familiarity with the community and an involvement in the community center process to date is an advantage. With the city's department managing the center, the organization would remain in place where staff reports to the city administrator and the Parks and Recreation Commission. Parks and Recreation can also utilize parts of all the other bidders. Marketing will still need to be done, the YMCA can be brought into the facility for various programming and coordination with other communities' recreation could still be done. What's Important to Mounds View? In the middle of October, this is where the city stands on making its choice for community center management. It is important to remember that at this point the discussion is driven by a budget that is a best guess scenario for stow to manage the community center. As experience is gained in operating the community center, confidence in the accuracy of the budget will improve. For now, a conservative approach has been taken that attempts to insulate the general fund as much M