PL MINUTES 05051989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Commission Reaction 2 Commissioner Franzese said as a working mother she viewed this as a 3 great service for the Macalaster residents because she knew from past 4 experience having a baby sitter so close by was a real asset. She also 5 pointed out that the City can do more about unsatisfactory service with 6 a licensed facility than with a similar service in a private home which 7 is not licensed. The Commissioner indicated she expected a mother 8 dropping off a child from outside the complex would probably be an 9 exception rather than the rule for this type of facility and she 10 anticipated all kinds of problems trying to fence in a particular 11 segment of children on a playground where all children have always 12 played together without fencing. She also perceived the mix of children 13 required less supervision on the playground than if they were all of an 14 "unruly age." Commissioner Franzese said-she also liked to see "private 15 enterprise" involved in this type of service and expected because of the 16 "supply and demand" which would probably develop for the service, 17 parents should 'probably be the best evaluators of the care their 18 children received. 19 Commissioner London viewed. the County license as providing "minimal 20 care" and said he would rather see a more restrictive state license 21 required for the facility because of his own experience the past seven 22 years with day -care "some good, some not so good" for his two children who are both still in day care. He said he thought even with a mix of ages, 10 children were too many for one caretaker and even two for 14 children with certain mixes would not be enough. The Commissioner said 26 he considered a "half basement facility without a direct access to the 27 outside marginal at best. " He then pointed to the drainage swale in 28 back of the playground which he thought might present an unsatisfactory 29 play area when the ground is wet where a person trying to keep track of 30 8 or 10 kids at a time might not notice where the children were playing. 31 Commissioner Wagner said he basically agreed with Commissioner Franzese 32 that this facility would be a benefit to the parents in that apartment, 33 although he knew the County's requirements were minimum, he wasn't 34 certain just how much more control should be required for a facility of 35 this size. However, the Commissioner said his biggest concern was not 36 having a fenced play area in a complex where there is a swimming pool. 37 Commissioner Brownell indicated he also favored day care being offered 38 as a service to the parents of this apartment complex, but shared the 39 concerns of others about the lack of a controlled play area with the 40 level of supervision the license allowed. . 41 Commissioner Madden. said he perceived the use would provide a much 42 needed service which . would benefit the community but agreed that it 43 might be difficult for one day care provider to keep track of her own 44 charges playing outside with about 30 other children in a non-secured 45 area. 7