8.0. PRSR 5-13-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• May 9, 1998 Mr Dana Anderson, Chair Elk River Parks and Recreation Commission Elk River City Hall Elk River, MN 55330 Dear Chairman Anderson: I am writing to raise several issues concerning the role of the Parks and Recreation Commission in the process currently underway to build a Boys and Girls Club facility in Lions Park. My issues in part stem from a news account in today's Metro/State section of the Star Tribune concerning restricted access by the general public to a St Paul neighborhood park which has been leased to the Boys and Girls Club of St Paul. According to the news account, "...the club insists that any non-members pay a permit fee to use the park and adjacent recreation center, both of which the group leases from the city....Richard Grigo, development director for the Boys and Girls Club, said that concerns over liability, insurance and maintenance are the why no one is allowed to use the park without permission. He said that the organization is simply adhering to its agreement with the city." Attached please find a copy of the entire news article Although I personally am very supportive of a youth facility being in place in Elk River within a reasonable time frame, as a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, I want to make • every effort to insure that a good process is followed to insure that Elk River does not repeat the St Paul situation where you have a private non-profit organization being given the power by the city to determine which citizens have access to a public park site. To insure good process the Parks and Recreation Commission has to operate on the following assumptions: (1) That the Commission will have the opportunity for timely review and comment on any proposed lease between the Boys and Girls Club, the City of Elk River and the Elk River Area Lions Club. (2)That the terms of the lease will not restrict in any way access by the general public to the facilities of Lions Park, with the sole exception being the youth center which will be governed by the terms of the lease per#1. (3) That the Commission will have an opportunity for timely review and comment on the b8dp. lan proposed design of the Boys and Girls Club facility. This is important since should the building ever revert to the City of Elk River, the Parks Commission would become responsible for any programming in the building. It is important that the Commission review the design with future contingencies in mind. • While I am unable to attend the May 15 Commission Meeting, I would appreciate your presenting this letter for discussion by the Commission, and taking such action, should the Commission share