Laserfiche WebLink
<br />rei ~'\) <br />( ); <br />lril <br /> <br /> <br />Item #6.5. <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Mayor & City Council <br /> <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Aft~ator <br /> <br /> <br />May 24, 1999 {;t> <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: Community Recreation Program <br />Discussion <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The participants in the joint powers agreement (JPA) are Dayton, Elk River, <br />Rogers, Hassan Township, and Otsego. These communities are scheduled to <br />contribute approximately $102,500 into the program in 1999. Of this <br />amount, the city of Elk River pays $62,000. As you can see, we are clearly <br />the biggest player in this organization. The other four communities have a <br />combined population of about 10,000 as compared to the city's population of <br />15,000. Also, last year Elk River offered 222 of the 330 programs that were <br />run by community recreation. This information is offered as another <br />measuring stick of our role in the association. <br /> <br />It is clear to me that if the JP A remains in place, then the budget will have to <br />stay constant. If this does not happen, Otsego has given every indication it <br />will drop out of the association and, in fact, Otsego may drop out regardless. <br />By continuing with the current status we are simply putting off the <br />inevitable, which is that Elk River will be on its own and have its own park <br />and recreation department. To continue with the current relationship is only <br />a stop gap measure and is certainly something we can do, but everyone <br />should be aware that the life span of this association is very limited. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />If the city wants to improve the recreation opportunities for its residents, <br />then we are going to have to be more aggressive. This typically means <br />spending more funds, as recreation programs are not always self-sufficient <br />and some programs require "subsidies", which is a normal financial <br />function/responsibility of a municipality. Under the current system, when <br />this happens for Elk River programs, then communities like Otsego are the <br />ones who receive a disproportionate benefit as they have no expense, but <br />their residents can participate in the programs at no extra charge. This can <br />be a disincentive for communities like Otsego to offer programming and, I <br />think, has been one of the flaws within the community recreation <br />organization and its funding formulas. <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330. TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 . Fax: (612) 441-7425 <br />