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Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes Page 4 April 10, 2019 ----------------------------- Chair Anderson shared that a request from March to do something in May is not possible, due to not having the budget and there is a process, we have to look at what type of pole, how tall the pole is and how the pole will benefit and impact all park users. Chair Anderson stated he was informed of what was being said about the commission and staff on social media and that it is important the we all understand the limits by which the commission operates within and that if a decision is made against something that the public is for, in this case a flagpole, does not mean that the city, city staff or the commission are not patriotic. We have no less passion for the flag or anybody out there listening to us on cable. We just cannot install a flagpole without a plan and without a budget. I would throw out the challenge to raise $4000 and then we can come up with a plan. Turn your passion into a community effort to do good things not just for Memorial Day which is one day but for many other days. We are looking at $9.8 million budget with $190,000 a year to spend. Mr. Hecker stated that it is important to remember this group did not say they were opposed the flag at the last meeting, that they would need to consider it due to budget constraints and needing a plan. Ms. Wagner stated that this commission is made up of volunteers. Sharing that there is a process the city has to go by to make recommendations whether it’s for $400, $4000 or $4 million. The Mayor was the one who suggested that the American Legion move its event from the Lion John Weicht Park, with the removal of the band shell down to Rivers Edge Commons Park. It’s important that everybody knows that it was never a thing of someone not being patriotic or un-American and that it was rather there's a process that is followed. We will make sure that the American Legion has an event this year for Memorial Day at the downtown park. Chair Anderson shared that we can have our opinions and share them because of our freedoms; encouraging the audience to volunteer in the community. Korrin Kaufmann, 15300 196 Avenue Elk River stated that all the kids here were not even born before 911. If we could get a community group to put flags in every park and have kids take a rotation to take care of the flags. Mike Kaufmann, 15300 196 Avenue, asked how soon the cost will be figured out so they can do some fundraising. Chair Anderson stated it's the time between now and Memorial Day that seems like a long time but it really isn't encouraging us to use the temporary solution for this coming Memorial Day and then work towards the goal and come back in and talk to the commission in October, if, by October you've already raised the money then we still have to make a recommendation to the city council on if we're going to have a flagpole, where that flagpole is going to be and