5.3. SR 06-28-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . Gi CoiiunityEducati;~.3. 'r/ l.ifelong \.e~~ 1230 NW School Street - Elk River, Minnesota - 55330-2506 - (612) 241-3520 18 June 1999 To: Elk River Mayor, City Council Members and Pat Klaers ~ From: Charlie Blesener, Administrator of Community Education Re: Community Recreation Program With the resignation of Jeff Asfahl as the community recreation director, communities involved in the joint powers agreement and the Recreation Board have discussed various options for continuing the program. While no decision has been made yet, the Elk River City Council has notified the Recreation Board that it is seriously considering withdrawing from the program and establishing its own program. At its June 14 meeting the Recreation Board discussed three options: continuing the current joint powers agreement, contracting with the City of Elk River, and combining the program with the School District's Community Education program. There are likely additional options or combinations of options also possible. Before a final decision is made by the City of Elk River, I hope the council can become fully informed of all three options, and discuss them to see to what extent the needs of the city would or would not be met by them. To that end I will be at the June 28, 1999 council meeting, and I will ask that you remain open to other possibilities that meet the needs of the City of Elk River while retaining/improving upon important and significant partnerships between public entities. It seems to me that it is important to ask what do any of the participating entities want? What are desired outcomes from a partnership or from a stand alone program? Among the things I think member communities have wanted/valued are: · a variety of recreational programs for residents, especially youth · quality programs that are affordable .programs that help increase public use and awareness of municipal parks -credit and visibility as the provider (co-funder) of the programs -assistance to parent-run youth athletic programs - shared responsibility for jointly funding recreation programs to a regional audience - fiscal responsibility to constituents -access to school district indoor and outdoor facilities for programming By the same token, the past eight years of partnering with other entities have had some frustrations too, most notably different levels of commitment to recreation programming from different member communities, resulting in challenging but not impossible budgets, and some impatience with cooperation and collaboration. History/Background: In February, 1991 at a Community Education Certificate of Compliance meeting attended by numerous municipal and township officials and by citizens representing youth athletic associations, the topic of providing recreation was discussed. Prior to that time the City of Elk River paid an administrative fee to Community Education to supervise and provide recreation programs. The idea presented at that 1991 meeting was a joint agreement between several municipalities and the school district in which funds would be merged and a staff person would be funded to provide for the recreation needs of all member communities. By March 1992 Jeff Asfahl was hired. He reported to me on a daily basis for work performance, and was ultimately responsible to the Community Recreation Board. The division of labor and responsibilities between Community Education staff members and Recreation staff were pretty clear, but not without some "grey" areas. Serving the communities of: Elk River · Otsego · Rogers · Zimmerman · Hassan · Livonia · Dayton · Ramsey · Big Lake Township. Frankfort. Burns. Albertville