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MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />Item <br /> <br />~5.5. <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Mayor and Council <br /> <br /> Pat Klaers, City Administrator <br /> June 25, 2001 '~,~ <br /> Discussion on Community Recreation Update <br /> <br />The City of Otsego has notified the Community Recreation Board that it wishes to withdraw <br />from the Joint Powers Agreement 0PA). While this notification has just come forward, the <br />decision is not a surprise. The topic of whether or not the City of Elk River should develop <br />its own city recreation program has been on the horizon since 1997 when Otsego withdrew <br />from the JPA and then reconsidered and remained a member. As in 1997, the issue for <br />Otsego's withdrawal in 2001 is financial. Attached for your information are some newspaper <br />articles from 1997 and some material from 1999 when the community recreation director <br />left the organization and the city again considered establishing a city recreation program. <br /> <br />Ever since Zimmerman and Livonia Township left the JPA in 1996 it was felt that Otsego <br />was a key player and, because of their ongoing financial concerns, they may be the next to <br />leave. It was assumed that if Otsego would leave then the organization would cease to exist <br />as the Otsego population was larger than Rogers, Dayton, and Hassan Township combined. <br />In the meantime, Dayton and Hassan Township have left or are leaving the JPA. When <br />Otsego leaves, the remaining members would be Rogers, the School District, and Elk River <br />would be about 84% of the budget. At that point it seems senseless to maintain the JPA and <br />individual contracts for services should be considered along with some type of agreement <br />with the school district for use of fields and facilities. <br /> <br />The establishment of a city recreation program is the next logical step in our recreation <br />evolution. The city would employ the current community recreation staff. Since the <br />inception of the community recreation organization the city has assumed the following <br />responsibilities, which were at one point with the school district: <br /> <br />· Payroll for Employees <br />· Supervision of Employees <br />· Location of the Offices <br />· Fiscal Agent <br /> <br /> <br />