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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-05-06 Council Minutes - Joint Work Session with Parks & Recreation Commission and Boys & Girls ClubKENAI CITY COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION WITH PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEMBERS AND BOYS & GIRLS CLUB REPRESENTATIVES MAY 6, 2003 7:00 P.M. NOTES Council present: Williams, Bookey, Swarner, Moore, Porter, Osborne, Jackman Staff present: Freas, Snow, Semmens, Graves, Frates Commissioners: Baxter, Castimore, Hultberg, Sandahl, Wisniewski Boys & Girls Club: Tina Marie Herford and Peter Micciche Williams opened the work session at approximately 7:05 p.m. and noted council would listen to comments from representatives of the Boys & Girls Club (Club), the Commission, visiting guests and the general public. He noted information available for the public as • Public Notice regarding the Kenai Recreation Center: if the agreement takes place, the Club won't move from their other facility, but will form a partnership for management of the City's recreation center to save money for the city. Also, the city will not be selling, leasing or transferring ownership of the facility to the Club and fees will be charged. • Minutes of the May 1, 2003 Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting. • Draft Partnering Agreement • Article from the National Recreation and Park Association website reporting the NRPA's partnership with Boys &s Girls Clubs of America. Williams also noted, the federal government was facing a very difficult time with deficits, etc. and the city has not had financial problems as the present since the 70's. He added, the city is at a turning point and could correct situations and make plans for the near future or wait until things get really difficult. Comments of the Parks & Recreation Commission: Mike Baxter -- Stated his objection to the partnership, noting the decision was being made too fast; there are other options; with the prospect of Home Depot moving into Kenai, such measures may not be necessary; and he understood the Club was having difficulties in obtaining insurance for the weight room. Club Executive Director, Tina Marie Herford stated they had received assurances from their insurance company there would be no problem. Jack Castimore -- Castimore noted he did not feel the Commission had enough time to study the issue; was offended by pressures to make a decision; believes the public paid for the facility and want it in the community; after hearing comments, etc., he would vote against the partnership proposal; and, the city's children should not be charged to use a public facility. COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 62 2003 PAGE 2 Dick Hultberg -- Hultberg noted he's been a commissioner for 25 years; feels the city has done a good job running the facility; he would have liked more time to investigate the proposal; and didn't believe the public received enough information about the issue and are afraid. Williams noted, during a recent trip to Washington, DC, it was evident there would be large impacts from actions being taken there to municipalities throughout the country, and the partnership will be shift in management principles if the agreement is approved. Herford noted there would be a $20 annual fee and scholarships, etc will be available for those who are unable to afford the fee which will be made available with discretion. Dale Sandahl -- Stated he had been a commission member for 20 years and had come to the work session to hear comments from council and to ask questions. He was not ready to make other comments and noted the commission would be requesting a special meeting be held on May 15 for the commission to formulate a recommendation for council. Tim Wisniewski -- Stated he has been a Commission member for seven years; the issue of the partnership had been their most important discussion in those seven years; felt time should have been allowed for additional discussions with options offered; felt it was insulting to the longevity of the Commission to remove the recreation center from their responsibility. Kelly Gifford -- Stated her support of the partnership and added, she sees many benefits, i.e. growth of the programs, acquisition of grant funds, etc. and saw no difference in the city raising user fees or the Club collecting user fees. Williams explained user fees are approved by the city manager and reviewed by council, who can, if they feel it appropriate, change the fees. He also explained council had set parameters for the development of the budget and directed administration to bring a budget forward within the parameters. Public Comments: Jan Echternach, 37070 Even Lane -- Echternach noted she is an employee of the Center and reviewed her concerns and suggestions, i.e. funds should be available from those past employees who were in higher pay ranges than the current employees; the Daubenspeck funds could be used for operation of the facility; believes the question should be placed on an election ballot; suggested raising the mill rate another .25 and earmark those funds for the operation of the Center instead of using General Elrod monies; the Teen Center is used by teens who want a place to "hang out" and are not wanting to do structured activities; and, feels the issue is moving too fast and there are other options to be addressed. COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 6, 2003 PAGE 3 Mayor Williams, referring to Echternach's question of where the money has gone, reviewed reasons the city was in the financial position it is now in, noting grant funding and municipal assistance decreases, low interest rates, increased insurance costs, etc. He also explained, the Daubenspeck funds are designated specifically for recreation use by the benefactor. Todd McGillivray, 36500 Wake Forest Court, Soldotna -- McGillivray explained he is a member of the Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors and is a son of Kayo McGillivray, the former Parks 8v Recreation Department Director. McGillivray stated his support of the partnership because he believes the partnership will work for both parties; he didn't believe any services currently at the Center would be lost; and he believes the current programs can continue and there will be additional services. McGillivray also noted he would be reluctant for the Club to take on the women and men's basketball league due to problems they experience within their club and, as time goes on, he hopes the word gets out to the public this is not a hostile takeover and the Club will try to keep the programs in tact and save the city money. Mark Necessary, 1615 Toyon Way -- Necessary spoke against the partnership and his comments included he believes the issue is moving too fast; the public believes it is "done deal"; he received 455 signatures on a petition against the partnership from people all over the Peninsula; he believes the Center is an essential city service and should be funded before funding non -essential services; the Center should be operated as a public facility and not run by a private operator; and, if it is to be managed by a private operator, the facility should be open for public use. Williams, referring to a question of Necessary's noted, the net effect to the city with the partnership will be $87,000. Bob Molloy -- Stated he is a member of the Friends of the Recreation Center, a political action committee to keep the Center open, run, and fully funded by the city. Molloy stated his objections to the partnership and stated some concerns as: there is no requirement for the Club to pay for an audit; there is no public involvement in choosing programs; there is no guarantee in the contract the current programs will continue; and, they gathered 455 signatures within a week from users who live in Homer, Sterling, Nikiski, etc. who shop in the city. Carol Brenckle -- Introduced local users of the Teen Center (Bridgette Midow, Kayla Misera, Lacy Nelson and Miranda Sheldon) and explained her involvement in the issue. l Kayla Misera -- Stated she is a student at KCHS and has been a user of the facility � since she was in 7th grade as a place to hang out with her friends; prefers the Teen COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 62 2003 PAGE 4 Center rather than the Club; feels most of the users of the Teen Center don't want to change the facility; and, those who work there don't want to make the change either. Miranda Sheldon -- Stated she has been a user of the Teen Center since she was in 8th grade; drugs and alcohol are not used at the Center; they hang out with friends; if she can't watch videos at the Center, she'll stop going there; and, didn't want a structured program. Lacy Nelson -- Stated the employees, etc. at the Teen Center are like family; she just moved to the area and only started using the facility; and, she uses the facility as a place to hang out. Bridgette Midow -- Has used the facility from first to seventh grade while attending the summer recreation program, etc. and now uses the Teen Center; the Center offers lots to do and it is her choice of whether to participate or not; there is no fee; can talk to staff members about things she may not feel comfortable talking to her parents about; the staff is like family; she sometimes helps out behind the counter or picking up trash, etc.; she meets lots of teens there from other schools; there are rules; and she doesn't want the Center taken away. Carol Brenckle, 502 Hemlock, Kenai -- Brenckle explained how the teens got involved in the process to protest the proposed partnership agreement; noted she was concerned the closure of the Teen Center would push teens out on the streets or to another location; the Center is a safe haven for the teens; $100,000 could be saved by cutting one police officer and one less police vehicle; if the partnership is approved and the Recreation Center is closed without further planning, she feels an additional two or three officers will be needed; understands planning of the partnership has been going on for over a year, but had not heard anything until now; doesn't think the partnership is in the best interest of the city; not enough time has been given to the planning; it's time for creative budgeting and other ideas to be investigated, i.e. eliminate middle management, make a management team, etc. Brenckle noted, comments had been made indicating there had been a lot of misinformation and rumors in regard to the issue and pointed out portions of the agreement she felt were not rumors, i.e. paying the Club $125,000, paying the utilities, maintenance, telephone, insurance, etc. Williams noted the Parks 8. Recreation Department is about the third most expensive program in the city behind Fire and Police ($754,000 in the current budget). He noted municipal assistance had already been cut by $75,000 for the next fiscal year. BREAK TAKEN: 8:30 P.M. BACK TO ORDER: 8:45 P.M. COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 612003 PAGE 5 Kris Schmidt, Ash Street -- Stated she felt the partnership issue was being made too soon without enough information, i.e. what exactly will be cut if the proposal is not approved, what are the line item expenses, why is the Club not paying the city for the use of the facility, etc.; there remain areas in the budget that can be cut; reviewed her concerns and suggestions, i.e. cut all employee salaries ten percent; cut middle level managers; cut summer hires; cut Beautification because it is nonessential; put out for bid; give current employees a chance to run the facility; there's no public accountability, i.e. open meetings to the public are not required from the Club; the renewals of the contract are at the Club's option and the city won't be able to take the facility back; the Teen Center is not a priority in the Club programs and is not required to keep it open in the contract; teens want a place to hang out and don't want to have to participate in programs; over 400 signatures were gathered of people who object to the partnership and want additional cuts; the proposal doesn't make sense, i.e. either pay $200,000 or give the Club $200,000; there will not be savings; believes there are hidden costs and the public is not getting the whole story; and challenged the city to tell the real reasons for proposing the partnership. Williams briefly commented where in the budget to find the information for the Parks 8. Recreation Departments, as well as the revenue received. Kathy Erhardt, 1521 Toyon Way -- Stated she always has felt the Recreation Center is a source of pride for the community and adds to the quality of life; she is an employee of the Club; the Club is a non-profit existing because of community support and to say they will gut programs is not accurate; the Club needs the support of the community; the Club will be able to run the operation very efficiently and offer the community what they need and want. Anita Necessary, 1615 Toyon Way -- Noted she and her husband had been active in the origination of the Recreation Center and the Club; both facilities are needed in the community, but doesn't feel they can be incorporated into one; the Center existed before the Challenger, the Club, the multipurpose facility, fire school, Kmart, etc.; the Center serves a vital need in the community and she wants to keep it that way. Dan Conetta, 708 Alter Court, Kenai -- Distributed "Financial Options for the Kenai Recreation Center" and noted: the Center is well -run, maintained facility and the city should be proud of it; the employees deserve to be recognized for their efforts; he and his group want to continue using the Center for playing walleyball; they are not questioning the integrity of the Club, but the Commission was given two options: either the partnership or cut in hours; he agrees with Schmidt, there are more than two options, and reviewed his suggested options which he distributed; he encouraged council to exercise patience and wait a year before going forward with the partnership (his option one) . COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 612003 PAGE 6 Williams noted, it was doubtful the same amount of sales tax as Kmart brought in would be received due to the tax cap; if council waits until next year, the city will be faced with a minimum $700,000 deficit. Bill McKee, 707 Maple Drive -- Stated he has lived in Kenai for 26 years and is now retired; lots of comments with options and suggested the other cuts be made instead of the Center; the Center is an open facility and should stay that way; if need to raise the mill rate, do it; don't act immediately on the issue; cut Beautification, cut hours at the Center, close on Sunday, wait six months, use volunteers, raise fees, etc. Williams reviewed other cuts made, hours cut, etc. at other departments, the hockey rink, etc.; noted and reviewed the many misconceptions of facilities the city owns and operates. Lisa Diorec, 222 Susieanna -- Explained she worked at the Center for 12 years; while working there, was always told they were not there to make money and the fees were kept very low; suggested fees be increased, close the facility on Sundays, changes be made to work schedules in order to offer more programs; were also told the Club would take over the current Center and a new city facility would be built; questioned the director's salary; suggested cutting the wellness program, health newsletter, etc. Stated she was not against the Club using the facility but had questions regarding the scope of management services; and, questioned whether current programs will continue. Peter Micciche -- Noted only the fee schedule will be reviewed in November. The contract was written to provide changes in the hours, but the services will continue for three years. Tina Marie Herford -- Stated the Club's intent is to manage the community part of the facility, the weight room, etc. will be open to the public; they do not intend to move the Club kids program into the Center; they will be managing the facility, continuing to provide the current services; they intend to run the facility with a recreation and teen program. Williams noted, the alternative for the city running the facility would require six cuts in personnel, operation costs, closing on Sunday and Monday, changes in open hours for both the recreation portion and Teen Center, the adult basketball program will run their own program and pay fees for use of the facility as to other user groups of city facilities, etc. Rick . Henderson, Mt. View Boys & Girls Club, Anchorage -- Explained the development of their Club through the Municipality of Anchorage and noted, their facility also acts as a community center and represents over 30 languages, and the Club is contracted to manage the facility. He noted, their program has been very COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 6, 2003 PAGE 7 successful due to the requirement of a fee, though very small, for the youth to take ownership in the facility. He reviewed the youth's involvement with jobs at the Club instead of paying a fee, etc. Henderson noted the national organization has developed 51 programs for youth. He reviewed how their facility is scheduled to accommodate both adult and youth use; their success in encouraging mentorship; stated he doesn't think there are any other programs that can offer more in programs than the Club; funding is more readily available for non -profits and they have funded a number of their programs (gang relations, job ready, summer meal, suicide prevention, etc.) through grant funding; the Club should not be viewed as ordering youth to take part, but fostering them to be involved; and the acceptance level of their program is very successful for both youth and adults. John Mellish -- Asked when the city began discussing the possibility of the partnership and how the city program impacts the Club's program. He also stated the issue was moving very fast and there are questions and confusions; it's been hard to get financial information; and, -the hockey program should be treated the same as other departments. Answers to his questions were given by Williams, Porter, Micciche and Herford who stated, discussions began about two years ago in regard to the summer youth program; there was a duplication of services; the partnership discussion began during budget work sessions in the last month; and, the ice rink will be closed two months more a year. Tina Marie Herford -- Stated, on behalf of the Club, it will support whatever the council decides; their intent is to manage the facility; the $125,000 and revenue from fees will cover the cost of staffing they will incur to run the facility; there will be no financial benefit to the Club; their programs are not being subsidized; they won't be forcing people to do anything and the youth will have the opportunity to participate; and, she believes this will be a win/win situation for the Club and everyone involved. Peter Micciche -- Stated he had heard all the arguments; the Club has concerns also but want the opportunity to make it work; asked all to keep their minds open; asked for people to contact him or Herford if they have questions; they want the Parks & Recreation Commission to be actively involved; and, asked not to look at the Club negatively as there are a lot of children/youth in the community depending on them. Carol Brenckle -- Stated she believes the Club is an excellent organization; believes the issue is moving too quickly; suggested council form a committee composed of Club directors, supporters, members of the public, users, etc. to try to work together in an orderly way and explore alternatives for raising money, etc. COUNCIL JOINT WORK SESSION MAY 612003 PAGE 8 Williams thanked the attendees for their participation and noted, the concerns of the council include aging resources, loss of fishing and oil industries, etc. Also, the council is charged with the responsibility of the town will look like in the future. Williams added, change is inevitable. The work session adjourned at approximately 10:30 p.m. Notes prepared by: Carol L. Freas, City Clerk AMOVEZ)lCit