The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2003-05-15 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS/h RECREATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MAY 15, 2003 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5:00 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion/Recommendation -- Kenai Recreation Center Partnering Agreement Between the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula and the City of Kenai. ITEM 4: ADJOURNMENT KENAI PARKS/l~ RECREATION COMMISSION MAY 15, 2003 SPECIAL MEETING CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 5:00 P.M. CHAIRMAN TIM WISNIEWSKI~ PRESIDING MINUTES ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Chairman Wisniewski called the meeting to order at 5'00 p.m. Members Present: Wisniewski, Gifford, Sandahl, Castimore, Hultberg Members Absent: Baxter, Steiner Others Present: Councilwoman Porter, City Manager Snow, Finance Director Semmens, Director Frates, Contract Secretary Roper ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL The agenda was approved as presented. ITEM 3: OLD BUSINESS -ae Discussion/Recommendation -- Kenai Recreation Center Partnering Agreement Between the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Kenai Peninsula and the City of Kenai. Chairman Wisniewski opened the meeting to public comment and, in an effort to not repeat what had already been stated on the subject, asked that testimony be limited to those who have something new to add. Dan Conetta~ Kenai~ Alaska - Conetta repeating what he said before, noted the Commission has been given very little time to make a decision and he expressed appreciation for their patience and the fact they have held their ground by not coming to a hasty decision. Conetta discussed the two alternatives and stated neither one would have a long-term commitment to the current adult or teen program. Conetta added, Peter Micciche, President of the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors, repeatedly said he would make no guarantees. Conetta stated the Club has the ability to make guarantees and he read the information taken off the Club website. Conetta stated he felt, because money is going to get tight for the State and the City of Kenai, it would also be limited for the Club. Conetta read the Club mission statement and noted nowhere in the statement is there any mention of adult programs. Conetta added, he felt the adult programs would be the first to be cut. Conetta stated the community deserves to have a city-mn public recreation center and feels the City is underestimating the value and quality of life a recreation center brings to the community. Conetta stated this public asset needs to be protected and offered the following options for the Commission: · Reject the Club contract because it has no long-term commitment to the current adult and teen programs. · Adopt an alternative to allow the City to wait to see if another store fills the revenue gap left by K-Mart. Three alternatives to allow smarter decisions are: -- Use the General Fund, which has $5 million. This is a valuable public asset and it should not be held to some arbitrary number like the $500,000 the Mayor has used. -- Implement a .028 mill rate dedicated to the recreation center. -- Consider Carol Brenckle's modified budget that not only shows where to get $110,000 but $250,000 if the City is really worried about tightening up their belts. Conetta added, this is only for one year to get passed this timeframe. Wisniewski advised those who came in late of the need to limit testimony to new information only. Carol Brenckle, I~enai, Alaska -- Brenckle handed out copies of an alternative plan for recreation center funding and stated she had been to all budget sessions and has gone through the entire draft budget and identified what she felt are non-essential areas such as automobile allowances, travel, conferences, membership dues, etc. Brenckle noted, professionals could deduct membership dues and travel as a business expense. Brenckle asked the Commission to review the document and stated she felt there is more that could be done. Brenckle explained the cuts she was proposing and pointed out members of Council did cut their salaries by $100 each, however she included a greater cut but kept the Mayor's salary intact. Brenckle added, she also included alternative revenue sources and listed each item. Brenckle suggested Council take a long hard look at other alternatives and urged the Commission to request Council to do so and not to dismember a very valuable resource. Mark l~lece~ary, I~eaxai, Alaska -- Necessary reiterated that he has lived in Kenai since 1969 and has retired here. Necessary reported the company he worked for offered him a move to any place he wanted to but he chose to stay in Kenai. Necessary reported he had over 465 signatures of residents who want to keep the recreation center intact. Necessary asked how many individuals came forth, other than Board members or staff, in support of the Boys and Girls Club. I~ri~tine 8¢hmidt, 14enai, Alaska -- Schmidt handed out a position statement and reported the Friends of the Kenai Recreation Center (Friends) have developed a position statement and are asking the Commission to table the proposed agreement between the City of Kenai and the Club. Schmidt asked the Commission to recommend the City of Kenai do the following: · Keep the recreation center open on the same schedule as the previous year with the same programs run by City employees. · Make budget cuts elsewhere to the City of Kenai FY2004 budget, using other revenues or raise the mill rate by 0.28 in order to keep the recreation center programs in place. SPECIAL PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MAY 15, 2003 PAGE 2 · Allow the Commission to investigate alternatives for the Kenai Recreation Center during FY2004 and report to the City Council as allowed by City Code. Schmidt stated, their position is the City Administration should have investigated all the alternatives to the Club proposal and present more than just one option to the Commission and the City Council. Schmidt added, they've identified at least seven different alternatives she listed and also included in her position statement. Schmidt stated there are a lot of weaknesses in the Club agreement and asked the Commission to take time to really look at it to see if it is the best agreement the City can get as the Friends did not believe it is. Public comment was closed. MOTION: Commissioner Hultberg MOVED to recommend City Council reject the Boys and Girls Club partnership agreement and Commissioner Castimore SECONDED the motion. Hultberg stated he thought long and hard about this and noted he has every confidence in the world the City Manager and her elected council officials, in all their experience, with all their knowledge and expertise, can come up with a better agreement than the one proposed. Hultberg continued, giving the Commission a month to make a decision for this issue was just not right. Hultberg added, consideration needed to be given to the number of people who have been against the agreement and someone, Council or whoever, should look at some of the proposed alternatives. Hultberg said he just couldn't believe the City couldn't develop something that would be prudent to keep the Parks and Recreation in place. Hultberg added, what makes this City great is when times get tough people get together do determine what can be done. VOTE: Hultberg Yes Sandahl Yes Baxter Absent Gifford No Castimore Yes Wisniewski Yes Steiner Absent MOTION PASSED. ITEM 4: ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:25 p.m. Minutes recorded and transcribed by: Barbara Roper, Contra~ Secretary SPECIAL PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MAY 15, 2003 PAGE 3