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Parks, Trails & Recreation Committee — August 20, 2024 Page 10 Committee Member Olson stated the Lions Club did 90% of the work to facilitate their event. She isn't sure if the City has the capacity to support an event like that. She is asking where the balance is between the City running an event and the PTRC. Council Liaison Rousseau said she thought if we are talking about more staffing needs then it would have to go to the Council to give direction. They would want to know details. Is it passing out trees that people can go home and plant them. She's not sure what the Earth Day event would entail. Committee Member Anderson said it seems like you need an entire year to plan an event. She would presume you would need a precise proposal by August so it can be discussed when the budget is being fine-tuned. Committee Member Olson said the thought is to start small. Committee Member Olson understands these 2025 ideas are smaller scale projects. She thought for a bigger scale project there would need to have a plan in place early. She thinks the planning will need to be way in advance of any event. Committee Member Jacobson wondered if a fund could be established for these types of events so there wouldn't need to be so much advance notice. That money could be used exclusively for these events. Council Liaison Rousseau thought it wouldn't be an issue for the Council to approve $500 for an event like this. They recently approved $120 for Karth Lake to get ice cream for a gathering to discuss the lake. She said it's more about finding time to get it in front of the Council and the lack of efficiency in the meetings to get through things in a timely manner. She thinks the PTRC sometimes gets pushed to the wayside when other timely events need to be discussed. Committee Member Rogers asked is the PTRC a recommending body to direct the City to pursue these events. Or by recommending the events, are the PTRC taking on the responsibility to plan the events. The answer to that question may change the conversation based on the committee members' capacity. Recreation Supervisor Johnson stated that the Parks and Recreation Department is him. If the proposed staffing additions are approved, it will allow us to explore a lot of these options. He supports the ideas. The issue is finding time with other tasks that need to be done. He said if we plan and Earth Day event right after the Easter Egg Hunt there is no break. Other tasks need to be completed, too. Committee Member Rogers said she doesn't know some of the basic things so she isn't even sure what questions to ask. She was unaware that Recreation Supervisor Johnson didn't have a staff to help. Recreation Supervisor Johnson stated he has part time people in the summer and some in the winter for warming houses.