4D, Adoption of Rec Fee Assistance Program

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�;�. EN HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: January 11, 2010 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Sue Iverson, Acting City Administrator FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager SUBJECT: Recreation Fee Assistance Program Back�round The Parks and Recreation Department has followed a standard fee assistance procedure that has been in place internally for years. With the struggles in the economy, the City's fee assistance requests have increased in the past year. For this reason and because there is no official written program, staff presented a draft version of a fee assistance program for review at the December 21, 2009 City Council Work Session. After review of the program, Council asked that staff bring it back for approval at tonight's meeting. Staff has included a draft of the proposed Recreation Fee Assistance Program Guidelines (Attachment A) and application form (Attachment B) for Council review. Below is a list of items that highlight additions and changes to the current procedures: • Each individual in a qualifying family may receive full assistance up to $40. There was no maximum set with our previous procedures. • Events, trips or activities that require the purchase of a ticket or payment to another service provider are not eligible for fee assistance. This includes the following programs but is not limited to: Sports camps, specialized drama and science camps and field trips. • To qualify for fee assistance, the family must be eligible for the free or reduced lunch program at school or receive public assistance. • The family must provide documentation (school district letter, WIC card, or other form) that they are on the free or reduced lunch program for the current year or other public assistance program. • In the event a participant cannot attend the activity/class they registered for, the City asks that the resident provide the Parks and Recreation Department at least a 24 hour notice. For ongoing programs (such as a 6-9 week class), they must attend 75 percent of the class sessions to remain eligible for future fee assistance. I IMetro-inet. us l a�denhills IPR�PWIParks IMemos I Council Memos 101112010 Recreation Program Fee Assistance Policy.doc