1996-12-11 - CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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DEC November 22, 1996 Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers: Park Board representatives of the cities of Lexington, Circle Pines, Lino Lakes and Centerville have met approximately four times during this Fall to discuss options to North Metro Recreation for recreational services to our residents. A proposal has been discussed which includes benefits to all partnering cities, and especially to Centerville considering proximity to Lino Lakes. The proposal is to contract recreational services with Lino Lakes. There are many benefits to this proposal including: - Eliminating duplication which now occurs with North Metro and Lino Lakes recreation services, resulting in confusion, decreased participant numbers in each rather than consolidation of interest which often results in canceled classes for both services. - Better and more diverse programming due to the number of staff that can serve participants with Lino Lakes (4) versus the one staff member that is contracted for only 20 hours per week. This is a substantial benefit if only for opportunities for persons to call and inquire about programs during business hours- - Diverse programming resulting in not just youth recreation but expanding opportunities to adults, senior citizens, teens and those with disabilities. - More "bang for the buck" resulting in better recreational programming and implementation. The proposal on the table does not request additional monies at this time, however, cities have the option of increasing recreational opportunities to their residents in future years. It has been proposed that the North Metro Recreation joint powers agreement would dissolve with the formation of a new joint powers with the City of Lino Lakes for recreational services. Each city in the partnership would contribute to the joint powers. Residents of cities that do not participate in the joint powers would be charged a non- resident fee tacked onto the program fee. Centerville did not have representation at the last meeting held Thursday, November 21. The other city representatives are anxious to get moving on the proposal so that a joint powers can be written and presented to each respective City Council. However, we need to know whether or not the City of Centerville is interested in being included in the partnership. Please inform us of your decision whether or not to include Centerville in this partnership by Thursday, December 12, 1996. Since we have been working on this proposal for over five months, you should have been kept informed of the issue and thus we presume this issue has been discussed by your City Council. Again, we have the need to move forward, and are impeded in this effort because Centerville representatives have not given a clear indication whether the City of Centerville is