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<br />Driscoll. Margaret <br /> <br />"om: <br />~nt: <br />To: <br />Cc: <br />Subject: <br /> <br />Richard.Jacobson@Jfttrf"'-'.jn'IIDi <br />Monday, December 08, 2003 10:21 AM <br />city.council@ci.roseville.mn.us; neal. beets@ci.roseville.mn.us <br />lonnie.brokke@ci.roseville.mn.us; jill.anfang@ci.roseville.mn.us <br />Input for tonight's City Council Meeting's meeting to review and appr <br /> <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />Hello, <br /> <br />I'm Richard Jacobson, "Jake", a member of the Roseville Parks and Recrec <br />Commission. I won't be able to make it to tonight's city council meeting, <br />but I wanted to express my opinion on Parks & Rec-related items that may have to be <br />reduced or cut out-right given the need to balance the city budget. <br /> <br />I cannot speak for the Roseville Parks and Recreation Commission. <br />bring the members together to pass on an official recommendation. <br />opinion as a citizen. <br /> <br />We weren't able to <br />So consider this my <br /> <br />I'm using the October 27, 2003 memo, "Response to Inquiries on the 2004 Proposed Budget" <br />from Chris Miller, Finance Director, in making the comments <br />below: <br /> <br />Suggested Reduction: Suspend aggressive skate park -- suggested savings: $10,000. <br /> <br />As a revenue stream during the Roseville Oval's "off-season", the aggressive skate park <br />hasn't met the expectations of revenue offsetting its cost. It would be logical to make <br />this a candidate for suspension, but there are two things to consider before doing so: <br /> <br />-) The skate park is the magnet for area skateboarders, and thus dramatically reduces -_ <br />frankly -- the obnoxiousness and property destruction that skateboarders can bring when <br />unleashed. <br /> <br />Before I upset all the area skateboarders out there, let me explain. Living in other <br />communities and working in downtowns, I've come across skateboarders who get thrills from <br />riding on public railing and performing stunts on steps, benches, and basically anything <br />that has an interesting surface and poses a challenge. I've have personally witnessed the <br />destruction of property and the hazards to pedestrians when skateboards apply their <br />aggressive techniques in public areas. <br /> <br />Thus by not having an aggressive skate park, skateboarders may turn to shopping malls, <br />streets, parks etc. for their thrills, causing damage and hazard. There is not a clear <br />way to measure this benefit in dollars, but it is a benefit regardless. I'd prefer that <br />this activity be not only contained, but also have it be positive and fun one for the <br />skateboarders. <br /> <br />2) There has been new marketing efforts developed with Park & Rec. I'd like for them to <br />have another year at this, and see if they can apply some creativity in getting more <br />revenue for the aggressive skate park <br /> <br />Suggested Reduction: Suspend operation of Rosebrook wading pool <br />suggested savings $5,000 -- $25,000 <br /> <br />Councilman Tom Kuough came to our recent Parks & Rec Commission meeting and spoke to this <br />-- essentially -- the possibility of a neighborhood volunteer effort for handling <br />.laintenance items on the weekends - - where the costs will be coming from, given that the <br />main drain has been repaired. <br /> <br />I like this suggestion -- saves the wading pool and promotes community involvement. But <br />1 <br />