Laserfiche WebLink
Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,June 9, 2014 <br /> Page 21 <br /> as a control issue, but simply to make things more transparent to the public, with <br /> the control obviously remaining at the City Council level, with the Park Board fo- <br /> cused on maintaining that essential service that was valued by all. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte stated that she didn't disagree with the transparency is- <br /> sue; but with previous engagement issues, she remained concerned that some de- <br /> cision-making would be made at the Park Board level with an empty room versus <br /> a more publicly perceived City Council meeting. Councilmember Laliberte ad- <br /> vised that she needed to make that connection even though she wasn't confident <br /> all the engagement and communication components had been addressed suffi- <br /> ciently. <br /> Specific to their research about a Park Board, Commissioner Doneen noted that <br /> they varied throughout the state, along with their duties which were established by <br /> the City Council, and asked that this be given consideration as well, if there were <br /> specific concerns or aspects that the City Council wanted to remain involved in. <br /> Commissioner Doneen noted that it wasn't a "one fits all" aspect for a Park <br /> Board, and the City Council could decide what was needed and which areas <br /> would be more of a focus of the Park Board or for the City Council. <br /> Councilmember McGehee expressed appreciation of the Commission's work and <br /> expressed understanding of the transparency issue; reiterating her support for a <br /> referendum on this and ultimate disappointment that it was not done. Coun- <br /> cilmember McGehee stated that she saw that as an important engagement tool to <br /> educate the public before they went to the polls, similar to the City Hall/Public <br /> Works Building referendum, with changes made to the original plan as part of that <br /> process, and openly discussed as part of the "People's City Hall." Councilmem- <br /> ber McGehee expressed her strong support of that process, but was unsure how to <br /> fit that into the operation of a Park Board. From her perspective with large ex- <br /> penditures of public funds, Councilmember McGehee opined that it was critical to <br /> have a referendum to engage citizens and their opportunity to weigh in later. <br /> Mayor Roe noted that a referendum was required and clearly outlined by state <br /> statute for bonding in some circumstances, and that was the determining factor, <br /> and referendums were not based on the amount of money proposed to be spent. <br /> Specific to establishment of a Park Board, Mayor Roe opined that it could solve <br /> things; but consideration of a community center was a specific project and there <br /> were ways available to solve funding issues without a Park Board. <br /> In conclusion, Mayor Roe suggested discussion continue at the next joint meeting, <br /> with the consensus of the City Council to schedule joint meetings quarterly. <br /> Recess <br /> Mayor Roe recessed the meeting at approximately 8:45 p.m. and reconvened at approximately <br /> 8:48 p.m. <br />