Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 12/13/2001

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3) Park & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting Minutes dated October 10, 2001 Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Cook, Commissioners Johns, Oids, and LaMere. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioners Ostrum and Rolfe. COMMISSION BUSINESS Case #lA: Anoka Pool Funding Request Park/Utilities Supervisor Boos explained that the City of Ramsey has been asked to contribute $4,000 to Anoka's Aquatic Center. Included in the meeting packet is a letter dated October 31, 2001, requesting this amount. This would be used toward, those Ramsey Residents that choose to purchase a season pass. He said the Commission should consider allocating the money or denying the request. Commissioner LaMere questioned where the $4,000 came from last year. Park/Utilities Supervisor Boos explained that it had come from the Lawful Gambling Fund each year. The volume of pull-tabs sales determines how much goes t© the City. He added that the mason this Commission didn't recommend donating the money last year is because there was approximately $6,500 savings for pool goers over the three years, with the City contributing $12,000. Chairperson Cook noted that this money would basically be buying down the rate for some residents. The money that is meant to be used f°r the entire City, is used to buy down the rate for only some of the residents. He said he did not feel comfortable approving this expenditure, stating the funding would be going to the wrong place. Commissioner Johns stated the people of Ramsey would really like a pool. She s'aid she would forecast the number of people using the pool to raise. She noted that it had gone up'this year. She added that this is a service that the City of Ramsey cannot provide anytime soon. Commissioner LaMere suggested that if the Commission does consider donating the money, he would like t0 see it approved on an annual basis. Commissioner Olds suggested having a three-year agreement with a one-year renewal. He also mentioned locking in the rate with aone-year renewal. Commissioner Johns stated she would like to use the same terms as last year. Parks/Utilities Supervisor Boos stated the City could offer Anoka $3,000 and see if they would offer the same opportunity. Fie felt the City of Anoka should submit this request early in order to be considered along with the annual operating budget. The ques.tion is should the Lawful Gambling Improvement Fund dollars be going toward programming versus the community. Park and Recreation Commission/November 15, 2001 Page 2 of 12