Agenda - Council - 08/13/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 11 April 1991 WORKING DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR PROVIDING A COOPERATIVE RECREATION PROGRAM IN DISTRICT 728 This proposal has been developed in response to sentiment expressed by a number of municipal, and township governmental representatives in attendance at a Feb. 28, 1991 meeting to discuss recreational program needs in District 728. The proposal is a working draft, and is subject to discussion and revision by all parties interested in participating in the proposal. Our goal is to develop a proposal that: * can serve all residents of District 728. * makes sense. * will not duplicate current efforts * economizes taxpayer dollars through inter-governmental cooperation. *provides better service to residents of the participating entities and therefore residents of District 728. STATEMENT OF STATUS QUO: At the Feb. 28, 1991 meeting, a couple major points were discussed that relate to how recreational services are currently provided or not provided to district residents. The following is a capsulization of the status quo: * No municipal or township government currently has a paid position to provide recreational programming to their residents. * The City of Elk River currently contracts with District 728 Community Education to provide a year-round recreation program to its' residents. The majodty of this program occurs in the summer, but also includes hiring and supervision of winter ice rinks, open gyms, weight rooms, etc. The administration fee for this program is $9,000 for 1991. * Organized youth athletic programs are nearly exclusively provided by volunteer-driven, parent-run organizations, which operate without assistance from municipal or township governments. These groups rely heavily on school district 728 facilities for their programs. Some of these programs have been in existence for 15-20 years, they tend to have Boards of Directors, and rely on a small core of leaders. In some instances the same leaders are present in more than one youth athletic organization. * The population of Distdct 728 is growing rapidly. According to the School District census of the fall of 1990, the population was 27,753, a growth of 32% since 1983. 10,583 of those residents were under age 21. * The youth athletic organizations are seeing incredible growth in numbers of participants, and there is concern about being able to continue to serve all the kids, to provide enough facilities for the growing population, and concern about "burning out" the leadership of the organizations * During the summer of 1990, Community Education provided a small recreational program in Zimmerman and in Rogers. The Zimmerman program was funded by the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary and by Livonia Township. The Rogers program was funded by Hassan Township and the city of Rogers. Participant fees were also collected.