Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 11/12/1987

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is one of the key factors in making a community work; the more invol%,ement there is, the more rounded city ~overnment will be; the key communicator i~ one avenue for accomplishing community involvement, Councilmembcr DeLuca agreed that t~e School District and the key communicator are t~,o sep~rat~p- issues, Councilmember Pearson stated that election returns reflect that the residents of Ramsey opposed the school d].~,trict levy and that tells him it would not be appropriate to increase the budget for a key communicator program. Councilmember Cox ststed that (,ne of the reasons for establishing Ramsey's own police department ~'as to promote communications ~'ith the residents; life saving courses h~:ve been offered by that department and adverti~ ed in the city newsletter; the response has been poor. The Police Department alre~,gy has a neighborhood crime watch program; the city spends $17,000 a year on a monthly newsletter to advertise the facts to the ~ubli¢. Councilmember Cox stated that ti~e election and the key communicator program are related. The school levy raised taxes for one business already paying $60,000 a year by another $2300 and it is not appropriate for the city tax that business even more through municipal funds for a key communicator program while that business is trying to survive and pay the taxe. Councilmember Cox stated that he does like certain aspects of the communi'. education program which is a reflection on that programs director, Claudia Dodge. Ramsey should urge as a community not receiving it's fair share, that it be provided with capital improvements so children don't have to bused out of the area for a program that is supposed to be a community function. Councilmember Sorteberg agreed with Councilmember DeLuca's comments. Motion by Mayor Reimann and seconded by Councilmember Pearson directing that the !988 budget will include no program increases for Community Education. Further Discussion: Councilmember DeLuca stated that he feels Council is ~aki~g a ~istake; ~hat the public doesn't read the city ne~sletter~ the ¢=fo~a[ion to each of =~ ~- ..~e_. respective neighborhoods, zot estab!~= key communicator program is doing Rzmsey a disservice. To= Holton, Co~un~) Educe+ion Area M~nager, stated that Superintendent of Schoo!~, ' '~, . ._img to speak to Ramsey Counci~ regarding ~he levy referendum. Mr. Eoiton noted tha~ community education is not directly affected b~' referendum dc~=;. .............. the -==er=ndum +=~ ~_ _~ with Fund ~-~, t~-=.~_ ~- w~+o- stated that community educe~{~ %-crlta very closely wi~h for the ou-~ese, cf mee[img wi~h~ Ramsev ~i:v~' Counci~. reg=rding- the referendum. Mayor ~qeimar~n honed cha~ knoka Count}- is a depressed area and the minimum residemniai property t~ in:rease resulting from the referendum will be $50.00 ..... w- Ho!ton s:ated he doesn'' ~ want Counci~ money_~= ~ =;a_~nm~ ~=_~=~t frivolously~ on community~ education; City Council/October 20, 19g7 :'age cf £