Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/19/1984

Home

Quad Cities Meeting Minutes of April 9 .Page Two in the different AYAA programs. The Board discussed the problems associated with non-resident fees, as it tends to limit the number of participants and be restrictive to those who can afford them, whereby discrimination of other youths takes place because they are not given the same opportunity to partici- pate. Dennis Donovan from the City of Ramsey explained that the City of Ramsey relies very heavily on the City of Anoka for their recreation facilities. He stated that four fields would be available next year or the year after, as major steps are being taken in the development of their central park which, in turn, would alleviate some of the problems associated with the shortage of fields. Discussion followed on non-resident fees from the City of Ramsey's standpoint. Mr. Donovan stated that people would oppose the charge of paying user's fees but he also explained that it is understandable why these user's fees would be assessed. Jim Schrantz, from the City of Andover, explained that unless the City passes a bond issue there would be no development in their recrea- tion facilities. He stated that some people in their community feel it is cheaper to pay non-resident fees instead of raising their taxes. He stated a great amount of money has been allocated and spent on the development of Kelsey Park and finds it virtually impossible for the City of Andover to propose any future development of their active recreation centers. He reit- erated the fact that a bond issue is the only way that he foresees the City of Andover can develop their parks. Discussion followed. Butch Brandenburg asked if there was any possibility of any future develop- ment or use availability of their active park center next to their City Hall. Merle Prochniak stated that they have only had one or two requests for the use of these facilities and felt it very important that these facil- ities be used on a regular basis. The Board then recommended that Fritz Anderson be contacted and made aware of the fact that these fields are available for scheduling for AYAA events. I I I i The discussion then centered around the fact that a number of Andover resi- dents participate in Coon Rapids, Ham Lake, North Metro Soccer programs, as well as AYAA programs and have found it virtually impossible to put these facts together and develop a need for their community. Merle Prochniak stated that the Andover Park Board has never been asked for any facilities. The Board members asked where they felt that their residents were playing and Andover pointed out that as far as they knew they had no idea where they were participating because the reqqests have never~been brought to the Park ~oard. Jim Schrantz explained that maybe this Sub-Committee has drifted off course from the original intent in organizing this Quad City Recreation Board to serve as an overall umbrella to meet these goals and objectives stated earlier. Discussion followed. I I I I Jim Schrantz stated that the City of Anoka needs to do what they have to do to recoup their costs as they stated earlier, and to draft an outline telling Andover what they plan to do. Butch Brandenburg stated that it is not up to the City of Anoka to tell Andover what to do and how to build their park system. It is the responsibility of each community to recognize the needs of their citizens based on their participation in recreational programs and develop their own recreation facilities. Dennis Donovan, from the City of Ramsey, stated he believes that this Quad City Recreation Board has done very well in accomplishing the-original goals as described earlier. He feels that this Board has gone as far as it can go without making a direct statement to serve as a recommendation to be brought back to the Park Board