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He added that he would appreciate as much information as possible from RYAA to help base <br />decisions on made by the Commission, but felt we cannot be showing favoritism to a particular <br />group in the City. Anyone who wants to apply for a seat on the Commission may do so, but there <br />should not always be a voting seat designated to the RYAA. That's not a good practice. <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin stated he would like to see issues brought to the Personnel Committee to expand the <br />number of seats on the Commission - not necessarily to designate a seat to a certain group. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer stated she could respect what Vice-Chair Cook and Mayor Hardin are <br />saying, however, this group needs to be pan of the process. It's been just recently that they have <br />been invited to the meetings. We may have to discuss further designating a seat on the Park <br />Commission, but RYAA should be a permanent pan of the meeting. You have a responsibility to <br />the residents and children to provide adequate sports facilities. <br /> <br />Mr. Boos suggested that maybe the Youth Association could appoint a commissioner to come to <br />the meetings and provide reports. He felt that the RYAA has been doing an adequate job of <br />communication of late. <br /> <br />Mr. Baack stated that the new by-laws specify that the Vice-President of RYAA will be the liaison <br />to the Park and Recreation Commission. <br /> <br />Vice-Chair Cook stated that the Commission greatly appreciates having regular information from <br />the RYAA, but used the example of maybe an appointed seat from the RYAA would not always the <br />best interest of the whole City at heart. The Commission would then end up being a special <br />interest group and he was concerned with that. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer commented that the Park Commission consists of seven members right <br />now. If there is a seat designated for the RYAA, they would only have one vote out of seven. <br /> <br />Vice-Chair Cook cautioned that this would be setting a precedence. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer stated that the Commission has to respond to the City's children. <br /> <br />Vice-Chair Cook suggested it is possible to respond to the City's children's needs by receiving <br />proper information. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer expressed her respect for the Park and Recreation Commission for taking <br />information from the RYAA and working it into the capital improvements plan. <br /> <br />Mr. Droegemueller felt too, that a good job has been done with regard to communication in the last <br />three to four months. He continued that there was a long time where he would meet with City staff <br />and talk about RYAA's desires. RYAA would wait and nothing would happen. He did not blame <br />City staff as there are budget constraints, but we did not get any action until we came to a meeting. <br />If the Commission was aware of RYAA's needs, they were not acting upon them. So, if someone <br />from our organization who knows these needs, is on the Commission, more things will be done <br />about them. If all I am is an advisory, that's frae - but I feel that one vote should not cause <br />problems. My special interest - our special interest - is our Ramsey children and we are all citizens <br />of Ramsey. <br /> <br />Commissioner Asfahl expressed concern about being labeled as a group with a solid focus. <br /> <br />Mr. Droegemueller did not see that as a problem and 'reiterated the fact that this would be one vote. <br /> <br />City Council/Park & Recreation Commission/February 8, 1996 <br /> Page 9 of 15 <br /> <br /> <br />