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Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting March 7, 2005 survey, adding specific things that needs to be known, and then go forward with a pretty solid needs assessment that makes sense. Mr. Kelley said that he had been on the Recreation Commission for about four years. Suddenly, $5 to $10 million is proposed. At the same time, the School Board’s talking about different things. As Chairman, Mr. Kelley wanted to get everyone on board. There was a swim meet last year around Christmas time that had to be cancelled because a water line broke, which caused the pump to go out. If the City and the School Board can get together and add that to what is already talked about, the entire community will benefit. Vera Breuer asked Mr. DiSalvo if the Hockey Club program was still strong; Mr. DiSalvo deferred to Ms. Drenski. Ms. Drenski said that it’s still strong, but it’s not as strong as it was. The numbers have been going down, but not drastically. They have more non-residents than they do residents. It was observed that that’s not unusual with 50 hockey teams in the Greater Cleveland area. The numbers are 60/40 non-resident to resident. Mr. DiSalvo said that Strongsville did take some of the hockey business away from the North Olmsted Rec. Mr. DiSalvo said that the other issue is that, if a surrounding community builds a rink, North Olmsted’s facility will not be able to compete. Ms. Drenski added that Avon Lake is talking about a rink, which would take away from the Westlake/Avon/Bay area that now utilize the North Olmsted rink. Mr. DiSalvo asked the approximate square footage of the current changing room for hockey. Mr. Stein said it was about 12x20, with no showers. Mr. DiSalvo said it usually takes two current hockey rooms to accommodate one team. The Rec’s facilities do not even meet their needs; patrons complain; the hockey players go across a hall to the pool to take a shower, but what are they supposed to do? We can’t supply them with robes or anything, so they have their towels draped. You can’t blame them for wanting a shower. This encompasses creating amenities like accommodating locker rooms for these patrons as we lack proper facilities. We cannot be compared to Strongsville. Mr. DiSalvo reiterated that the ice rink is doing its job; however, if some other city builds, they will draw the business away from North Olmsted. Spring Hockey enrollment has been cut in half – the other half is now at Strongsville. Strongsville offers better facilities and ice time. Mr. Stanic said that much of what has been suggested is not what the people of the City of North Olmsted want. As elected or appointed officials, sometimes we need to advise the City what is in its best interests. That’s in my capacity as Superintendent. I heard it mentioned here that if it’s a cooperative effort and people see a value in it, then people will support it. That’s the key in what we’re discussing: demonstrating to the public that there’s value in it, especially since there’s been nothing done in the last however many years. Page 7