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Minutes of a Meeting of the North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission March 3, 2008 North Olmsted Administration has changed and has changed quite frequently, one administration doesn’t know what the previous one did, so she receives different answers by the time she gets everything organized. She asked Mr. Dailey if he wanted the card on the Underwriter for Special Events in Recreation. He took it. Mr. Groden asked Mr. Mahoney if, during this discussion, there was something before Council currently on this matter. Mr. Mahoney said that the donation of the pipes and the ramps was before the Rec Committee last week Tuesday; it was approved as a donation and will be placed on second th reading tomorrow night, March 4, for Council. He did not know if suspension is an option, given what was presented tonight. Mr. Dailey said that suspension is fine; it clears off the docket things that don’t need to be on there, especially something like this that is non-confrontational. Then the Administration can look into getting the equipment moved over here under the grounds somewhere. Mr. DiSalvo said this would be possible, and that, as Mr. Dailey asked, our crews could pick it up, working with Ms. Thomas. Mr. Mahoney said that, with that in mind, would it matter whether or not it’s still pending before Council before you go and pick it up and assist Ms. Thomas or…Mr. Dailey said that the Rec Department will wait until it passes, and then the crew can go out to get it. It should be anywhere from one week to three weeks. The other matter that the Rec will look into will be the locking and unlocking, as well as the patrols. Ms. Thomas said that graffiti has been removed twice, and thank you, Metro Lexus in helping her out with the machinery to get it off in her own time. If there’s just some presence there, she was sure it would help. Mr. Dailey asked if Ms. Thomas could share with the Commission the reason she was told the police do not go back to the skate park to patrol. She responded that they do not want to go back there. The kids don’t want them there; Bay Village handed out baseball cards with police portraits on them for HR purposes. She believes it’s a huge opportunity for the Police Department. Mr. Dailey said he was shocked when he heard this as well, and that the Administration will pursue this matter. Even if it’s not City owned, per se, it’s on City property no matter what, so it should be watched. Ms. Thomas clarified by saying that the City owns the skate park, built through fundraisers, donations and grants. Mr. Dailey said this was correct, but the City has always had an arms-distance relationship with the skate park. Mr. DiSalvo said that it’s all because Ms. Thomas takes care of it. The skate park should be under Rec, because when he first got to the Rec, he was led to believe that “Rae Anne takes care of it.” We’re fortunate to have her here to manage that park – if she ever goes, it’s ours – period. Right? Ms. Thomas said that was right, and she was not getting any younger; however, all her files are in order if anyone should take over the skate park. Mr. Groden asked what the liability issues were for the skate park. Ms. Thomas said that, in 1996 when she started doing all the research on skate board parks – there were none in this area at the time – she had to travel outside Ohio and did here research in Chicago, California and Hawaii. If you skate at your own risk unsupervised, then you’re under the umbrella of the city. If it’s supervised, you’re liable. Page 3