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Minutes of a Meeting of the <br />North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission <br />March 3, 2008 <br /> <br /> <br />incumbent upon the residents to know when the meetings are, if that suffices. It was recommended <br />that the times of the meetings be put in the papers. Mr. Dailey said that the papers have been good to <br />North Olmsted; unfortunately, they are not going to keep on running stories on the Rec Center week <br />in and week out. The Administration will make sure that it alerts the local papers. Mr. Dailey said to <br />Mr. Garrity that we will post something at the Rec Center. Mr. Garrity said to simplify where we <br />want to go with this. Mr. Dailey said that the Assistant Commissioner might let the skating people <br />know, the tennis people or the swim people know (or at least their supervisors). We don’t want to <br />blindside anybody. <br /> <br />Mr. Scarl asked if the Administration’s proposal is going to be a partnership with the YMCA, or is it <br />going to be open. Mr. Dailey said it would be a partnership with the YMCA. Mr. Scarl went on <br />record as saying as a Commission member he won’t support being a partner with the YMCA. He <br />thinks the City is big enough and should be able to handle its own duties without going to the Y. If he <br />wanted to join the Y or if anyone wanted to join the Y, they are free to join it right now. He did not <br />see why it had to be shoved down the North Olmsted residents throats with a partnership with the <br />City. <br /> <br />Ms. Thomas asked what is the City’s responsibility if there is a partnership with the YMCA. The <br />newspaper article says that the City would own it but the Y would run it. Mr. Dailey said that is <br />pretty much what’s been discussed so far in conversations with the YMCA; nothing’s finalized yet. It <br />will be similar to what happened with the library; the City of North Olmsted residents built the <br />building, and the public library runs the facility. Something similar would happen with the Recreation <br />Center. Donations from the Y would be a partner, the City would own the building, it would be run <br />solely by someone else. Ms. Thomas asked if anyone did a Y tour. Mr. Dailey said that <br />representatives from the City went to Southgate, Michigan, which was a joint YMCA facility. We <br />also went to the one in Lakewood, which is minor City involvement and mostly the Y and the hospital <br />involved in it. We have also toured some of the other local Ys. The one most close to us is in <br />Westlake; getting a bit older. Everything is being hammered out now between the City and the Y. All <br />are good questions and will be worked out as the process continues. <br /> <br />Note: Mr. Scarl had to leave the meeting at 7:46 p.m. for another commitment. <br /> <br />Mr. Groden asked if there were any other questions on the Report of the Community and Life <br />Services Director. <br /> <br />Mr. Dailey excused himself and asked Ms. Thomas if she envisioned a Parks Department, instead of a <br />Parks and Recreation Department; so when you mentioned the skate park, the park would be under <br />the City. The Y had no interest in the skate park. <br /> <br />Mr. Baxter asked about the pool and the $35,000 expenditure. He noted how Rae Ann (Thomas) <br />asked for $3,500. Why does she have to raise $3,500, when we can raise $35,000 for the pool; why <br />wouldn’t that be a City expenditure, just like everything else. Mr. Dailey said he didn’t have an <br />answer for that question. It’s a great question. Mr. Groden said there appears to be a fuzzy <br />Page 8 <br /> <br />