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Minutes of a Meeting of the <br />North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission <br />June 1, 2009 <br /> <br />to any other athletes on any other North Olmsted sports team as well. We were trying to figure out <br />why the high school swim team athletes had the discount, and it was at the discretion of the previous <br />Aquatics Supervisors, with no authorization from me, let alone the Department Director as well. The <br />way our finances are, Mr. DiSalvo hated to say this, but the Rec Department just cannot offer <br />discounts on our programs. More or less, they don’t qualify to receive the discount just because of <br />previous years, which was totally at the Aquatics Directors’ discretions; it did not reach my desk one <br />time. Mr. DiSalvo said that he was blindsided by it. He hopes that makes sense. Mr. DiSalvo thought <br />that Ms. Troyer dealt more with Chris Wetmore than…you had to because I didn’t speak to anybody <br />about this…Ms. Troyer said that she did not deal with anybody. Mr. DiSalvo said that he wished <br />Chris was here, because he has more detailed recollection of what went on between the Rec and the <br />North Olmsted High School Swim Team. Ms. Troyer said that this goes back beyond Cindy Bartko – <br />do you remember Donna Zalle (sp?) – she was the Aquatics Supervisor for 18 years. It was the same <br />fee. In fact, Ms. Troyer just cleaned – she had eight Rec Center books from about ten years ago that <br />had listed Rec Center fees that high school swimmers paid. She pitched the books this past winter and <br />wishes she still had them. Mr. DiSalvo said that he believes her; Ms. Troyer said it was not really a <br />discount, it was a program for the high school swimmers. We were not discounted any rates. It was <br />just that high schoolers don’t use the coaching; they don’t use the pool time…the whole purpose of it <br />was to build the community and build the team. The purpose of it was not a discount. <br /> <br />Mr. Dailey said he would be curious as to why the numbers dropped; just because we raised the rate <br />the $95; is it a sign of the economy? We’ve seen other numbers drop across other programs across <br />the City of North Olmsted, both here at the Rec Center and those who golf at Springvale. Right now <br />we don’t know if it’s been the wet spring or the economy at Springvale. We’re trying to figure out <br />why the program numbers aren’t where they used to be. On the flip side of it, though, we are a <br />business. We know that next year we’re facing $90,000 less in revenue based on appraisals, and we’re <br />going to make up that difference in this community as a body as a City. Even though it’s only $50 or <br />$70 or whatever those numbers turn out to be, all those numbers really add up when you start to take <br />them out of all of our programs. Like anything else we do, we’ll review it. We’ll see if it makes sense <br />to adjust it down next year or maybe come somewhere in the middle. Every time there is a decision <br />made, nothing is ever in stone; it’s just that we need to review it as it goes along because we’re a <br />changing community and a changing economy, and we don’t know what we’re going to have to do to <br />generate more numbers. Much as we’ve discussed before here, we’re a competitive pool, a lap pool; <br />we’re not a family fun, come-hang-out Rec Center day pool. We understand that. We have to find <br />out where our niche market is. At the same time, like you, we have to be cognizant of the fact that <br />we’re facing a major shortfall next year. We are already projecting $1.5 to $2 million dollars. <br /> <br />Chris Scarl questioned the fact that there were four high schoolers enrolled at $95 for a total of $380. <br />How many enrolled last year? It was noted that there were about two boy relays (eight boys) and <br />probably three to four girl relays (32 girls). So at $20 per person; if you get 40 people, that’s $800 v. <br />right now, we’re just going to get about $380. For $20, Mr. Scarl continued, he thinks the Rec could <br />double its revenue. He did not know how many people are going to sign up, but right now, there’s <br />only four for $380. <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br />