Laserfiche WebLink
Recreation Commission Meeting <br />February 3, 2003 <br /> <br /> <br />Mr. Jesse also met with Police Chief Ruple and Fire Chief Klecan to discuss the security needs of <br />the Recreation Center. They discussed many facets of operations, incident response, incident <br />command, patron accountability, management, and security, and overall Recreation Center <br />Security. The details remain confidential and privileged information at this time for security <br />reasons. <br /> <br />Mr. Jesse had a meeting with Jeff Marshall, Ted DiSalvo, Betsy Drenski, and Tom Stein to <br />discuss the details and plans for the upcoming Spring Ice Show in early June. They are now <br />preparing final details and will be finalizing the plan in the next few weeks. <br /> <br />Mr. Marvin Stotz has requested permission to use the Recreation Center as a place to meet with <br />the group promoting the recall of Mayor Musial and solicit signatures from visitors to the <br />Recreation Center. He has additionally asked for permission to affix posters to the building <br />promoting and communicating the anticipated presence of group members on the premises to <br />further their cause. Mr. Jesse prepared a draft policy of building usage by “outside groups” <br />currently under review by the City Law Department. There is no clear policy at this time <br />regarding facility usage of this type, so a policy must be developed. He hoped to have a policy <br />developed with the assistance of the Law Department for review and possible adoption by the <br />Recreation Department at the next regularly scheduled Commission Meeting. It is the Safety <br />Director’s duty to determine all rules and regulations of the Division according to the City <br />Charter, and he felt the input of the Commission essential to develop a complete and fair policy <br />regarding “outside group” facility usage. <br /> <br />Chairman Hayes opened the floor to questions from the members. Mr. Baxter brought up the <br />parking for handicapped signage issue; is anything being done about that? Mr. Jesse replied in the <br />negative because of the snow situation. One of the issues is that there are various policies for <br />various facilities. There isn’t one that is clear in the Recreation and Parks Department. There are <br />also a lot of laws that apply relating to First Amendments rights, free speech and so forth. As an <br />example, in the Senior Center, there is a policy that is in place regarding different presentations by <br />outside speakers or groups; potential solicitors. If we allow one group to be in, then we set a <br />precedent for policy and open ourselves up to many different situations. Mr. Jesse would like to <br />let the Board take it up and consider all the potential groups allowed use of the facility. Mr. <br />Baxter stated that other outside groups can use certain facilities, e.g., community groups can use <br />the community cabin, the library, and schools if reservations are made. What has been going on at <br />the Rec Center during the past regarding community groups? (Overlapping conversation about <br />hockey groups and Hot Stove). Mr. DiSalvo said it was his understanding that all groups were <br />recreation groups using the Recreation Center, not outside groups. That’s where the “grey” area <br />comes up. Mr. Gareau stated that the struggle is that the City, over the past years on the First <br />Amendment issues, is not a privately owned entity such as Wal Mart or K-Mart. Government has <br />a lot of issues to watch carefully. Recently there was a lawsuit over the pole sign issue (what <br />people were allowed to put up and advertise in front of their buildings). There was a struggle <br />with that. There’s been trouble at the Recreation Department regarding signage <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />