02/19/2008 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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much of our time in and out of local stores and public buildings in North Olmsted. We find it curious that one public meeting and the Recreation Commission vate were held in the summer, when it is much more difficult to receive input and comment from families with school-age children due to summer vacations. The Recreational Facilities Survey was made available online on the city's website, but again this was not well-publicized nor was the survey easy to find on the website. Since the March 2007 public meeting, there has been no public communication regarding the status of the Recreation Mauer Pian. It is our urxlerstanding that even City Council is thus far unaware of its. status. It is only by careful attendance at Rcereation Commission meetings that we learned that the city is engaged in discussions with the YMCA about operating a potentially new recreational facility. Obviously the YMCA will want input into what programs and amenities are available in a new recreation center, but we believe it to be just as important to keep us citizens of North Cllmsted informed as to the details anal to gamer our continued input, particularly since it is we who will be footing the bill. This, then, is what we would ask of you. We do not feel the Recreation Master Plan has been sufficiently researched a~ thought out to merit any type of approval or ballot levy at this time. We request that Administration conduct more extensive surveys of the citizens of North Olmsted to see what they want in their recreational facilities. Many of us would be quite willing to volunteer time at a local park, the Recreation Center, the library or in anotl~r venue to distribute surveys or ask patrons these questions. Cleveland State University has a very fine School of Urban Pl€u~ning that would be an excellent resource for creating surveys and assisting with statistical and financial analysis. We would encourage asking for their assistance. We ask that the Administt~ion have both a financial study and a life cycle cost analysis prepared so that the ongoing costs and revenues of either a new or a renovated recreation facility can be properly and accurately determined. As it is important to include the needs of the schools in this plan, we request that the Administration consult and cooperate with the North Olmsted School Di~rict to determine what resources, and what gaps, exist in recreational and park facilities. Where do redundant programs exist? Can joit~ planning with both groups help to mcet the recreational needs of all community residents? We also feel it would be valuable to obtain input from local senior centers or senior groups to ascertain their recreational needs. Finally, we ask that the entire process be much more accountable to and transparent to the North Olmsted community. We would ask the Administration to regularly update the Recreation Commission and City Council on the status of the parks and recreation center issues, and tc> ccmduct public meetings during the school year to keep citizens informed as well, with such meetings to bewell-publicized in the community. Again, many of us would be very open to assisting in the communication of such meetings.