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<br />NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING <br /> <br />A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE <br />HELD ON Thursday, February 9, 2006 AT 5:00 p.m. IN THE Basement Conference <br />Room. <br /> <br />THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: <br /> <br /> Work Session: Parks and Recreation Future Facilities and Program Needs <br /> <br />BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox <br /> <br />BASEMENT CONFERENCE ROOM – February 9, 2006 <br /> <br />Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: <br />Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. <br /> <br />Mr. Maurice Jones, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, <br />introduced the topic for the work session. <br /> <br />Mr. Mike Svetz, Director of Parks and Recreation, reviewed the major findings of <br />the Facilities and Program Needs study. <br /> <br />Mr. Leon Younger, Pros Consulting, reviewed the Parks and Recreation Future <br />Facilities and Program Needs Assessment that was formally presented to Council on <br />December 5, 2005. The major findings included: the implementation of new programs <br />across the system is inconsistent; the earned income potential for programs and services <br />is highly undervalued; the establishment of core services is not well defined and facilities <br />do not match core program needs; all age segments are not equitably represented in <br />programs; and recreation facilities hours are well below industry standards for parks and <br />recreation systems. <br /> <br />Mr. Svetz said that a new Parks and Recreation Trail Planning position is <br />currently being advertised. <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch said he would like to address programming of existing facilities first. <br /> <br />Mr. Svetz said the Department is going through the process of restructuring <br />existing staff. <br /> <br />Mr. Younger listed the following facility development options: 1) Development <br />of a 100,000+ square foot multi-generational recreation center and outdoor aquatic park <br />as part of a single complex; 2) Expand Tonsler, Carver and Washington park Recreation <br />Centers to achieve a total of 50,000 square feet of additional space for wellness and <br />fitness along with gymnasium space and community program space for all ages and <br />people with disabilities and upgrade Smith, Meade and Crow Pools to modern design <br />standards to meet existing and future aquatic needs; and 3) Expand Tonsler, Carver and <br />Washington Park Centers to achieve a total of 50,000 square feet of additional space for 2 <br />wellness and fitness along with gymnasium space and community program space for all <br />ages and people with disabilities and development of one major indoor/outdoor aquatic <br />center and renovation of the bathhouse at Washington Park Pool. Mr. Younger said the <br />goal is to bring down the cost for each experience at a facility. <br /> <br />Mr. Lynch said that some of the programs identified as a high priority in the <br />survey are perceived as being provided by other groups. <br /> <br />Mr. Svetz said there is a need to better collaborate with those groups that provide <br />these programs. <br /> <br />Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Mr. Younger said that Parks and <br />Recreation services are priced to the 20% who cannot pay except for adult and aquatic <br />programs. He said it is best to do a real cost of service and have the cost of recovery goal <br /> <br />