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36 <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said that $728,000 is currently available for renovations at the <br />Downtown Recreation Center, and an additional $800,000 is programmed in the CIP. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati said he would like to reduce this fund, but would like to see public <br />restrooms constructed in the Center. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he thinks a plan needs to be developed for the use of the recreation <br />centers. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano said he thinks this is an area where we could £md some money and <br />asked for staff to provide some options. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox suggested reducing this fund by $500,000 and seeing what can be done <br />with what is left. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch questioned how many of these centers we can afford to keep up. Mr. <br />Lynch suggested that we take a step back and look at all our facilities, and put the <br />renovations off for a year until we decide what to do. <br /> <br /> It waS agreed that staffwitl explore what options would be available for the <br />Downtown Recreation Center with $500,000 available. <br /> <br /> Regarding the $250,000 programmed for the Quality Community Council (QCC), <br />Mr. Lynch said this is still a program that is tEdng t° figure out what it is trying to be, <br />and questioned how you separate the agency part from the advocacy part. Mr. Lynch <br />said that some parts of this make sense to fund with CDBG funds <br /> <br /> Ms. Rochelle Small-Toney, Assistant City Manager, said that the process continues <br />to evolve and unfold and that it takes a long time to bring citizens along. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that this is one program that is clearly citizen focused. He said he is <br />supportive of it and likes the idea of a one year grant. He said he hopes staff is beginning <br />to look at where future support can be found for it such as CDBG or Weed and Seed <br />funding. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano questioned the reality that the program will only be fimded for one <br />year, and said we are really creating another City position. He suggested that it might be <br />better to contract with someone to write grants to serve this community or give the <br />money to the CDBG Task Force for their recommendation. <br /> <br /> Ms. Small-Toney said that if we do not hire staff it will in effect kill the QCC <br />initiative. Ms. Small-Toney said that it is proposed that the Virginia Organizing Project <br />(VOP) oversee this position administratively. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he is not afraid of having VOP do this, but he is not clear whether this <br />will become a line item for future years. <br /> <br />Ms. Small-Toney said that it is proposed that this be funded for one year only. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he has the sense from attending QCC meeting that this is something <br />similar to the advocacy role of neighborhood associations. He said that some things they <br />are interested in are programs and others are not. Mr. Lynch said he does not understand <br />the need to have a paid position. <br /> <br />Mr. Cox noted that the role of this position is being filled now by Ms. Small-Toney. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richard said she is concerned with having the position overseen by the VOP <br />which is a political organizing group. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati suggested that this item be left in abeyance and be reconsidered by <br />Council at a later work session. <br /> <br /> <br />