Council - Regular Meeting

Well, the true story of... Yeah, that's... Those I know, Matt, but some of them are not.

They're just... Yeah, they've had this, but we put out of it.

Okay. One of those... What's that one? I'll show you the... I mean, it's getting on the phone. Yeah, you just seem kind of mental. Yeah, yeah. Clearly, I don't know. So, you know, actually, see if you've got a great voice structure.

All right, folks, since everybody is here, I will go ahead and call back for the session to order and picture it. We're going to stand for the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. So our study session is to discuss recreation programming for our summer. So with that being said, I'm going to turn the floor over to our city manager. Thank you. So Mayor and Council, if you would call.

For last year, we've been into a contract agreement with the Valley Creek YMCA for all of the recreation programming services. We got a contract amount of $153,000. In the process of renegotiating the contract with them, we also decided to step back and look more strategically at what are the recreation needs of the community. So we have the recreation roundtable. About 40 people were independent media service providers. And we received a lot of input in regards to the types of programs that are already offered here for adults, seniors, youth, and children. And there was a lack of communication in regards to everybody and what everyone else is doing. Also was identified that transportation to and from homes as well as other activities was an area that was an opportunity for improvement. So when you're kind of a step back and go back to the city offering some of the core recreation programming, we'll focus especially on the academic enrichment. We have students, especially at Harrington School, who definitely benefit from some additional science, technology, engineering, reading, math, So we've developed a program along those lines, and we're planning to offer it primarily at the McIntosh Park. There will be occasional visits to other parks, including Holland Park. Absolutely. So we're looking to have up to 70 students. There has been a modification since the stocking was printed. We decided to stay with the K-8 instead of including high school students. especially because we're having younger people who are going to be involved in doing some of the coordination and counseling. We thought it was better to start with the younger kids and then ask the people who have high school students. And so we have the reimagining creation proposal in your packet. So approximately 100,000 from the 263 that will go through some programming. Some of those scholars will also be on the law called subgrants. what the YMCA was doing previously was working with the Albany Community Foundation as a portal for applications for those sub-grant recipients. So instead, so much what you did for the Fort Cedar Center, it just didn't streamline the process to have those organizations come directly to the city if they have the organizational capacity to have the, at least the commitments that we're asking for, so in terms of accountability, making sure that they have the training that they're going to be dealing with students and young people, making certain that their budget is reflective of the programming that they are offering and that they are accountable for those dollars, including receipts and a report at the end of the program period so that we can know that how those public dollars are being spent. And in regards to the sub-grants, I think it was three or four. So there's the star, recreation camp, there is the playwright sports, and there is the state neighborhoods application, and those are included in your packet as well. So this was a really new concept, so I wanted to have a study session so you could have an opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the program.

So with regard to how the money is going to flow, the flow is coming from the Y to the C. We're just going to pay for it.

Not Y. The funding originates with the city's recreational millage, yes.

Okay.

Instead of it going mostly to the Y, it will be the same with the physical art program. The Y, in fact, will just be another one of the contractors.

For this one?

Yes. So the STAR program that had the most detailed information in it. in regards to how the funds are allocated for law purposes, as long as given us detailed information for days, times, what they're doing during the experiment. Do we know what sports they're providing?

So they're primarily housed over at the Marshall Opportunity High School, and they're offering a number of recreational programs, basketball, and things of that nature. What we are specifically working with them on is making the open swim available to our school of students. They're having open swim from the year 11 to 1. something like that for anyone. So we had asked them to extend those full hours so that the 70 students who are in our summer camp program are able to participate in that.

So really, the $3,000 for playwright is for open gym and open swim? Yes. That's $3,000? Yeah.

Well, here's the budget. Here's the budget. Here's the budget. Here's the budget. I think should they have to pay them for kids to be there?

Which one is that one? That's the one.

The playwright. The playwright is on the summer program. And the stuff out there on his budget, $700,000.

Cost to use for building. Didn't we waive that last week? Last week? not to hold something. Or did we just approve? I can't remember if we waived that or if we approved the use. Maybe we just approved the use last week.

Was that which group?

Who's that?

For, uh, Barnes, Barrett, uh, SAFE, the name of this program.

On today's event, it's a way to see, so unless those are waived, it'll be included in the slideshow.

Okay, Coach. I was just thinking that it could be used towards kids.

Yes, I'm sorry.

Thank you, Peter. And thanks, sir. I was surprised and pleased. It took me a second to think it through, but I'm surprised and pleased that we kind of took the bull by the horns and did this because it has been frustrating to me personally that we haven't been able to kind of get over the hump with feeling like we could know that we're spending our dollars wisely in oversight. And I know they tried at some of the meetings, but I like this approach. I will say, or it's a question, I guess I'll ask questions. So we're actually kind of already getting into one of the concerns I have, which is the managing of it, because we're kind of seeing it now, and we're already kind of stepping into that. And how do you foresee this being managed?

Thank you for that question. I don't want to be a recreation director. So I brought on Cheryl Thames to help with the coordination of the entire program. She's done youth leadership training for decades. And so she's basically training the trainers. So as we bring on the people who will be the actual administrators of the program, she's designed the program. She's training them on how to use it. And in terms of the capacity, we plan on hiring at least five people, two of which can be young people or 16 to 17 years of age, but then older people will be the senior coordinators. I'm also meeting with the AmeriCorps leaders in regards to seeing if we can get some additional support as well as the hourly fellows. That was a precedent for them as well.

And specifically what you're speaking about now, is that just the summer program or is that the calendar year?

That is just for the summer. And then we want to plan going for the next year, fiscal year.

So just to elaborate more on my concerns, and I think you're already thinking about these, but I'd love to see it more managed and then report out to us.

that we can stay out of the details and and just the oversight and and of course corrections okay so i think i'm going to say something that you're not seeing where where is the breakdown of the player exploits of which what page it was a part of the passions that are getting the choices it looks like this that also no no yes it was on our destiny This one looks a lot skinnier.

Thank you guys. As we're looking at that now, I want to say thank you. You know, this is what we anticipated last year, and it didn't happen. Accountability is very important, so hopefully this will at least provide guidance. I think it's something that you, at least the first year, the second year, you may not meet the advisor, so to speak, but at least this guidance on COVID. So thank you. I know a lot of hours of displacement on this, and I think this is a good start.

Yes, and the overall plan is you know, following the summer program that we will report to the recreation advisory committee, and hopefully we can even get some additional people to serve on that committee as well as the city council. So we can see, you know, what worked well, where our opportunities were improved, and where some things that, you know, didn't work, so we need to look at differently. But I just wanted to give a heads up in regards to the detail that's associated with this proposal.

I just want to say thank you too, because I've been talking about this for a long time. So I'm sure you can move on.

So with this, okay, because I just know, and I need to digest. But how are we building, how do you know that it's $1,000 for open swim, it's $1,000 for field trips, whatever? What field trips? Where?

Back to the ground. Back to the ground.

What field trips? T-Hart. That's the one. That's the one. That's the one. That's the one. That's the one. That's the one. That's the one.

It's more amazing and collaborating with this program as well as the supplemental for the recreations.

Okay.

Go ahead. In the Playwright case, he's only asking for $3,000?

Right.

Okay. So actually on his budget, he has $6,800 on here and he's asking for $3,000. And then in the Morris Ferry one, he's asking for $6,800 on his as well? $6,300.

For the entire program of the recommendations for the fire department.

Say it again.

The budget is 68, but the recommendation from the administration is for the 5,000.

And you said this was the one that's going to be educating staff?

Yes.

And more educators.

So that's what I was referring to. She's going to be teaching science. That's the cities.

Just separate from the assessments of you two, aren't you? Yeah. Okay.

Sorry, Scooby. Alright, we might have to start. So, we're looking at grants as a program and start on what goes with it.

Go ahead, Chip. I want to be fair to say that this is going to operate like a lot of other things in the city where the budget will be approved and then it will be up to your staff, the minister, and the report. So, yes.

Yes. But because there's a transfer of the use of the funds, council approval is required. So, in a nutshell, the city is going to be offering, proposing to offer a summer enrichment program. In addition, we are proposing to offer grant other organizations who are also offering programs. This is not similar to what was happening last year, a little while.

Sure.

Well, I can say something. I think the way we did it last year was beneficial to some of the programs that typically A lot of programs think those $3,000 go a very long way. You know, if you're covering overhead and you may be volunteered, but you've got expenses as far as children go, things like that, it can get really expensive very quickly. So that's why I think they went to that model of re-imaging model is we organize everything in-house. We'll create our own programs as well, and we also still help the smaller programs through grant funding. I think it's a great idea T-ball when I was in high school, you know, out in the park with the kids and stuff. So we've always had a very strong presence in the recreation area. And I think this is kind of getting us back to that, especially with the partnership, potential partnership with Star County Wolf as well. We spend a lot of time out there in the summertime. and rock climbing and things like that. And these are experiences that our kids will have access to that is, you know, rock climbing and things like that. We don't have mountains and things like that here, but it's right down the road and you have access to it, canoeing and kayaking and stuff like that. So I think it's a really great idea. And we got to give a round of applause to the city manager because she put this together really well. I mean, about a week and a half ago, we had the recreation meeting. And like she said, there was a ton of people in the room and everybody had different programs. They were running different things. And the problem sometimes is getting the exposure right. Just one other question.

Where was community innovation involved in this scenario? Are they involved?

In this particular scenario, they're not directly involved. I did put in a grant application for I think it was $5,000 to support this program. But that's their only involvement at this point.

So .

And if I could refine, and thank you, Council Member Williams, in regards to your remarks. One thing I do want to mention, included in the budget that's on page seven, $6,000. that is available for many grads to see talking about. So the small organization that does not need a little bit of help, but we recognize that there is still a need for possible assistance. They will still need to meet our criteria in regards to the accountability, but we did want to make that option available.

So kind of along the lines of what Councilman Williams had said about programs that we used to provide in the summers. We had a lot of adults who were trained in education, in youth leadership. And so I just wanted to make sure that whatever programming we're providing, because it's on the city, that we're providing a head state type of level of education and experience and supervision for kids. We're talking about a lot of kids, and we all know in the past there's been challenges with getting volunteer coaches and people who want to work on a regular basis were going to show up. And so I just want to make sure we're meeting with standards, like we have something where our kids show up and there's only one adult. That's I'm not in a good scenario to allow that to happen.

And if I could say, because we're assessing applications, I can't say someone is definitely going to be there, but I am anticipating that some individuals who are already working in the Marshall Public Schools system with young people are anticipated. So we want people who have relationships with the kids and their parents as well as people who are experienced. And one of the advisors, I heard from Larry Glow, he's been the former recreation director here, and he offers his guidance and insights. So Gary Bonner Sr. as well as Harry Bonner Jr. are both visiting in the shaping of this. So we're bringing everybody in for this collective impact, you know, capacity building opportunities to benefit our kids. And that's the bottom.

Yeah. I would also ask that we also recognize Their board is staffed with people who have worked in recreation here in the city that may either be currently providing recreation programs or have in the past. And over the weekend, I came across quite a few of them, and they didn't know anything about the changing of the recreation program. So got to make sure to reach out to them as well.

Any other quick comments? Given the time, I want to leave space for public comment. So if there's anybody in the gallery that would like to stand and address Council, we may be able to. Of course, give us your name and address and three minutes is yours. Thank you.

My name is Jeff Whitman. You guys have heard a lot about me. I'm sure I had a conversation with you, I believe, Friday. For about 15 years, I've been getting harassed by my neighbor. Generally, everything and anything that I do is reported to the police. And depending on who shows up that day and their matter of opinion is whether or not I'm getting cited or fined for what's happening. I understand that you guys recently amended this noise ordinance violation supposedly to make it more fair or harder for one person to judge or you guys have heard about this air compressor in my yard for a long time, something that I understood city officials have been outside of my house to hear, the police have been outside my house to hear, and again, based off of their opinion, it was not an accessory of us. I have received thousands of dollars of noise complaints, ordinance violations that I am now dealing with. hoping that in all this time, somebody in this department or city or the police that are constantly at my house would see that this person is harassing. She harasses me. She harasses everybody around her. When I read this, it's hard for me to believe that anybody wrote this and thought that it would be more fair for anybody. It says it shall be unlawful for any person to make, continue, or cause noise or any noise, which is either a noise, disturbs, injures, or the comfort of people, reasonable people, normal sensitivity within the city limits. horns, radios. I was arrested at two o'clock in the afternoon because my radio was playing in my yard and I was trying to cut my grass, clean my yard, something a normal American would do, correct? It wasn't that loud. It was coming from stock speakers on a Jeep. Yelling, shouting, whistling, things of that nature. I'm not gonna read through all of it. So if my kids are outside being too loud, If my kids are outside making any noise that you can hear from more, it doesn't even stay more than 50 foot anymore. If my kids are outside and my neighbor thinks that they are being annoying based off of your statue right here, she can call and I can recite it for them. You guys have it in here right here. Piledrivers, hammers, et cetera, that would probably fall on earth. I feel like you guys got my point. There's a problem. I'm being harassed. My rights are being violated. I'm being picked up by the cops at two o'clock in the afternoon for noise from a car. My children and I live in fear that I cannot, they can't even have a life. I don't know who wrote this, but there's absolutely nothing in here that makes it any harder for her to call the police on me. It's hard enough for me to work the three jobs that I have and support the kids that I have and try to give them a life. And you guys keep giving me violations and taking my money from me, arresting me and putting me in jail over simple things that nobody else, nobody else, no one is calling about. And it's very, very clear.

Thanks, guys. Anybody else want to say anything as counsel? Do I have a motion for adjourn? So moved. Support. I'll be able to say aye. Aye. I have two others. Meeting adjourned 6 to 8 p.m. We'll be back in two minutes.