MCC Advisory Board Minutes 04-17-2012MINUTES
MONTICELLO COMMUNITY CENTER (MCC) ADVISORY BOARD
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2012 — 4:30 P.M. RIVER ROOM
Board Members Present: Sandra Theros- Chair, Jennifer Bethke, Clint Herbst
Board Member Absent: Darren Paumen -Vice Chair
Council Alternate Absent: Lloyd Hilgart
Staff Members Present: Kitty Baltos- Director
1. Call meeting to order
Sandra Theros called the meeting to order at 4:35 pm.
2. Consideration of adding items to the agenda
a) Teen Day at Becker Community Center
3. Consideration of approving the minutes from the February 21, 2012 regular meeting
JENNIFER BETHKE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 21,
2012. MOTION WAS SECONDED BY CLINT HERBST. MOTION CARRIED 3 -0.
4. Update Items
a) Usage summary through March 2012 - The lower usage numbers are likely due to the
warmer weather this spring.
b) Financial summary through first uq arter - There was no specific discussion about this
item.
c) Farmer's Market Update - There was no specific discussion about this item.
d) Programming Update; Friendship Island, Swim lessons, Community Garden -
Friendship Island is in its third summer at the MCC. Registration is full some days and
there isn't room to expand the program. There was discussion about planning some
Friendship Island programming at Bertram Park. All plots in the Community Garden
have been assigned. Local businesses Cargill and Cornerstone Cafe have each reserved a
plot this year.
e) Update, Natatorium/Fitness Center Improvements - The pool shutdown had been
extended from four to ten weeks based contractor estimates. Staff has indicated that this
is unacceptable and expect that the schedule be reworked so that the shutdown is no
longer than 6 weeks. There was some discussion as to the construction and
subcontracting reasons for the extended timeframe. It will be important to have clear
MCC signage as to the scope, expected duration and benefits of the improvement
project. Additionally there was some recent wind damage to the siding of the pool on the
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west side corner of the MCC building which had to be immediately addressed. Insurance
will cover the repair and potentially the deductible as well due to the prior removal of
that section of siding by the insurance company.
f) Manager's Monthly Update — Rachel Leonard will temporarily cover some of the
summer programming duties while Sara Cahill is on a ten week maternity leave
beginning in mid -June.
5. Consideration of recommending the approval of Heath Bird as community center
Advisory Board member for a term to expire December 31, 2015
Community Center member Heath Bird shared his interest, background, and schedule
during his interview for the open Advisory Board position. He indicated that it shouldn't
be a problem to change his work schedule, as a Plymouth Police Sergeant, to attend
monthly meetings. Kitty Baltos will provide past meeting minutes as background should
his appointment be approved by Council.
JENNIFER BETHKE MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
APPOINT HEATH BIRD TO THE MONTICELLO COMMUNITY CENTER
ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 2015. MOTION
WAS SECONDED BY CLINT HERBST. MOTION CARRIED 3 -0.
6. Consideration of remedies or compensation for members, guests, and employees
during Natatorium and Fitness Center improvements
The Advisory Board considered a number of options to compensate MCC users for the
inconvenience of the extended pool shutdown, the remodel of the fitness area, and the
general noise and dust expected throughout the facility. Members will be provided
information about such accommodations well in advance of construction.
Staff will find out if it would be an option to use the middle school pool for adult lap and
open swim. There was also discussion about offering water aerobics at the nearby Super 8
motel pool during the week. Other options considered were mailing members a $2 off
coupon for admission to the Becker Community Center, using the gym for organized kids
games, showing movies in the Mississippi Room, offering credits for fitness classes, and
modifying birthday party packages to include non -swim activities. There will also be an
emphasis on providing varied outdoor programming such as guided hikes and canoeing in
the evenings at Bertram Park. There was discussion about how to respond to those
members who may be concerned that these concessions do not meet their needs. In such
cases Kitty Baltos may choose to extend that particular membership for the duration of the
building improvements.
7. Consideration of member assistance request and possible assistance program for the
MCC
The MCC receives some 20 calls a year asking about discounted memberships. Kitty
Baltos has responded to such requests by pointing out that the rates are established by City
Council. Clint Herbst indicated that it might be useful to find out if the United Way and the
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YMCA would provide assistance in these cases. The MCC had previously applied for and
received money from the United Way. Staff recommended criteria and board member
review of applications if funds were to be made available. Herbst suggested including an
option on the membership form to donate $1 -2 dollars per month to a scholarship fund.
Another idea is might be to utilize the full insurance reimbursement for family plan
members. There was general agreement that it would be nice to provide some assistance to
veterans and military families. Baltos agreed to look into this issue and bring it brought
back for consideration during budget preparation.
8. Consideration of adding items to the agenda
a) Teen Day - Jennifer Bethke shared that she had heard on the radio that the Becker
Community Center had scheduled a Teen Day in which vendors in the community
advertised summer events and activities for area youth ages 12 -17. The event involved
door prizes, raffle tickets, gift cards and coupons. Kitty Baltos will follow up with the
Becker Community Center staff to find out more about the event.
b) Skate Park - Clint Herbst received a letter from a local youth asking if the City would
create a skate park. There was some discussion about why the previous Tier II skate
park, which operated outside the MCC from 2000 -2006, was discontinued. The park
had lost an average of $15,000 a year in staffing and insurance costs. Kitty Baltos
suggested that the City instead create a Tier I park in the northeast comer of Pioneer
Park. Tier I parks can be unstaffed and uninsured because the jumps are under four feet
high. The Advisory Board asked that this idea be included in the Parks budget. Baltos
had previously discussed this with Park Superintendent Tom Pawelk and was told that it
wasn't currently a priority.
c) Employee recognition program — Clint Herbst indicated that staff had discussed creating
an employee recognition program as part of the City's workplace enhancement effort.
One aspect of this program might be having MCC users award coupons to employees
whom they feel provided outstanding service. Staff with these coupons could enter
their name in a drawing to receive a prize. This would provide a reward for employees
having to deal with the inconvenience of the upcoming building improvement impacts.
There was also discussion about identifying an employee of the month and various
ideas for recognition.
Next month's agenda will include a discussion of ideas for celebrating the completion of the
building improvement project. Members signed a card thanking Ron Broekemeier for his
five years of service on the MCC Advisory Board.
9. Adiourn
The meeting was adjourned at 5:51
Recorder:
Approved: