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SR-303-011 (11) CM: DTA :VR.: fwp CQuncil Meetlng 141f6/82 Santa Motifa, California /1-/1 503-0// OCT 2 6 \982 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Clty Staff SUBJECT: Increasing Citizen Participation in the Administratlon of Virginia Avenue Park Recreation Facillty INTRODUCTION For the past several months, members of the Pica Neighborhood Association have been working with Clty Staff to develop a mechanism whereby nelghborhood resldents could become more lnvo]ved in runnlng the Thelma Terry Recreatlon Center at Virginia Avenue Park. There is a strong sense of communlty identification wlth the Terry Center and a desire to make the Center a focus of nelghborhood activities. To respond to this interest and help involve residents in decision making related to programming at the Park, a Citizen Advisory Committee is being established to work closely with Recreation and Parks staff in the administratlon of the Vlrginia Park programs. BACKGROUND There is a growing commitment on the part of the City Council and City Admlnistration to actively lnvolve citizens in the decision- making and direction setting of City government. ThlS commitment has developed in response to increased demand from citizens for such active involvement as well as from an understanding that often local citizens are more in touch with local community needs 1 //-/1 Old " 6 1982 . - and can assist profess1onaJ staff decisIon making in some areas. The pay-off of such active citizen involvement can be more commitment to, and increased participation in, C1ty programs. The actIvitles of the Recreation and Parks Department offer an important opportunity for enhancing the quality of day-to-day life of our residents. Through providing open space, group sports. after school programs, and senior recreatIon, the Recreation and Parks Department can touch the lives of residents from every age, ethnic, racial and neighborhood group in our Clty and surrounding areas. If our commitment is to generate citizen leadersh~p In the C~ty and to provide opportunities for reSIdents to provide direction in CIty programs, recreation services prov2de the opportunity to involve the widest cross-section of city residents in decision-making about a program area that benefits them directly. EXPERIENCES IN OTHER CITIES Elsewhere the establishment of C2tizen Advisory Councils which have decision-making over local recreation facilities has worked quite well. In Seattle, Recreation and Parks staff local Adv2sory Councils which exist at every park and recreation center. The Councils serve as cit2zen advocates for recreat20n programs and help make decisions about local program content, publicity, and staffing. CounC21s function under the overall recreation policy which i 2 . . set by the Park Superintendent. Local classes are both recreational and educatlonal and often draw leaders from the surrounding community. Offerings differ from neighborhood to nelghborhood depending on local interests although some baS1C recreation programs are offered at each park facility. Hartford, Connecticut has instltuted a similar form for citizen involvement in Recreation and Parks Administratlon. Their local parks programs also reflect the interests of the surrounding community. BENEFITS OF CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT TO THE CITY The strength of such citizen involvement is threefold. One, programs are developed which accurately reflect the interests of local residents (e.g. a few days of canvasslng told us that resinents surroundlng Stewart Street park wanted picnic tables and grills for faml]y reunions.) Two, a stronger sense of neighborhood coheSlveness and identlfication with local parks is built, perhaps leadlng to a decl~ne in vandallsm. Three, the leadership abillties of local reSldents are developed through participation in advlsory councils. ThlS lncreases the number of people who could go on to participate in other civic and community activities. 3 . . ESTABLISHING A LOCAL ADVISORY COUNCIL Members of the pica Nelghborhood Association have requested that the Clty provlde members of their community with more decislon- making power over the programs planned for the Thelma Terry Recreation Center. PNA members have felt the need for a community center and would like to see the Thelma Terry facllity used primarily for community-oriented events. As eVldenced by recent acts of vandalism at the Center, there is a need for more communlty involvement at that park lf for no other reason than to involve the neighbors in protecting the facllity. Through active involvement of local cltlzens ln the admlnlstration of the center, the City can hope to cut down on damage due to vandalism through the self-policing mechanism of community members. The Advisory Council would be made up of no more than 20 local citizens drawn park (e.g. from the dlfferent groupings seniors, teens, parents of WhlCh utilize the pre-schoolers) . Participants would be welcome from community organization, PTA's, local clubs, etc. The Advlsory Council would work closely with Recreation and Parks staff and the Recreation and Parks Commission and be told ln detall about the programs offered, the staffing hours available and the standard recreation programs offered at every park. Members shall be appointed by the Recreation and Parks Commisslon 1n consultation wlth Clty Staff following an app11catlon process. 4 . . STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING A Cit~zen Advisory Council be estab11shed for Virginia Avenue Park on a one year trial basis to ald In decision making related to that Park and the Thelma Terry Recreation Center. The Committee will be established as a broad-based citizen group whose purpose is to represent the lnterests of nelghborhood res1dents, and assist the Department of Recreation and Parks 1n meetlng the public's recreatlonal needs consistent with the purposes and operation procedures of the Recreation and Parks Department. 1. The adv1sory committee wl1l give input to the Recreat10n and Parks staff on programs which are desired by the commun1ty. a. In the area of "contract services programs" 1n which the leader is paid through the participants registrat10n fees and Wh1Ch run for B week sessions. b. In the area of free programs run by volunteers from the community. c. In the area of low or no fee ongoing programs run by Recreation and Parks staff which cover a wide range of activities from arts and crafts to music, COOking, games and clubs. 2. The committee will be encouraged to communlty meeting or survey to gain conduct a larger 1deas from a wide 5 ... . . range of communlty members (perhaps utilizing or adaptlng current survey forms developed by the Recreation and Parks Department). 3. The commlttee will have an ongolng dialogue with Recreation and Parks staff and be kept informed so that its planning activities can coordinate with quarterly program plannlng and Seascape advertising. 4. Recreation actlvities proposed by the Advlsory Cauncll shall be considered as co-sponsored by the Departmenti and, therefore, may at tlmes, subject to scheduled needs of the park, have excluslve use of stipulated park facilities. 5. Through cooperation with Recreation and Parks staff the local commlttee can also identify programs which could profit from lncreased partlcipation from the minorlty community (e.g., swimming classes held at the Municipal pool) and develop lnnovative ways to do effective outreach and publiclty in the local communlty. 6. Ideas developed by the necessarily be implemented treated as priority programs COI'1es available. local committee will not immediately but wlll be when space and scheduling 7. The Department of Recreation and Parks shall be responsible for providing policy guidance and direction to the Advlsory Council. After dlScusslon with the 6 . . Advisory prepare a conducted Counc1l's Council on proposed programs, staff w1ll proposal for the programs and fees to be each quarter. Staff will seek the Advisory review, recommendations, and approval of the proposed programs and fees. 8. The Advisory Committee will be aware of the following build1ng use parameters: The auditorium 1S used by the Senior Citizen Nutrition Program from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The building should be available two (2) nights per week for City-wlde permlt groups. (This includes auditorium and craft room). The pre-school room is not avallable for use except for pre-school type act1vities due to the type of furnishing and equipment. The Department is respons1ble for opening and closing the facility. 9. The Advisory Committee may act as an advocacy group for recreational programs run at the ~helma Terry Center ln City Budget and/or CDBG hearings. 7 . . RECOMMENDATION Staff recomMends that the City Counc~l endorse the concept of establishing a Citizen Advisory Committee at Virgin1a Avenue Park to involve local res~dents in dec1sion making related to Park programming and staff1ng. At the end of a one year trial per10d Council will be provided with a report on the act1v1ties of the Advisory Commlttee for review and discussion. Prepared By: Donald T. Arnett Dlrector of Recreation and Parks Vivian Rothste~n Commun~ty Llaison 8