SR-303-011 (11)
CM: DTA :VR.: fwp
CQuncil Meetlng 141f6/82
Santa Motifa, California
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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