Introduce Recreation Policy Plan

Purpose

As part of City Council's discussion on the 2020 General Fund and Levy, the city's recreation program was reviewed.  One outcome was an agreement that staff should proceed to formalize a Recreation Plan to include policy elements. This policy development corresponds to the adopted Strategic Plan Strategy to "Connect the community both physically and socially to destinations, services, and activities." and more specifically, the Action item "Update the Recreation Programming Work Plan—Deliver a diversity of programs that finds a balance of revenue and access."


Background

Formalizing recreation programming goes back approximately one half decade ago as part of the city's [then] strategic plan goal of 'creating a diverse and robust system of recreation services.'  One significant step in that process was to inventory recreation opportunities available within a 15 minute drive from Ramsey.  That 2015 analysis (of 134 categories) found that there was a void in Ramsey for recreational opportunity with many different offerings unavailable from neither the private or public sector.

The various attachments following the adopted Strategic Plan (below) track the above mentioned planning analysis and survey of residents' desire for recreation and enrichment programming. 

In terms of addressing the strategic plan action item to Update the Recreation Programming Work Plan—Deliver a diversity of programs that finds a balance of revenue and access, this case and discussion by the Commission begins this endeavor. Elements of this Recreation Program Plan and Policy are anticipated to include:

*******SAMPLE Table of Contents******
Executive Summary.
Introduction.
Purpose.
Mission and Vision.
Goals and Strategies.
Benefits.
Trends.
Demographics
Economy.
Recreation.
Promoting Community Health.
Current Programs.
* Planning Considerations.
Operational Considerations.
Recommendations.
Inclusion.
Fee Setting.
Cost Recovery.
Non-residents
Evaluation.
Fee Assistance.
References

Under the *Planning Consideration category (above sample table of contents) would elaborate on the following sub-topics:

Program Philosophy
The program philosophy determines the City’s role in providing recreation programs and services. The mission, vision, and goals shape this philosophy to ensure proper use of resources when prioritizing future programs. As the program philosophy is developed, various evaluation factors must be understood:

• Cost recovery
• Facilities
• Staffing
• Administrative support
• Funding
• Number of people served
• Demand
• Partnerships, in-house vs. contracted
• Other providers
• Community benefit

Subsequent to feedback from the Commission on the above content, staff will continue to build out this plan and will have the first draft for the Commission's consideration as soon as the November regular meeting.  The plan when approved by the Commission would advance for Council consideration later this year or available leading up to City Council's strategic planning in early Winter of 2020.

 

This topic does not not authorize funding per se, however the resultant Recreation Program Policy may yield a modest increase in the revenue side of recreation and enrichment programming for 2020.
 

Staff requests feedback on the proposed content of a recreation plan.

Based upon discussion.