Adopt Resolution #19-189 to Backfill the Vacant Part-time Recreation Specialist Position - Please Note:  This case was moved from the Consent Agenda (Item 4.12) to the Regular Agenda as Item 7.0.

The purpose of this case is to reconsider filling the vacant part-time Recreation Specialist position.

This case was considered by the City Council at the regular session of August 12 with the majority voting in favor of filling this position, but considered not approved due to the Charter requirement of at least four affirmative votes to pass a motion.  The position was subsequently discussed at the September 3 budget session, with a consensus to bring back to the work session and regular session of September 10 for Council consideration.  This item has been placed on the work session agenda and on the consent agenda of the September 10 regular meeting.  Pending the outcome of the work session discussion, this item may remain as a consent item, moved off the consent agenda, or removed from tonight's agenda as desired by the Council.

This position is responsible for assisting in the development, implementation and ongoing daily administrative tasks necessary to provide recreational programing in the City.  The position also provides back-up to the Public Works Administrative Assistant, including in assisting the public in park and facility reservations. The duties of this approximately 20 hours per week position include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assist in all aspects of the development, marketing, implementation, and evaluation of municipal recreational programing and events
• Assist with generating social media promotional posts and communications for recreation programs and events
• Coordinate, purchase, organize, and deliver supplies, documents and schedules for programs and events
• Provide staff support including data entry, phone calls, program registration, reports and records management
• Attend programs and events, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Note: In approving Resolution #19–189, it is understood that one of the priority activities of the Recreation Specialist, in addition to those listed below, is to support the Parks Superintendent in solidifying a recreation programming policy for City Council approval that addresses the 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," in addition to evaluating programs for the greatest return on investment for Ramsey residents. 

This is a part-time regular position replacing the current Park and Recreation Specialist who submitted a letter of resignation.  The position facilitates the City's growing recreational programing, including, but not limited to favorites such as the summer concerts at The Draw, Art in the Park, fitness programs (E.g. Zumba dance), learn to kayak events, movies in the park, annual Elmcrest Art Fair, etc.  

In order to fill the position, a recruitment process was conducted.  Staff interviewed many candidates, including Ms. Abigail Proulx, who was selected to advance in the recruitment process.  Ms. Proulx completed the necessary pre-employment background checks and staff recommends Ms. Proulx for the part-time regular position of Recreational Specialist.  Ms. Proulx will be subject to a 6-month probationary period, the City's Personnel Policy and AFSCME union contract.  

The funding for this position has been accounted for within the 2019 budget.

Note: The Recreation Specialist position was established after an analysis of recreation related programming utilizing interns—finding that both effectiveness and continuity was improved with a regular staff assignment (versus repeating training of interns), and also the annual operating investment in providing recreation services to residents was less with a dedicated Recreation Specialist, in comparison to years when two interns attempted to fulfill the same job duties.

Staff recommends hiring Ms. Abigail Proulx as the City's part-time Recreation Specialist, effective on or near September 11, 2019 at $21.34 per hour which is step 1 of the 2019 wage scale.


 

Motion to adopt resolution #19-189 to hire Ms. Abigail Proulx as a part-time Recreation Specialist, effective on or near September 11, 2019, at $21.34 per hour, which is step 1 of the 2019 wage scale.