GOOSE CREEK RECREATION

SPECIAL MEETING

COMMISSION & CITY COUNCIL

August 12, 2009

Present

• Commission: Chairman Jerry Glass, Nancy Trevino, Milton Terre, and Tom Lindsay
• Mayor and City Council: Mayor Michael Heitzler, Councilmember Marquerite Brown, Councilmember Kimo Esarey, Councilmember Sal Gandolfo, Councilmember John McCants, Councilmember Mark Phillips and Councilmember Jerry Tekac.
• Staff: City Administrator Dennis Harmon, Assistant City Administrator Jeff Molinari, Recreation Director Gary Stuber, Casey Fletcher and Cheryl Heiselman
• Guests: Jim Tatem, Goose Creek Gazette

Call to Order

Mayor Heitzler called the City Council meeting to order at 6 pm. Recreation Commission Chairman Jerry Glass called the Recreation Commission meeting to order at 6:05 pm.

Public Comments

None at this time.

Purpose of the Meeting

Mayor Heitzler stated the purpose of the meeting was to review the contract and discuss how to proceed in the future.

Chairman Glass stated programs and activities continue to move forward, but challenges face the Recreation Commission in the near future.

The Mayor stated that from what he was hearing, the Commission felt that in addition to being an advisory board, they felt they had a planning function. He went on to ask if the staff could function with this hybrid type of governing style.

Chairman Glass stated that he didn’t see any problem at the present time. Recreation Director Stuber stated that he did not have a problem with this either.

Handling of Recreation Issues/Citizen Problems

A discussion took place on how recreation issues and problems were handled. The Mayor stated his opinion that all issues should go to the Recreation Commission for a final decision.

Councilmember Phillips stated that if all other remedies are exhausted, citizens should be able to appeal to City Council.

Councilmember Tekac said it would be difficult for elected officials to refuse to hear the appeal of a resident or to respond to a resident at a city meeting.

Councilmember Esarey stated that as a citizen, he would like to know that council would hear what he had to say, even if as a rule council would adhere to the recommendation of the Recreation Commission.

Councilmember Brown stated that the Commission is the governing body and has the responsibility to make the decisions. City Council will have to deal with these issues when they come to them. It is her opinion that most issues will be resolved before coming to Council.

Mayor Heitzler suggested that all recreation issues go through the staff first, then to the Commission. If a citizen wants to appeal the Commission decision after that, he can make a written request to City Council for his appeal to be heard.

Mr. Harmon suggested that staff work on writing up an official policy to define the procedure and present it back to the Commission and City Council.

Service to Other Areas

Councilmember Phillips inquired about the Recreation Department offering activities and memberships to residents of Devon Forest, Okatee and the unincorporated areas of Crowfield.

Mayor Heitzler stated that in his opinion, only residents of the city or the recreation district should be allowed to participate in activities or purchase memberships for the fitness center. Councilmember Phillips agreed.

Commissioner Trevino stated that current policy allows for families to stay in the recreation program even if they move out of the area as long as they participate on a continuous basis. She feels it is more about the children playing then paying.

The Mayor said it is about serving our residents.

Mr. Harmon suggested the staff frame the issue and look at all sides and bring it back to council.

Closing Public Comments

None at this time.

Adjournment

Mrs. Trevino made a motion to adjourn the Commission meeting at 7:00 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Mr. Lindsay, all in favor.