February 11 update on Conway Advisory Group

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February 11, 2013 at Conway Rec Center - Meeting of the Conway Community Advisory Group

In attendance: Kris Gjerde, chair, Clara Ware, Erika Martin, Ebony Young, Kate Staples, Gwen Peterson, Mike Hahm (Director of Parks), Kathy Lantry, Betsy Leach (scribe)

Updates on Outreach

        Parks representatives continue trying to schedule outreach to youth in the area. They are planning a meeting at Bradley House apartments on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 6:30p, along with Library staff. They have already been meeting with a few youth at the library in the homework center. The Parks staff and Bradley House management were asked by advisory group members to find out why kids are not coming to structured programs, if they are coming to unstructured programs, if there are cultural impediments, if parents have issues with attendance? D1 has suggested that we set up a meeting with the local apartment managers’ group to also discuss these issues.

         There is concern among the advisory group membership that we are missing youth voices at this critical time. Kathy Lantry suggested that a Youth Commissioner from the City’s Youth Commission be asked to participate in the review process, especially a commissioner who attends Harding High School.

District 1 has been meeting with a variety of people concerned about the rec center and has mailed postcards to over 800 people in the Battle Creek area to invite them to the February 25 meeting at Conway where updates will be given and more input taken. This community meeting will run from 6:30p to 8p,

          District 1 met with Parks officials and neighbors of the Eastview Rec Center to talk about how that privatized center can see an increase in activities over the coming summer months. How Eastview programming can fit into the issues of acting as stewards of the Conway programming remains to be discussed.

          The group was reminded that the Parks Commission is meeting on Wednesday, February 13 at 6:30p at Conway. There are a variety of topics on the agenda, much of which is procedural. One item of interest is Community Outreach process.

Discussion of the Re-Drafted RFP (Request for Proposals)

         Once again, the advisory group went through the RFP page by page and paragraph by paragraph. The general consensus of the community members was that the spirit of our suggested changes from the last meeting was incorporated. There were additional substantive changes we suggested, but most of them were minor editorial changes for clarity and emphasis. We continue to want the emphasis to be on how this rec center functions in and for the community as a whole.

        We discussed the timeline for completing the RFP. We hope to have a nearly final draft by early next week, with a finished draft prior to our next meeting (February 21 at 6p). The next meeting will focus on the RFP timeline once it is ready for release, what the next steps will be, and what will be required of Advisory Group members in the review process. Understanding the review process will be critical to the success of finding an appropriate partner.

         In the meantime, group members (and community members) are asked for suggestions on who to market the RFP to and how to get the word out. There can be no discussion of the nuances of the RFP between any Advisory Group members and potential partners, especially those Advisory Group members who will be reviewing proposals. Strict guidelines must be followed to assure a legal process. This process will be outlined at the next meeting.

         Also note that there will be another community meeting where updates will be provided and input gathered. That meeting will be Monday, February 25 at 6:30p at Conway Rec Center. You can also contact the district council to give comments – district1council@aol.com or 651.578.7600.

         In addition, the District 1 Community Council’s Annual Meeting this year will be a series of Open Houses during which members of the community can be updated about this process and can discuss the importance of this rec center, any other, and all of our parks. Those Open Houses will be Saturday, March 23 from 1-3p, and Monday and Tuesday, March 25 and 26 from 6-8p at the District Council offices.