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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-10Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission Retreat Minutes - January 10, 2015 Members Present: Stephanie Mulinos (Chair), Tracy Kirtz, Diane Pamel, David Bravo - Cullen, Rick Ryan, Jason Leifer (Town Board) Guests: Vicki Wilkins (Former DYC), Steve Kirsch (Former DRC) Youth Services Coordinator: Kris Bennett Recreation Director: Jennifer Jones I. History Stephanie Mulinos provided a short history of DRYC: 1. In 2013, the Town Board directed the Dryden Recreation Commission and Dryden Youth Commission to combine. 2. 2013-14 has been a Transition Period for DRYC. 3. Due to the merging of both commissions, many of the former DRC members have discontinued participating, so the commission is now very heavy on youth programming membership. 4. This retreat was scheduled for determine the purpose of DRYC and to set goals for 2015. II. Past Dryden Recreation Commission Vicki Wilkins, former DRC member, provided a history of DRC: 1. When the DRC was very active, a lot of people attended the meetings, which were held at the Community Cafd or Town Hall and were open to the public. 2. There were behavioral guidelines and expectations of participants, which including respecting everyone's opinions. 3. The detailed agendas had times listed for each topic, and the liaisons to the Town Board and schools attended regularly and contributed to the direction of the commission. 4. DRC members had a clear understanding of their role as it pertained to the Recreation Director and the Town. 5. There was a broad perspective represented at the meetings, ensuring inclusiveness for all residents, not just youth. 6. There was a clear understanding of what recreation is and the commission's goals were listed on each agenda. 7. Individual DRC members chose a goal to focus on between meetings. 8. The Commission participated in the creation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. III. Past Drvden Youth Commission Steve Kirsch, former DYC member, provided a short history: 1. The work of the commission was budget driven. 2. Formal agendas were created for each meeting, and goals for the next meeting were set at the end of each meeting, so members had something to look forward to. 3. Youth programming was evaluated to determine effectiveness, which was mainly geared toward a subset of youth. 4. After funding was drastically decreased, the commission changed a lot. 5. Members volunteered and were involved with the programs. IV. Countv Representative Page 2 DRYC Retreat Minutes January 10, 2015 Kris Bennett explained her role on the DRYC as a liaison between the Town and the County. Funding for youth programming comes from the County and State with a Town match. There has been a decrease in funding since 2008. Town Board Jason Leifer, former liaison to DRC, explained the Board's decision to merge both commissions. He stated that there was difficulty in maintaining membership in both commissions, and the Community Grants were started by Town Board and moved to DRC. He noted that a Capital Reserve Fund was established in 2009 to set aside funding to develop and maintain parks, fields, trails, etc. That money has not been utilized yet, and the trail system has not moved forward or had any improvements made. V. Current DRYC A discussion was held regarding the current status of the Commission: Membership is not complete. There are nine positions on the DRYC; only 7 are currently filled. There are not clear goals or objectives for the Commission to work toward. More community outreach needs to occur to inform residents of what is offered. Town Board liaisons are not designated and participation is lacking. Jennifer Jones, Recreation Director, stated that DRYC is not like her recreation commission in Groton. She stated that the Groton Commission has a large membership with representation of many different viewpoints. Meetings have agendas where minutes and financials are approved, then there's a brainstorming session about what activities should be planned. Jennifer stated she relies on the Commission for guidance. In Dryden, so far Jennifer has been observing the meetings, but feels she cannot offer suggestions for programming or other activities to get feedback from the Commission. She would really like to share more information with DRYC members. Jason Liefer noted that the Town Board felt the DRYC would inform the Board of what the community needed, and the Board would determine how to make those needs occur. He stated that in the past, the Recreation Director would submit monthly reports to the Board, and a member of the commissions would attend Board meetings regularly. VI. Future DRYC Stephanie Mulinos began a brainstorming session for current DRYC members in attendance, utilizing a SWOT analysis: a. Strengths • New members = new ideas & energy • Veteran perspective • Diversity of interest and perspective b. Weaknesses • Membership — not all seats are filled • Lack of focus/sense of purpose Page 3 DRYC Retreat Minutes January 10, 2015 • Meetings are not engaging • Lack of clearly defined goals and objectives • Limited diversity/perspective • Marginal groups' needs are not being met (community members) • Limited public perception of recreation programming — that it is just youth sports e. Opportunities • Reserve funding • Unmet needs for recreational programs and facilities • Community support • Community partners • Increased focus on youth volunteerism resulting in increased availability of youth volunteers • Recent youth development needs assessment data • Merger has created opportunity to re-evaluate the goals & objectives d. Challenges • Money/decrease in funding • Time • Engaging the community • Keeping up with and understanding youth trends • Misalignment of school/municipal boundaries — some student residents go to Ithaca schools. Challenges/Weaknesses Money/decrease in funding Time Strengths/Opportunities Reserve funding Engaging the community Diversity of membership Keeping up with and understanding youth • Community partners trends • Community Support Misalignment of school/municipal boundaries — some student residents go to Ithaca schools. Membership — not all seats are filled New members = new ideas & energy Lack of focus/sense of purpose; • Merger has created opportunity to re - Lack of clearly defined goals and objectives evaluate the goals & objectives. • Community partners Meetings are not engaging Limited diversity/perspective Marginal groups' needs are not being met (community members) Limited public perception of recreation programming — that it is just youth sports Page 4 DRYC Retreat Minutes January 10, 2015 VII. Wish List The following is a list of items the DRYC would like to work toward obtaining: 1. Define commission purpose & responsibilities 2. Annual report 3. More facilities — fields, programming space, etc. 4. Increased focus on youth employment readiness skills — preparing youth for work, not just providing them with work opportunities 5. Centralized location for housing community information/events 6. Teen/youth representation on commission 7. Trail development 8. Dryden Lake Festival 9. Winter community event 10. Seek grant opportunities 11. Increased adult programming 12. Organized and strategic marketing plan VIII. Next Steps The participating members agreed that the DRYC's next steps should include: L Identifying and agreeing on short and long term goals/objectives for the commission. 2. Establishing a plan/framework for accomplishing goals. The next meeting of the Dryden Recreation and Youth Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. in Dryden Town Hall. We will further our work that began at the retreat. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Gehring DRYC Member DRYC Planning Session Summary Strengths • New members = new ideas & energy • Veteran perspective • Diversity of interest and perspective Weaknesses • Membership — not all seats are filled • Lack of focus/sense of purpose • Meetings are not engaging • Lack of clearly defined goals and objectives • Limited diversity/perspective • Marginal groups' needs are not being met (community members) • Limited public perception of recreation programming — that it is just youth sports Opportunities • Reserve funding • Unmet needs for recreational programs and facilities • Community support • Community partners • Increased focus on youth volunteerism resulting in increased availability of youth volunteers • Recent youth development needs assessment data • Merger has created opportunity to re-evaluate the goals & objectives Challenges • Money/decrease in funding • Time • Engaging the community • Keeping up with and understanding youth trends • Misalignment of school/municipal boundaries — some student residents go to Ithaca schools. Challenges/Weaknesses Money/decrease in funding Time Engaging the community Keeping up with and understanding youth trends Misalignment of school/municipal boundaries — some student residents go to Ithaca schools. Membership — not all seats are filled Lack of focus/sense of purpose; Lack of clearly defined goals and objectives Meetings are not engaging Limited diversity/perspective Marginal groups' needs are not being met (community members) Limited public perception of recreation programming — that it is just youth sports Strengths/Opportunities Reserve funding Diversity of membership • Community partners • Community Support New members = new ideas & energy • Merger has created opportunity to re-evaluate the goals & objectives. • Community partners 1 1 Wish List • Define commission purpose & responsibilities • Annual report • More facilities—fields, programming space, etc. • Increased focus on youth employment readiness skills — preparing youth for work, not just providing them with work opportunities • Centralized location for housing community information/events • Teen/youth representation on commission • Trail development • Dryden Lake Festival • Winter community event • Seek grant opportunities • Increased adult programming • Organized & strategic marketing plan Next Steps: • Identify and agree on short and long term goals/objectives • Establish plan/framework for accomplishing goals