Park & Rec Oct 21 2024 mtg

Regular scheduled meeting of the Ely, MN Park & Recreation Board on Monday, October 21, 2024. Scroll down for YouTube video clip. Here’s a Board processing all of the items placed on tonight’s jam-packed agenda: new project proposals, updates on old and ongoing projects, funding and staffing issues, and reviewing the Comprehensive Plan. Observe the time, care and discussions spent on agenda items.

See how the whole meeting gradually evolves into working strategies for the next meeting. Democratic processes take time to evolve. P&R is “behind schedule,” because they didn’t have quorum for several months.

A suggestion was made that the next meeting focus on the Comp Plan. Other (new) items should take backstage unless discussion and actions are essential. Members will get copies of Land Use and Comprehensive Plan before the next meeting to study ahead of time. The next Park & Recreation Board meeting is Monday, November 18th, at 5 p.m.

Tonight’s agenda (time markers might not be added later):

Requests to Appear

• Kathryn Farion (Garden Club update) – Morgan Sauls read letter
• Lucy Soderstrom (work & plantings on Trezona) – appeared later
• Ozzie Reif (North Country Trail Memo of Understanding)

New Business

• Camping in Whiteside Park by Tour of MN group
• Ely Rec Center update

Old Business

• Drum head tops in Whiteside
• Pillow Rock plaque and possible picnic area
• Comp Planning – Bill Tefft spoke from audience in Chamber

Suggestions from Citizens for Transparency:

(1) As a general plan for all future agendas: Deal with Old Business first, then bring up New Business. Exception: urgent essential items.

(2) Don’t put new ideas, projects and proposals on the agenda for discussion unless they relate to the Comprehensive Plan and/or what you have decided to be goals for Park & Rec. Reduce clutter on the agenda. Examples: Fitness Court (possible locations and funding needed to raise $200,00) and Depave St. Louis Park (pages 17-19 in tonight’s P&R packet).

(3) Reduce discussions about funding sources for newly introduced projects, etc. when you haven’t tied them into the Comprehensive Plan nor how they provide services to underrepresented and underserved members of the Ely community . . . or the natural environment.

(4) If you like an idea or project, think about how that idea or project can be carried out or offered by businesses, organizations or groups here in the community. What do you want that Ely needs per (2) above? Don’t negotiate with developer or business until P&R decides (2) above. Don’t get trapped into single source or expensive prpjects. P&R members and City staff are already overtasked. Why create more work following up when the idea or project isn’t a priority?

(5) Don’t get distracted by shiny objects, brochures and PowerPoint presentations. Don’t get distracted by what you think is cool and what your groups would like. Look at projects and activities in relationship to the whole community that P&R serves. Prioritize your time and service to ALL: “Guide the planning, maintaining, and development of the parks and recreation in Ely. ..[I]mprove the quality of life for all ages, backgrounds, and physical abilities of the residents of Ely and surrounding area.” Half+ of Ely’s population is seniors.

(6) Imagine classrooms where teachers individually or as a group decide what they want to teach, when, and to whom. Where it’s okay to leave kids behind or ignore them. The state or district says teach fractions during a certain grade level. A teacher doesn’t like fractions, so they don’t or do so inadequately. This happens. Goals and objectives for lesson plans should be aligned with district/state guidelines. Teachers should strive to reach all kids, facilitate learning for all to the best of their ability. Start with the district/state guidelines. In reference to P&R’s work on the Comp Plan: agree on visions, goals and objectives, including revisions AND additions of goals and objectives that were missed, ignored or not recognized back in 2016.