HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-23-2019 Council Handouts L'
Oak Park Heights
Request for Council Action
Meeting Date Aril 23rd 2019
Time Required: 5 Minutes
Agenda Item Title: Additional Summer Event---Community Building
Agenda Placement New Business
Originating Department/Requestor: Carly Johnson, Council Member
Requester's Signature
Action Requested_ Discussion, Possible Action
Background/Justification (Please indicate if any previous action has been taken or if other public
bodies have advised):
I would like the City Council to consider an expansion of one of its summer activities to include some further
community building elements. While I am not exactly sure what this might entail at this stage, however some
further investment in an event of some form could be beneficial to develop community ties and stronger sense
of identity to the City Oak Park Heights. In many respects, such an effort is similar to new City signage or a
community video that all enhance the City's identity and our residents and businesses perspectives about it.
This would not be an event that City Staff would be expected to plan or execute; instead such a supplemental
event is something I am personally willing to take on, lead and seek independent volunteers. That said, some
assistance from the City Parks Summer Event Coordinator—Gina Zeuli would be beneficial and would cost
perhaps $ 200 for her additional time and would be derived from the allocation noted below.
As this was discussed at the Council Goal Setting Worksession and was received generally favorably, I would
believe the goal is to plant some "seeds" that could foster an independent action by a local community group
or entity to then take this over perhaps after one or two cycles and the City could disengage from funding as
perhaps sponsors could be developed. (Sponsors might even be found in 2019)
Ultimately, any specific ideas or uses might need to be discussed with the Park Commission and brought back
to the City Council for approvals, but at this stage would the Council be amenable to the concept and funding
scope I note above. To that end, would the City Council consider allocating up to 53,000 from City
Council Contingency Fund to attempt to accomplish this proposal and could be added to an already
planned summer event (likely in August)where the general public is already expected to attend.