| Author | Post |
|---|
QCnews
Member
| Joined: | Tue Jan 3rd, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| Posts: | 28 |
| Status: |
Offline
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 4th, 2008 06:03 pm |
|
Officials consider joining groups
By Angela De Welles
Independent Newspapers
Queen Creek staff members are looking into the possibility of combining the town’s Recreation Advisory Board and Parks Trails and Open Space Committee.
But it is too early to know whether combining the two volunteer boards is feasible, how a new combined board would operate, or how many members the new board might have, according to Creighton Wright, Queen Creek’s assistant parks and recreation director.
The two groups each meet quarterly and consider different types of items before making recommendations to the town council.
“The Recreation Advisory Board generally oversees the Parks and Recreation Department as far as the use of facilities in the town, the fees that need to be charged and the programs,” said RAB Chair Tom Alberti. “We help direct staff in terms of the use of those fields and facilities.”
The Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee is more focused on long-range planning and the construction of park facilities, according to Mr. Wright.
The idea to join the two advisory groups came from the Queen Creek Town Council during its annual summer retreat, Mr. Wright said.
“It was talked about at the time,” said Mr. Wright, adding not much discussion was had, but it was something the council members thought should be explored for efficiency.
After the staff researches the idea, a recommendation will be presented to the town council in December. If a combined board is formed, the first meeting would be sometime in February, Mr. Wright said.
Recreation Advisory Board members expressed a desire to give their say before a recommendation is made to the council.
“There could be some good input from committee members,” said board member David Dobbs.
After the meeting Mr. Alberti said he is not sure whether joining the two groups would be best.
“Right now I guess I’m really non-committal. I have not seen any recommendations from staff regarding the merger. I can’t really say I’m in favor or against it at this point.”
In past years the Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee has been busy and devoted to building new parks and acquiring land for new facilities, but that activity has slowed down recently, Mr. Alberti said.
The idea to join both groups might make more sense now because that activity has slowed, said Mr. Alberti, adding he hopes both boards get to make some comments on the proposal.
“I think it is important since the future of both committees is based on what the staff recommends that the Recreation Advisory Board and the Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee should have at least some input,” Mr. Alberti said.
The Parks, Trails and Open Space Committee meets next at 6 p.m., Nov. 18 in the San Tan conference room of the town’s development services building, 22358 S. Ellsworth Road.
|
Current time is 10:19 pm | |
|
|
|