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Session 1918 <br />May 3, 2004 <br /> <br />Kristen Becker, 524 North Central Avenue, described herself as "infuriated" by the issue <br />being discussed. She wants lifeguards to remain as they are and she opposes the <br />management services. <br /> <br />Naomi Schmaltz, 6922 Kingsbury Boulevard, wants the Heman Pool lifeguards to <br />remain the same as they currently are, because they provide familiarity with managers, <br />with the community and offer a sense of camaraderie. <br /> <br />Barbara Heise, 920 Golf Club Drive, asked if the pool is losing money and if the City will <br />save money by employing a management team? She asked if this issue was a matter <br />of insurance? If this is a money issue, how much will be saved by using this service? <br />Councilmember Welsch advised Ms. Heise that $19,000 would be saved over the <br />course of a three-year contract. <br /> <br />The City Manager responded to these comments by reporting that if the pool managers <br />are engaged, there will be no change in the lifeguard staff, Midwest Pools will be <br />required to hire University City citizens, and there will be a seamless change, with lower <br />cost to the City. He stated that determining the staff to manage the pool is the City <br />Manager's decision. In his opinion, they offer better, more expert supervision. He <br />reiterated that the decision currently before the Council is which, if any of the bidders, <br />should be hired. The City Charter requires that any contract over $10,000 be approved <br />by the Council. The contract will be subject to cancellation if the company fails to meet <br />the City's requirements. The existing recreation staff is stretched thinly. With the <br />enlargement of facilities and operations, more programs will be developed. To enable <br />staff to develop these programs, good-quality support of staff is essential. The City <br />Manager said he takes full responsibility for the outcome of this change. <br /> <br />Councilmember Brungardt asked why this matter is before the Council now, and was <br />advised by the City Manager that it is because City Council must authorize any contract <br />over $10,000. <br /> <br />She then asked if there would be job security for University City lifeguards, and Mr. <br />Ollendorff said job security was an excellent suggestion and he would see it becomes <br />part of the contract. Then she asked how the change to Midwest Pools management <br />service would enable enlarging recreation programs? Mr. Ollendorff said that two <br />members of the park management staff spend fifty per cent of their time managing <br />lifeguards and pool maintenance staff. This measure is meant to free them of these <br />responsibilities by reducing supervisory time to twenty per cent. Ms. Brungardt wanted <br />to know how their freed time would be spent, and the City Manager said operating the <br />expanded facilities and developing new programs for those expanded facilities. She <br />wanted to know if the recreation center improvements had changed staff job <br />descriptions, and was advised that staff would spend thirty per cent less time <br />supervising lifeguards, and that time would be applied to developing programs and <br /> Page 12 <br /> <br /> <br />