02/09/1976 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Assistant Parks Director suggested moving the two partisan classifications in the Programmed Facilities grouping into the non-programmed facilities grouping, the reason being that the impact on staff in the programmeq areas is substantial. To encourage additional usage in the programmed facilities area might be frustrating, but moving the two partisan classifications could prove to be 'an acceptable way of making non-programmed facilities available to partisan users. This shift would not suggest a change in the fee schedule unless Council felt it was a warranted action. Mr. Murray recalled that, at the inception of the study, Council had raised a philosophical question, it being whether partisan activities should be treated differently than other kinds of activities. Maybe that issue should be resolved first, he thought. Mr. Murray moved seconded by Mrs.. Seal that the fee structure in the use of the facilities be based upon the premise that npnfund raising partisan activities be treated in a uniform fashion with other non-fund raising activities and that partisan fund raising activities be treated uniform ~ith other fund raising activities allowed in the centers. Ml'._ williams sa.id that,-i,f,he understands t:he nature of the 'fee- schedule;- it is saying that the:city subsidizes ceEtalnactivities and he quesrioned if partisan pOlitical activity should fit into-that catego.rg. Corom 2/4/76 Tabled (See action below) Mr ~Mu:rray fe1t that to be a c01lll'lr)n point of. ,view - "we view partisCln, Poli-tical activity as a little seamier," he said.. lie thinksthose-,who disagree with, that point of view IJelieve more exposure is healthier for political activity. e Mrs. Shirey"felt that, if political activities' are viewed differently than other,.activities, perhaps the facilities s~u1.d not be r~ifted at all Eor political purposes. If they are not viewed differerrtllj." they should betreat:ed on an equal basis. ' ,'., " _ Hr. Williams is troubled by publicly subsidizing political activities, but Hr. Murray finds fault with that logic. Mrs. Seal feels people are much more willing to use public funds for poli tical activities than in the past. Vote was taken on the motion which carried, all council members present voting aye except Mr. Williams voting no. Councilman Williams raised the question of using grant monies under the Community De- velopment Act for neighborhood facilities used for political meetings - either sub- sidized or nonsubsidized. He read applicable provisions of that Act which indicated no expenditure may be made for conducting political meetings, Federal transportation connected with political activities, other partisan political activities, etc. He wondered if use of Revenue Sharing funds was restricted in the same manner. He sug- gested that if Federal money could not be used to subsidize political activities, the same protection should be afforded local taxpayers. Councilman Bradley thought it might be wise to have staff investigate whether similar requirements are attached to grants for parks and recreation facilities. e Mr. Bradley moved second by Mr. Williams to table Item G of the consent calendar. Motion carried unanimously. 7'1 2/9/76 - 17