Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to pay for costs associated with the national Commission for the Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies program.
Body
WHEREAS, the national Commission for the Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) offers an accreditation program consisting of 144 minimal standards pertaining to the efficiency and effectiveness of a parks and recreation organization; and
WHEREAS, CAPRA program standards provide a quantitative measure of operational practices which are desirable to provide adequate parks and recreation programs and services; and
WHEREAS, conducting an agency's operations in accordance with standards can prevent many problems and lead to high quality services and programs; and
WHEREAS, agencies are evaluated every 5 years to ensure standards are being met to maintain CAPRA accredited status; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation was first accredited in 2003, and was re-accredited through a similar process in 2008; and
WHEREAS, in order to maintain the national CAPRA accredited status, the Department must be re-evaluated using a similar process in 2013; and
WHEREAS, over the last 10 years, these standards have been a dynamic force for positive change in Saint Paul by stimulating our parks and recreation professionals and the corporate policy body toward better and safer services, programs and innovations; and
WHEREAS, the cost of the CAPRA re-accreditation program is estimated to be $6,000, which will be expended out of approved Department revenues on program registration and a site visitation including transportation, housing, and meals for the CAPRA site visitation team; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the expenditure of funds for transportation, meals, and lodging serves a public purpose by facilitating the evaluation and accreditation process; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby authorizes the Department of Parks and Recreation to participate in the Commission for the Accreditation of Parks and Recreation Agencies program and to expend funds for the costs of the site visitation.