Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to expend an amount not to exceed $25,000 for the purpose of providing refreshments, marketing materials, recognition items, and other incentives for various activities, programs, volunteers, and events throughout 2025.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation is involved in various forms of community outreach, marketing and volunteer recognition strategies in an effort to increase the use of services provided by the Department and the support provided by volunteers; and
WHEREAS, over the last fifteen years, experience with such marketing and outreach at Recreation Centers, the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, Environmental events, the Saint Paul Youth Commission, and other areas with the Department has demonstrated a need to provide different types of small promotional materials, incentives and other marketing related take-aways to encourage participation and support; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has long supported and help advocate for these efforts, and the Department of Parks and Recreation wishes to also continue providing food and refreshments using existing budgeted funds during events, meetings, and other Department sponsored programs and activities to attendees to encourage attendance; and
WHEREAS, recognition of volunteers and their accomplishments is essential each year to assist with volunteer support and retention, and this past year almost 80,000 volunteer hours were contributed to Department services, which is an increase of almost 10,000 hours from 2023; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the expenditure of money serves a public purpose by increasing the use and awareness of Parks and Recreation's innovative services and helping achieve budgetary savings through the successful facilitation of a comprehensive Volunteer Program; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Department of Parks and Recreation is hereby authorized to expend an amount not to exceed $25,000 fo...
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