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Councilman Jordan asked whether the committee anticipates any <br />reduction of recreation staff. <br />Administrator Chandler responded in the negative and explained <br />that at this point the committee is looking to refine costs and <br />study the gross numbers to see what might fit or be manageable. <br />The committee then will spend more time refining those numbers. <br />Acting City Manager Nason agreed. He stated that it is <br />obvious we cannot do the whole thing at one time and that the <br />consolidation should be undertaken in phases. The next difficult <br />task is keeping the facilities up and maintaining the quality of <br />recreation we have now. <br />Councilman Jordan clarified that if we are not reducing staff <br />then apparently there is no duplication. <br />Commissioner Eggert stated that she has heard the question, <br />if there is no duplication, what is the point of consolidation. <br />Administrator Chandler explained that the City and the County <br />have been cooperating under an informal agreement. The Director of <br />Recreation has had two bosses, the City and the County. The <br />manpower has been run efficiently. Consolidation is a matter of <br />putting the formal touches to what we have been doing and will <br />continue to do, but there is a great deal of potential for <br />duplication if the informal agreement does not work and we go our <br />separate ways. <br />Commissioner Eggert thought that important point should be <br />stressed. <br />Commissioner Macht explained that 8 years ago when he was <br />elected to the City Council there was a full blown discussion of <br />consolidation of the recreation services and it was based on the <br />City"s desire to develop some equity in the costs. The city <br />taxpayers felt they were underwriting the recreational needs of the <br />entire county unfairly, and that was what gave impetus to the <br />desire, mostly on the part of the city, to effect this union or at <br />least to develop some equity in the recompense. This issue has <br />been discussed during at least two joint meetings. Equity is the <br />driving force, not duplication or dissatisfaction with the level of <br />service. <br />Mayor Smith reported that the City's 5 -year plan for <br />recreation was discussed at budget time last year and it appeared <br />that the City can no longer afford to carry recreation. For years <br />the City has been underpaid from the fees and actually was <br />providing recreational services for 70 percent of participants who <br />did nqt live in the city of Vero Beach. He thought phasing into <br />the consolidation was appropriate because it worked with the <br />building department and it worked with the fire department. <br />7 <br />BOOK S9 FGF 45 <br />