2008-04-14 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council

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REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEl\t1 Agenda Date Requested: Appropriation Requested By: Source of Funds: Department: Acc't Number: N/A Report: ~Resolution: _Ordinance: _ Amount Budgeted: Exhibits: Draft Ordinance Amount Requested: Exhibits: Bud eted Item: YES NO SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATION City staff was recently made aware of Senate Bill 212, which . was passed by the 74th Texas Legislature to counter a move made by the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to govern city-operated recreational programs, such as day camps and after school programs. Cities from around the state successfully proved that the purpose and composition of city-organized recreation programs are entirely different from those offered by child-care providers. State licensing requirements and training programs are geared toward early childhood education and preschool aged children. City of La Porte Parks and Recreation Department after school and summer day camp programs are geared towards ages 6 years to 12 years, and for persons with special needs, ages 4 years to adult. By adopting Standards of Care, the City of La Porte Parks and Recreation Department's Recreation Camp Programs will be self governed and can in turn create training programs that are age appropriate and recreational in nature. These Standards of Care are intended to be minimum standards by which the City of La Porte Parks and Recreation Department will operate the City's Recreation Programs and Camp Programs. The programs operated by the City are recreational in nature and are not day care programs. The purpose of these Standards is to reduce possible municipal liability and to protect the health, safety, and well being of our children through a well-rounded recreational environment. Any changes that are directed by Council will be made and this Ordinance will be brought back with a Public Hearing at the next City Council meeting with a recommendation for approval. Although we are already doing a number of requirements of the ordinance, the new Standards of Care will involve some procedural changes and documentation for our programs that will take time to implement (which staffis already working on). The effective date for the ordinance is set for 30 days after passage to allow it to go into effect in conjunction with our summer progrannnmg. Date