Parks and Recreation backs American Red Cross lifeguard agreement and discusses London Nature Area swap with DNR

The Parks and Recreation Committee voted to approve and recommend to council an American Red Cross authorized provider agreement for lifeguard recertification, programming and swim lessons; fees associated with the agreement will provide the foundation for future fee-schedule changes.

Director Fuller presented the agreement and the committee carried the motion by roll call; committee members then discussed the London Nature Area. Director Saul and city staff described a proposed swap of two parcels adjacent to the nature area that a developer has proposed to create a more suitable development site. Because the nature area was purchased with Wisconsin DNR stewardship funds, committee members said the city would need to meet DNR requirements and possibly pursue rezoning and formal access agreements before a swap could proceed. The committee agreed to continue working with the DNR and the developer and to return the proposal to the committee for further review; no motion or vote was taken on the parcel swap.

Why it matters: the Red Cross agreement ensures continued lifeguard certification and swim programming under a standard provider agreement; the proposed parcel swap touches stewardship restrictions and potential rezoning that would affect land use adjacent to the nature area.

Discussion versus action: the Red Cross authorized-provider agreement was recommended to council for approval; the London Nature Area parcel-swap proposal was discussed and advanced for further DNR coordination but no formal action was recorded.

Ending: the committee will bring the parcel-swap proposal back for future review after DNR coordination and will forward the Red Cross agreement to the full council for final approval.