Recreation Committee chair urges schedule change, flags missing minutes as pool staffing looms

George Gillette, chair of the Recreation Committee, told the City Council on Feb. 9 that the committee wants to move its regular meeting from the first Tuesday to the third Tuesday so minutes can reliably be included in council packets. "The city council has not been receiving their minutes and the council has no idea what the committee is working on," Gillette said, and described work to get the municipal pool ready along with needed repairs at the tennis courts and planned upgrades at Yantis Park, Freewater Park and Marie Dorian Park.

Interim City Manager Tim Johnson said he had sent a memo to the Parks and Recreation Committee and warned that pool staffing will be "tight" for the coming season, calling recruitment the most difficult to fill. Councilor Emily Holden asked whether pool leadership would return; Johnson said he is "in conversations." Sheila Hagar of the East Oregonian suggested local residents offer housing to attract college‑age lifeguards, saying, "I have a guest room that's ready to go." The council reached consensus to allow the Recreation Committee to change its standard meeting day to the third Tuesday so minutes can be incorporated into council materials.

The committee also reported that it has not yet heard from the Little League about this season's request and that the Park and Recreation Master Plan is due for review or update. The committee identified several operational recommendations for staff follow-up; the council did not take a formal vote beyond granting the schedule change by consensus.