The city of Cincinnati may soon have more control over its recreation facilities.
City Manager Sheryl Long wants to create a Department of Recreation, and take responsibility for hiring its director and executing its contracts.
That would strip the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, a five-member appointed board, of those tasks, leaving it with less power.
Long submitted the proposal for the Cincinnati City Council’s Budget, Finance and Governance Committee to take up June 15.
Council member Jeff Cramerding is likely to table the matter, he confirmed via text. “I feel that my colleagues and I have not had enough time to review (the proposal),” he said.
The committee is taking up the city’s next budget during the meeting.
New department would be more efficient, Long says
In a memo to the budget committee, Long said the change would “ensure efficient operation and execution of the city’s recreation programming and operations.”
“The goal is to provide better oversight and management support for CRC and its staff,” city spokesperson Mollie Lair said via email.
Lair said that current Recreation Director Daniel Betts would not be affected if City Council votes to create a Department of Recreation.
Betts did not respond to a request for comment.
If the committee considers and passes Long’s proposal, full City Council will consider it on June 17.
If tabled, it could be considered in future meetings.
Head of CRC board wants to combine with Parks
Leslie Mattie Rich, president of the Recreation Commission board since January, said her commitment to recreation would not change if Long’s proposal goes through.
A better proposal, she said, would be one that combines recreation with the city’s Parks Department.
“That feels like a better use of energy,” she said.
She plans to have that conversation with leaders at Parks, she said.
The Futures Commission, a city-appointed group that studied ways to cut city spending, suggested such a merger would provide “economies of scale.” The two city entities have “many duplicative services and functions,” the commission’s 2024 report said.
No public action has followed.
Commission board awaiting mayor appointee
Rich was appointed to the Cincinnati Recreation Commission board by Mayor Aftab Pureval in 2023. The mayor fills three of the five commission seats, with one coming from the Parks Commission board and one named by Cincinnati Public Schools.
In anticipation of Long’s proposal, the mayor’s office has declined to fill one of its seats since Rich replaced Pat O’Callaghan as president at the start of the year.
Long earlier signaled her plans for change, sending a staff member to speak at the January meeting of the commission board.
Under her proposal, the commission board would still be authorized to “expend resources” for recreation, but Long would control spending by executing contracts. Board members would still serve five-year terms.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati city manager seeks more control over recreation contracts
Reporting by Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
