[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6156264,"mediaKeyId","5471046-e5673e8905d76193d1f874fba5fc7da9","parentId",5471046,"title","Council discusses employee raises, recruitment and seasonal staffing shortages","audioSeconds",156,"startMs",3124000,"endMs",3280000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471046-e5673e8905d76193d1f874fba5fc7da9&start=3124&end=3280","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471046-e5673e8905d76193d1f874fba5fc7da9/thumbnail_3124000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6156264/Lawrence-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Council-discusses-employee-raises-recruitment-and-seasonal-staffing-shortages","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156264-1b6567c37ef61b55b66f7bc02eacf1c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011342&Signature=nEwTCIC~jb~c16WyXLzvQB0iVcaa2Iqu4WJRiHz1Z5OmT5TB6JMiPlKTmGhfNGgnYBzR5oTF~7ApQehumsAODlbtLGAlMP5tRhENh1zdIZhwstq4IYoTHngS4Y-76-9oWYVAK~SNbmESLuV30j0~nAwRvGztxBXDqTIKRb5UqxTWgmVVmFIY1~6YVKGavzBusidsw~fUDskswD30HV4j3f~qCfY~gRNBe1VPNuu3d6Ed5ogkqjX-L3-X1IxekJq4VVpu1LUzKQyvZL9idqppeK-Ngms3HOc-hVVPml4iVdCpAEelJlolWxfzMCNYG2Ml30ku1KwhvOTuw97OOwg9NA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lawrence Indiana","date","2025-05-21T00:00:00Z","article","City officials discussed employee raises, recruitment challenges and seasonal hiring as part of routine personnel and budget oversight.

The topic is significant for municipal operations because staff morale, recruiting and pay levels affect parks maintenance, public services and the city's ability to fill vacancies.

A staff member said the money for raises was included in the budget and noted the controller had accounted for a 3% increase; the meeting record showed the issue had reached a standstill and that staff planned to continue discussions with administration. “The money was put into the budget at the beginning… The controller had the money in for 3%,” the staff member said during the discussion.

Council and staff expressed concern about understaffing in some departments and about employee morale. Staff reported recent hires and upcoming seasonal onboarding: one part-time employee was moved to full-time, and several seasonal maintenance hires were starting over the next two weeks. A parks staff speaker said, “We moved one gentleman today… and then we've got a full complement of seasonal maintenance staff,” and that more seasonal hires were expected in the coming week.

Council members urged timely action to implement raises and to remain attentive to departments that are “grossly understaffed and greatly overworked,” comments that were recorded during the meeting. No formal personnel action or collective-bargaining outcome was taken at the session; the discussion closed with staff commitments to continue recruitment and to report back to the board.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lawrence City Parks Board Special Meeting 5.20.25","oneSentenceSummary","Council members and staff discussed proposed employee raises included in the mayor's budget, current recruitment efforts and the seasonal maintenance staffing plan; staff said money for raises is in the budget but negotiations remain unresolved.","taxTitle","Lawrence City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",60934,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6156268,"Parks board members assert authority as Cultural Campus master plan and use agreements discussed",356,2612000,2968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471046-e5673e8905d76193d1f874fba5fc7da9&start=2612&end=2968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471046-e5673e8905d76193d1f874fba5fc7da9/thumbnail_2612000.jpg","/articles/6156268/Lawrence-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Parks-board-members-assert-authority-as-Cultural-Campus-master-plan-and-use-agreements-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156268-54af87978e674d68baa88346680a6cfa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011342&Signature=OnFkiK2QnPH~sd13JbeRGbF8L8iJ~QK24yd4LjOy7YQEo5C74Ayz~2w-cF2zLBAeID-tib6K~NFMMKlSRQd0J0dAbYx8BgkxRuDfh~JYZieEY4AQn2J2NTaajLY-tWeNbjtLpYOytWoF2aVM5RmLfpwo94jlU0ErsUHbCV9dxX3BCgXs7ux6bdnUDj8JWT-gMNrVm6kCjgxbsLTOoFC3q-6xXjmyK-IFXLW3YG7nZUSONjUb9vYnA5Vs20e5nFUZDJxK9tk5iCUj3zPkWcrrISU-atBd3U9hMc6mAwkOqnMF2CmzN0oy3WNvLWQiGwUZckCQ4Rj8c3iMiqV-qKw4CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council and staff debated classification and decision-making authority for the Cultural Campus and an associated master plan, with parks board members asserting that the parks board must approve final plans for the site.

The discussion matters because the Cultural Campus contains multiple facilities and there are questions about which city body has authority to approve reuse or development elements, and because a master plan funded by an outside reuse authority is already underway.

Council Member Thomas asked whether the Cultural Campus “is considered a park location.” A staff member replied, “Cultural Campus is considered a park location. Yes.” Thomas and other board members repeatedly stressed that the parks board is the ultimate decision-maker for the site. “The bottom line is parks board, whoever's sitting on the parks board, it's the ultimate — we're the decider, period,” Thomas said, adding that board members expect to review any proposed uses.

Speakers said a steering committee will advise the consultant (named during the meeting as REA or the reuse authority) and that the reuse authority has paid to develop the master plan. Participants gave differing figures for the consultant cost: one speaker said roughly $95,000, another referenced $89,000 for three parts, and another said “closer to $70,000.” The transcript contained those inconsistent amounts; the city did not present a single confirmed contract value during the meeting.

Staff noted a virtual public meeting to review input from an open house, scheduled “on the third” from 3 to 4:30 (date not specified in the transcript) to review community engagement results. Speakers said that the steering committee would advise the consultant what to include in the plan and that the parks board expects to have final authority before any project elements are implemented. City officials warned that external funding or proposals would still need park-board approval and that Department of Interior/Defense deed restrictions could limit allowable uses depending on prior grant or conveyance terms for the property.

No formal vote or contract approval occurred at the meeting. Board members asked that staff and legal counsel keep the parks board informed and that the board receive the master-plan materials and any proposals affecting Cultural Campus in advance of decisions.

","Council and parks board members debated whether the Cultural Campus is a park, who decides what can be built there and who’s paying for the master plan; speakers said the parks board is the ultimate decider and noted the reuse authority is funding a master plan, but no final decisions were made.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6156273,"I9 Sports pitches youth flag-football, soccer and T-ball partnership with Lawrence City parks",1555,8000,1563000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5471046-e5673e8905d76193d1f874fba5fc7da9&start=8&end=1563","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5471046-e5673e8905d76193d1f874fba5fc7da9/thumbnail_8000.jpg","/articles/6156273/Lawrence-City/Marion-County/Indiana/I9-Sports-pitches-youth-flag-football-soccer-and-T-ball-partnership-with-Lawrence-City-parks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6156273-9ee4f3d829b038b4af844abecb8829af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011342&Signature=noa1hGsknY~JFYOpwVev9vggX30eGjXpOcMvNxPrIH6~MVUPuQtjXVBVXmlQdaPDLQDeItVcdHjwinK5mklPW9VkzkZ-KH8sNt1o8bbilLIMOrondQ9EWoBJnH7kTxo~PPsg172q-JxD0KTIFrp0VWLqZxvSvPu5APRbxBR658I738anuJqSvJX5ma3fmQSp4bKbbM1uzOj-2wGLxQ9FnBFuO7AlFc8ztyp3T8xlsutn175lS61SKrVGtSWYEcag462WqogtqwoM~a16mZ~4qQ603K0MH6dTodkJGbn4eVXYdVLUvjAyi-Zz2p6kEv6UgR9Z6k5W-fMq2Zav6CVNMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","I9 Sports franchise owners told Lawrence City officials they want to run weekend youth leagues in the city, offering flag football, soccer and T-ball and planning indoor basketball and volleyball as they expand.

The proposal matters because organizers say the program would provide paid coach support, background-checked staff, subsidized slots for low-income families and a franchise-level insurance policy that would list host facilities as additional insureds — items city staff said they will need to examine before any use agreement is signed.

Anna Finley, co-owner and presenter, said the franchise’s goal is “we want every kid to be able to play in whatever capacity that is,” and described program features intended to reduce cost and access barriers. She and Connor Purius, co-owner and Lawrence native, said the franchise runs short seasons (six-to-seven week sessions), uses paid staff to back up volunteer coaches, provides equipment and reversible jerseys, and requires background checks and abuse-prevention training for all coaches. Finley said the organization carries a $2,000,000 insurance policy and lists venue partners as additional insured.

Organizers reported enrollment and pricing details from a recent first season run in Fishers: 261 total participants across flag football, soccer and T-ball, with 85 registrants from the Lawrence area. They said regular-season registration is $154 (the presenters also said the franchisewide average fee runs about $148 after early-registration discounts and promos), and that they use promo codes and early-bird discounts to reduce costs. Finley described a local partnership with the nonprofit Every Kid Plays that can provide an estimated $150 gift-card subsidy per child per season; she said the program reduces a family’s out-of-pocket fee to roughly $147 after processing fees when Every Kid Plays assistance is used.

On program design, Connor Purius emphasized sportsmanship values, weekly sportsmanship awards and coach support. “We actually have paid staff. So they support all of our coaches…If a coach doesn't show up, our paid staff will step in and actually be the coach for the day,” he said. The presenters described age-grouping by registration numbers (examples: pee wee 3–4, 5–6, 7–9, etc.), flexibility to move children between teams midseason for competitive balance, and a multi-sport option that rotates exposure to T-ball, flag football and soccer for very young children.

City officials and staff asked logistical questions about venues, insurance and contracts. Presenters said their outdoor site in Fishers operates under a per-season site fee paid to the site owner (Trinity Church), while they pay hourly rates at an indoor basketball venue (Playschool at Arbor Village). They said venues are listed as additional insured under their policy and that the franchise pays per-child insurance as part of registration.

Council member Thomas and staff discussed next steps: city staff (Jamie and others named during the meeting) and I9 representatives agreed to pursue a field-use agreement and to bring an item for board review; presenters urged acting quickly so marketing and registration can ramp up before fall. No formal vote or contract was taken during the meeting.

Supporters framed the franchise as an option for families who prefer one-day-a-week commitments and for parents who may not want travel-team obligations. Presenters said they partner with local nonprofits, encourage volunteer coach recruitment (about three-quarters of coaches come from parents), provide practice plans and an app for coach resources, and will supply most equipment (parents only need shin guards, mouth guards for flag football and gloves for T-ball).

City staff will review the insurance certificates, venue agreements and a draft use agreement before any authorization; presenters said they would be open to an early July timeline for a signed use agreement and recommended presenting a draft to the board at its June meeting. The city took no formal action at the session; staff and I9 representatives were asked to return with a draft use agreement and supporting documents.

If a use agreement is negotiated, organizers said they would aim to market locally and to coordinate with city outreach about scholarship/assistance options. For now the matter remains at the discussion-and-negotiation stage.

","Franchise owners from I9 Sports briefed Lawrence officials on a proposal to run weekend youth leagues in Lawrence, describing program structure, pricing, inclusivity supports and next steps toward a facility use agreement; no formal contract was approved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council discusses employee raises, recruitment and seasonal staffing shortages

Parks board members assert authority as Cultural Campus master plan and use agreements discussed

I9 Sports pitches youth flag-football, soccer and T-ball partnership with Lawrence City parks