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<p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Begin forwarded message:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">As you’re aware, the City of Maplewood has decided not to reopen our Nature Center due to COVID-19 and 2021 budget concerns. All in-person programming was stopped in March 2020 due to the pandemic for the foreseeable future. At their meeting on June 22, 2020, the City Council determined that they would like to engage Maplewood residents and regional partners to find a more sustainable model for reopening the Nature Center and its programming. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">To accomplish this, Maplewood City Council has voted to convene a task force consisting of residents and partners from education, local government, the community and people with a general interest in environmental education and natural resources protection, including current Friends of Maplewood Nature members and staff.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Among the task force’s goals will be to review existing programming, services, and operating budgets, review possible programming alternatives, and identify possible funding partners to help pay for amenities with a regional focus and/or draw. Another goal includes ensuring future programing is culturally relevant to the diverse members of the east metro community. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The task force will meet regularly at a time and interval decided by its members. Meetings are expected to last up to 2.5 hours. Maplewood City Council is requesting that the task force present its findings and recommendations by December 2020. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If you are interested in applying for the Task Force please follow the link to the application form. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.Maplewoodmn.gov/taskforce">www.Maplewoodmn.gov/taskforce</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Applications are due by Thursday, August 13, 2020. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Thank you, <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Michael Sable<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Assistant City Manager | HR Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">City of Maplewood<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1830 East County Road B<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Maplewood, MN 55109<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="tel:651-249-2053">651-249-2053</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div><o:p><br></o:p></div>
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