Hi City Council,
Thank you for the opportunity to speak about the gymnastics program at this evening's council meeting. My kids grew up in Menlo Park Gymnastics and I believe the program represents the kind of community Menlo Park has been and should continue to be.
The City Manager raised an important point about not knowing how many of the previous staff members would be available to return to the program.
My daughter was a part-time gymnastics employee before she was laid off in the spring of 2020. At that time there were about 30 part-time employees. She is heading off to college in the fall but is still in contact with a number of her fellow PT coaches. She believes that many of them would be available and interested in returning to work at the gym.
Our family also knows the two FT employees who were laid off. We have seen them recently in Menlo Park, so they might be available. Two other longstanding FT gymnastics employees were not laid off but were shifted to other city positions. Although I have not spoken to either of them, I would be surprised if they did not want to return to their former positions as soon as the gym can reopen.
I know this information is purely speculative but thought it would be of interest as you consider how to approach the gymnastics program in the coming months.
Many thanks for the work you are doing to bring Menlo Park fully back online. You share a great responsibility and your effort is much appreciated by our family.
Kim Morris
Kim Morris
729 College Ave
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650.283.8323 (m)
