1993/03/30 City Council MinutesCall to Order
Rohnert Park City Council
and
Cotati- Rohnert Park Unified School District
Joint Meeting Minutes
March 30, 1993
The Council of the City of Rohnert Park met this date in
joint session with members of the Cotati - Rohnert Park
Unified School District Board at the Mountain Shadows
Resort Restaurant located at 100 Golf Course Drive,
Rohnert Park, California, with Councilmember David Eck
presiding for the City and President Lef Brown presiding
for the School Board.
President Brown and Councilmember Eck called the joint
session to order at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Eck, Gallagher, and Spiro
Absent: Mayor Hollingsworth and Vice Mayor Reilly
(out of town on business & conflict of meeting
time)
Board Members present: Palladino King, Kirchmann,
Butler, Vidak, and Brown
City staff present: City Manager Netter, Director of
Public Works /City Engineer Brust,
Planning Director Skanchy, Asst.
to the City Manager Leivo, and
Youth & Family Services Manager
Jim Park
District staff present: Supt. Walt Buster, Business
Agent Jim Hickenbottom, and
Assoc. Supt. Jan Heffron
Others present: Ed Brauner, Assistant City Manager,
City of Santa Rosa; Bob Brownne,
Community Voice newspaper
There was a brief welcome from President Brown and
Councilmember Eck.
The agenda began with a presentation on the long term
wastewater project by special guest, Santa Rosa Assistant
City Manager Ed Brauner. Mr. Brauner reported on
progress being made by the City of Santa Rosa and the
Santa Rosa Utilities Department and the Santa Rosa
Subregional Wastewater representatives in choosing the
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Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District
Joint Meeting - March 30, 1993
long term wastewater project. He indicated that the
latest proposals included looking at both the West
County and the South County with reclamation being the
highest priorities. He indicated that an extensive
public participation process is being used that will
receive input from just about anyone who wants to give
input on this matter. He also indicated that one goal
was to have the discharge into the river increased from
1% to 5% and that the long term wastewater project could
run in the neighborhood of from $160 million to $190
million. This would represent a 25% to 30% rate increase
to the System's users.
Discussion followed from City representatives and School
District representatives, after which they thanked Mr.
Brauner for his presentation.
Councilmember Eck indicated that the purpose of this
meeting is to discuss matters of mutual concern and to
facilitate the best possible communication between the
Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District Board and
the City Council. He indicated that one reason for Mr.
Brauner's presentation was the interest of bringing the
reclaimed water through a pipeline that would irrigate
the municipal golf courses, parks, athletic fields at
Sonoma State University, and some local school turfed
areas. Mr. Eck indicated that, as stated by Mr.
Brauner, the scope of the reclamation project in the
Rohnert Park area would include the golf courses, parks,
Sonoma State University, and the local School District
turfed areas.
Discussion continued on the reclamation system with the
School District representatives concluding that when
this project becomes closer to implementation, similar
meetings such as this should be held with
representatives of the School District as well as
parents to inform them that the reclaimed water does not
present any health hazards to the children.
A wide ranging discussion was held on a variety of
topics including annexation and boundary matters which
included the School District's difficulty in convincing
the Santa Rosa District to release a certain area east
of Snyder Lane to the Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School
District. The School District representatives indicated
they would like to see the City hold off on any
annexation proposals until the School District
boundaries are changed. City Manager Netter indicated
that this may have to be done through a legislative
process as the Santa Rosa School District seems to be
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Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District
Joint Meeting - March 30, 1993
adamant in not allowing any additional expansion of the
Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District into the
eastern area of Rohnert Park. The School District
representatives discussed inter - district transfers of
children, but said it wasn't fair that one district
receive all the development fees while the other
district must house the students.
Other discussion continued regarding the development
fees which were recently increased by $1.00 per square
foot, refuse collection, and what is meant by a
Chartered School in Rohnert Park.
City Manager Netter reported on the City's 1993 -94
budget update, and Dr. Buster reported on the Cotati
Middle School lottery system which was recently
implemented. He indicated that the lottery system would
only be for a one year period as the new school site off
of Snyder Lane would create another middle school which
would alleviate some of the problems.
Mr. Netter reported on the Sonoma County Sheriff's
Department graffiti removal program, passed out a flyer,
and encouraged the School District representatives to
use this service when they see graffiti on School
District property.
Mr. Jim Park, Manager of Youth & Family Services, gave a
presentation on gang prevention and intervention. A
complete outline was distributed to the School District
and City representatives. Mr. Park briefly outlined all
of the programs offered by the City of Rohnert Park
including joint efforts on gang prevention with the
School District.
Superintendent Walt Buster briefly outlined the School
District's project updates which included "M" School,
scheduled to be finished in September, and the middle
school, which should begin sometime this building
season.
The City and
institution of
Coordination Coi
would set up
communicate with
and time.
School District agreed to the re-
the School District Communications
nmittee with Dr. Buster indicating he
a meeting in the near future and
City Manager Netter regarding the date
Director of Public Works /City Engineer Ron Brust
reported on the bicycle committee and indicated that the
committee was recommending bike lanes for Snyder Lane as
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Rohnert Park City Council / Cotati- Rohnert Park Unified School District
Joint Meeting - March 30, 1993
its highest priority and Commerce Boulevard as its
second highest priority.
There was general discussion among the Council and
District representatives on the City's bicycle path
program and how it relates to the schools in Rohnert
Park.
City Manager Netter reported on the Disaster Plan and
showed the entire Disaster Plan binder which is
approximately four inches thick. He distributed a two-
page summary of Rohnert Park's Disaster Plan. Board
member Eric Kirchmann indicated that better
communication needs to be developed between the City and
the School District regarding this Disaster Plan and
suggested this item could be a topic for the School
District /City Communications Committee.
Councilmember Eck reported on the litter problems at
Rancho Cotate High School, especially along the north
and south sides of the bike paths. He indicated that a
program should be developed that would have the students
clean up the litter along these areas.
There was a general discussion on the refuse collection
with the School District and their contract with
Industrial Carting. City Manager Netter indicated that
the parking lots were being swept by Empire Waste
Management and that they would most likely be
terminating that service. Mr. Netter indicated that he
had a ballpark figure on what it would cost to provide
sweeping services to all of the School District sites,
which comes to approximately $500 to $600 per month.
Dr. Buster indicated he would discuss this matter
further with the City Manager so he could report it to
the Board and City Council at a future date.
There was some discussion on future growth and the cost
of providing new schools to new students. Councilwoman
Gallagher said more time and research should be done on
the relationship of growth and the cost of providing
educational facilities and programs.
City Manager Netter and Director of Public Works Brust
reported on a stop sign request at Mattice and Mitchell.
Mr. Brust indicated he was recommending that a portable
stop sign be installed that would be put out in the
mornings and afternoons and then removed during the
evening hours. There was general discussion on the
success of this type of operation. The City Manager
also discussed the traffic control persons and indicated
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Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati- Rohnert Park Unified School District
Joint Meeting - March 30, 1993
that Jim Simon used to handle traffic control at Hahn
School. He was allowed to wear a uniform as a Police
Services Aide, but there were complaints and requests to
have similar personnel at the other schools. Because of
the complaints, Mr. Simon was requested to not wear his
uniform until this matter was resolved. Dr. Buster
indicated he would meet with City Manager Netter to see
if a joint program can be developed where the School
District could maybe take on some of the liability
of potential workers comp claims in the event these
individuals were injured. Mr. Netter indicated that the
program would seem to be a good program, but the City is
not in the position to take on all the exposure of
potential injuries of these traffic control individuals.
Once a uniform is worn and authorized by the City, then
the City would incur that liability and workers comp
exposure.
Councilmember Eck brought up Traffic Systems Management
(TSM) program and indicated he would like to see the
School District possibly stagger lunch hours to assist
in the traffic problems along Snyder Lane at certain
times of the day. There was general discussion
regarding this matter.
City Manager Netter indicated that again the City's
budget is extremely tight with approximately an $1.8
million deficit. He indicated that the crossing guards
program in which the City contributed $7,000 last year,
and the truancy program in which the City contributed
$6,000 last year, and that the Council would be looking
at these two programs during its upcoming budget work
sessions to be held in early May.
Other matters for discussion included the City Hall
site /School District offices, whereby the City would
offer City land for the School District offices and
warehouse building. City Engineer Brust pointed out the
site and indicated there would be a possibility of
accommodating a warehouse /office building that could be
phased with other public facilities. Councilmember
Linda Spiro discussed an idea of building the School
District's offices /new library building as its first
phase. She indicated that this may be a good project
and maybe saleable to the local community because of the
extreme need for expansion of the Rohnert Park Library.
Supt. Walt Buster indicated that the School Dsitrict is
out for proposals on the warehouse with date of
submittal of proposals to the School District by May 1,
1993. He indicated that if the City is interested in
developing a proposal it should be submitted by this
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Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District
Joint Meeting ® March 30, 1993
Adjournment:
time period. City Manager Netter indicated he would sit
down with Director of Public Works Brust and attempt to
see if a proposal could be structured that would meet
the needs of the School District and the City.
The joint session was adjourned by President Lef Brown and
Councilmember David Eck at approximately 9:15 p.m.
I',-- , �— L-Ic �-
Acting Mayor
David Eck
-iA-' � i I NI &/-�
City Manager /Clerk
JDN: I
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