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1995/03/23 City Council MinutesRohnert Park City Council Cotati- Rohnert Park Unified School District Board Joint Meeting March 23, 1995 Minutes The City Council of the City of Rohnert Park and the Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District Board met this date in joint session at Mountain Shadows Restaurant, 100 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park, CA. Also in attendance were two Councilmembers and the City Manager from the City of Cotati. Call to Order Mayor Eck and Board Chairperson Victoria Vidak- Martinez jointly called the session to order at approximately 6:10 p.m. Roll Call Rohnert Park Councilmembers present: (5) Flores, Gallagher, Reilly, Spiro, and Mayor Eck. Cotati- Rohnert Park Unified School District Board Members present: (5) Butler, Kirchmann, Palladino -King, Steffensen, and Board President Vidak- Martinez. City of Cotati attendees: (3) Mayor Harold Berkemeier, Councilwoman Sandy Elles, and City Manager Bonnie Long. City staff present: City Manager Netter, Assistant City Manager Leivo, and Director of Public Works /City Engineer Brust. School District staff present: Dr. Walt Buster, Superintendent. Citizens present: Keith Hallock, Paul Stutrud, Nanci Spangler, Julie Wood, Helen and Daryl Dell, Dave Mochel, Jake MacKenzie, and two other citizens. Acknowledgment Mayor Eck acknowledged the City of agenda posting Manager /Clerk' s report on the posting of the meeting's agenda. 1 Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District March 239 19S A brief discussion was held regarding citi- zens /public comments and it was decided the public can make comments following each discussion by the City Council and School Board. Discussion items Annexation Proposal - There was a general discussion among the City Councilmembers and Annexation Board Members on u rc%eiiV an-LLexacion proposal by Condiotti Enterprises. Eric Kirchmann indicated he was in favor of ongoing funding sources and was not necessarily single - project oriented. He indicated that he as a Board Member, as well as the entire Board, is interested in alternative funding sources and encourages other proposals to be submitted for consideration which would include smaller projects or even donations from the citizen- ry. Vicky Vidak- Martinez discussed school funding and indicated she was not that familiar with City business or land use planning but did understand education and youths as well as school funding. She stated the School District is desperate and needs to be innovative in looking at new sources of revenues. The idea of some type of an endowment is intriguing and should not be totally ignored, but should be analyzed. Mayor Eck commented on the City's General Plan and its general principal and issues relating to the potential endowment. He also commented on Williamson Act issues, agricul- tural land issues, and the value of acreage that may or may not be donated or sold to the School District. He indicated that focus on a single development is a terrible mistake and subject to potential litigation which would elongate the process even further. Mayor Eck indicated there is some talk about the possibility of this project going to initiative on a future ballot and he indicat- ed they should just go for it. He commented that he also felt it would be a very diffi- cult campaign which would tear the community apart. There was general discussion on school financing and how the Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District receives such a low per student allotment. Board member Vicky Pa Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District March 23, 19 Vidak- Martinez indicated the School District receives $3100 per student as compared to the Santa Rosa School District receiving $3700 per student. She also indicated that 85% of the School District's budget is for salaries and benefits, with only 5% for administration. There was a general discussion on school financing and how the District got into this particular financial situation, which began as a result of the Proposition 13 formula for tax distribution. Harold Berkemeier, Mayor of the City of Cotati, discussed the potential project and was concerned about traffic problems on East Cotati Avenue. He wanted to make sure that if this project materialized, these impacts should be addressed. Mayor Eck commented that Cotati should go back and look at the impacts from the Hewlett Packard plant, which have never materialized; that the plant was proposed to have anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 employees but in reali- ty currently only has 1300 employees. He indicated that the impacts from that particu- lar project are much less than anticipated. He also indicated that if the City of Cotati would remember, the lights on East Cotati Avenue were paid by the City of Rohnert Park. Jake MacKenzie approached the City /School District Board and handed out a flyer that was distributed to elementary school child- ren. Mr. MacKenzie was visibly upset about this, supposedly, PTA flyer discussing the potential project. The School Board representatives indicated that it was not the flyer or meeting set up by the School District, but by the local PTA and that Mr. MacKenzie should contact PTA members with his concerns. Mr. MacKenzie continued to discuss the General Plan and how the progress would be much further along if the one proposal submitted in November 1991 hadn't messed up the whole process. Helen Dell addressed the City Council /School Board members and expressed concerns about the flyer and memo handed out to students. She continued to discuss her opinions on the proposal and processes. 3 Rohnerz Park City Council /Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District March 23, 199 Board member Kim Butler took offense to Helen Dell's comments as well as her letter recently written to The Community Voice bashing the Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District. She specifically was irri- tated that Mrs. Dell would make these com- ments without ever having attended a School Board meeting or having the courtesy to call any member with her concerns on any of the issues that she had written in her letter or commented on_ _ .. - --- -- ----11 .v + +1.11111cu LLUTA several Councilmembers and Board members regarding these issues and issues of person - alities and processes. Councilwoman Sandy Elles from the City of Cotati commented further on school financing and applauded the School Board for the recent workshop on when tough decisions had to be made regarding its budget. She indicated she had problems with the School District advocating for a general plan process and single project, but understood the School District's concerns. She was also concerned about the role of the PTA in this endeavor. Councilwoman Elles also indicated she had spoken to State representatives, Assemblywoman Kerry Mazzoni and Assemblywoman Valerie Brown, about a possible bill to equalize the ADA allotments to local school districts. Unfortunately, the only word she received back was to lobby to the Governor for a stronger educational budget which, because of State fiscal problems, would be very unlikely. There was continued discussion regarding this issue. Mrs. Nanci Spangler approached the City Council and School Board and voiced her opinion on the issues as well as her concerns about Jimmie Rogers talking to school students. Superintendent Walt Buster indicated that Mr. Rogers nor any other developer had not spoken to students, with the exception of Career Day when they spoke generally about a career path as a contractor or developer. School District School District Boundaries - There was Boundaries general discussion on school district boundaries and how they relate to city limit boundaries. City Manager Netter indicated that he was working with Dr. Walt Buster on looking at certain areas that may eventually be brought in to the School District by 4 Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District March 23, 1995 petition. In addition, there have been discussions with legislators regarding writing a bill that could assist in regulat- ing school district boundaries to conform with city boundaries as they change. Revenue Sources /Taxes Discussion continued about other sources of revenues, such as school parcel tax and sales tax. City Manager Netter and Superintendent Buster indicated that generally parcel taxes are difficult to get approved and it causes problems of a political nature. Library Library - Board member Vicky vidak- Martinez discussed future plans for a library and indicated it is the School District's top priority. She stated she would like to see a high quality learning center developed which would be available to the School District, City of Cotati, and the City of Rohnert Park. She indicated at one time she was in hopes of a Mountain Shadows Middle School joint project with the library system and the City, but because of funding problems it was dropped. She is hoping that sometime in the future these discussions could be reinstituted. There was continued discussion regarding the library system and the possibility of joining with Sonoma State University, especially after the School District relocates there. There may be a possibility of a cooperative program among all agencies. Councilmember Reilly indicated an interest in integration with the Sonoma State University library and the Information Highway and desires to see the agencies work together. Councilmember Elles indicated she would like to see more small sites kept open, especial- ly in keeping the library open in La Fiesta School. Wastewater Wastewater Irrigation - Mayor Eck updated the School Board members on this project, which wuld facilitate irrigation of Sonoma State University, Rancho Cotate High School, and other major landscaped areas throughout the city. Crossing Guards Crossing Guards - Superintendent Walt Buster ws in hopes the City would consider a joint program for assisting in payment of crossing guards as it had done a few years ago. Due 5 4 Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati- Rohnert Park Unified School District March 23, to budget constraints, the School District has taken over the costs of crossing guards over the last couple of years. Councilwoman Gallagher voiced her opinion that crossing guards should be the City's responsibility. Dr. Buster indicated he still feels it is a joint responsibility between the School District and the City and a shared approach should be developed. CrPPkCiHP Mi gAip z,.L,,.,.i c74,1- ... - „ =t. "l —Walri5 Iii Lronu or ureexsicle Middle School - Director of Public Works /City Engineer Ron Brust commented on the sidewalks in front of the new middle school and the extensions along Snyder Lane. He indicated that several citizens have called in regards to this matter and he has explained that sidewalks would not be completed on the east end of Snyder Lane until ISTEA funding and the bike path project was completed. La Fiesta Parking Lot Traffic at La Fiesta School parking lot - Traffic Director of Public Works /City Engineer Brust indicated there have been complaints about speeding through parking lots, especially at La Fiesta School. He indicated some parents were requesting speed bumps and stated this is a School District matter as they own and operate those parking lots. Councilmember Elles commented she felt speed bumps are the answer, which should also include selective enforcement. Director of Public Works /City Engineer Brust suggested a solution of closing off the entrance and exits of the parking lots during the beginning of school and ending of school in order to avoid parents driving through the parking lot. The question came up about permit parking along the homes adjacent to the school to allow for parents to drop their students off. The problem with this is that of Public Safety enforcement and tracking. Finally, it was concluded that the PTA should talk to neighbors across the street from La Fiesta School to see if a program can be worked out regarding this issue. Bicycle Plan City of Rohnert Park bicycle plan - Director Of Public Works /City Engineer Brust and Bicycle Committee Chairman Jake MacKenzie briefly discussed the bike plan. He commented on Creekside Middle School and bike helmets. R Rohnert Park City Council /Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District March 23, 1995 Adjournment There being no other items to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:40 p.m. � Cit y Manager/Clerk g ayor JDN:Ir 7 Appointment of Board of Education Trustee to June General Plan the June General Plan Committee - Mayor Eck Committee invited participation by the Cotati - Rohnert Park Unified School District and indicated they may be ex- officio members due to their dual role of being School Board members. Child I . D. Program Child I.D. Program - City Manager Netter reported on information regarding a Child I.D. Program. Lifetouch, Inc., which is a company now taking 90a of the photographs of students in the School District has approached the City for development of a Child I.D. system on CD Rom. It is hoped that the School District would be interested in participating in this program in order to develop a public safety child I.D. system that could be accessed from the Department of Public Safety and, hopefully, eventually the County's Criminal Justice System. Mr. Netter also indicated a proposal had been received from X- Imaging for an amount of $28,000. Some of the School Board members were concerned about confidentiality of information, on which City Manager Netter and Assistant City Manager Leivo commented. School Board members were interested in pursuing this matter further and Superintendent Walt Buster was the contact person designated for the School District. Other Matters Councilmember Linda Spiro commented on metal Metal Detectors detectors and security in the School District and would like to see these topics discussed at a future meeting. 2x2x2 Meetings Councilwoman Gallagher discussed the previous 2 x 2 x 2 meetings with the School District and City of Cotati and indicated some members dissatisfaction with the meetings and frequency and that she would like to see a different program developed. Flood Channel Mayor Eck discussed landscaping along the landscaping flood channel, especially on the north side of the high school, and would like to see the School District develop a landscaping program. Adjournment There being no other items to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:40 p.m. � Cit y Manager/Clerk g ayor JDN:Ir 7