Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutJANUARY 20,1999 I I I ....-.-..:.'... OliO u , t) ~/.:)O 1 ' 41 :0026 tell: I CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE AUDIO AND VIDEO TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA and the ARCADIA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCAITON JOINT MEETING JANUARY 20,1999 The Arcadia City Council and the Arcadia Board of Education met in a joint session on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 at 5:00 p.m. in the Arcadia Unified School District Board Room, 234 Campus Drive. PLEDGE OF Maryann Gibson. President. Board of Education ALLEGIANCE ROLL CAlL: President Gibson, by observation, declared that all the members of the Board of Education were present: Dougherty, McClain, Romo, Steinmeier and Gibson; and, with the exception of Council member Roncelli, Councilmembers Chandler, Harbicht, Marshall and Kovacic were present also. It was MOVED by Mayor Pro tem Chandler, seconded by Councilmember Marshall and CARRIED to EXCUSE the absence of Councilmember Roncelli. 1. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS None. 2. QUESTIONS FROM CITY COUNCIL OR BOARD OF EDUCATION REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS None. 3. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION No one spoke. t 4. MA TIERS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS KOVACIC (Joint Mtgs. CC & Bd. of Education) 5. (J I'::> 0 -, r; - YOUTH MASTER Consideration of the report presented by the Youth Master Plan Middle School PLAN Committee. Gail Jensen. Chairperson of the Youth Master Plan Steering Committee. presented the origins of the Youth Master Plan which began in response to programs requested by school parents which were not available to students at their respective campus' after school, and on weekends, The Committee has been striving to address these concems since 1995, Mayor Kovacic noted the City Council is very happy to be meeting with the Board of Education... the Council believes that these joint meetings are extremely important. ~ .: 1 1/20/99 ....... .....,.:.:.... ........-. ............:.:........ ..'. .... - .... 41:0027 Mrs, Jensen explained the survey circulated by the Committee to discover the programs most desired by students at the middle school level. And, a national "Search Survey' I which was administered in the high school. Presentations were made to a majority of the Arcadia service clubs for their support also. In 1997 the Committee presented the Youth Master Plan report to the City Council and the School Board. At that time the Board of Education committed $25.000 to be used when the Youth Master Plan was implemented, The City Council made a commitment in support of the Plan. however, the City did not commit funding at that time, The Youth Master Plan. Middle School Committee, Co-chair, Kathy Kimball, presented in detail a report of the results of the 'Critical Hours Youth Survey' circulated in the district's three middle schools, which indicated that students are very interested in after school recreational and sports programs. Mrs. Kimball commented some such programs are currently in place at the middle schools, however, these programs are not available to all grade levels, The proposed after-school programs are intended as an opportunity for students to have positive recreational and classroom activities. Mrs, Kimball noted it is the hope of the Committee that the City will co-fund a half-time administrator to coordinate the programs requested by the students at all three middle schools; and fund part-time leaders as needed to lead sports, recreation programs and homework labs. As noted, the Arcadia Unified School District has seta side $25.000 for the Youth Master Plan programs. In addition, the School District would provide the facilities for the proposed programs. . The Committee recommended that during the initial first year. the programs would be provided on a non-fee basis, After the" program has been established a portion of these expenses would be recouped through registration and other fees. To ensure that no I student would be denied access to the program, a scholarship fund would be established. The Committee also expects that fee-based classes might be offered through the Arcadia Educational Foundation (AEF). At the conclusion of the presentation Mrs. Kimball stated. in part. the Committee recommends that the City of Arcadia and the School District implement the first phase of the Youth Master Plan program by sponsoring a comprehensive after school program for students attending Arcadia's middle schools. The program to be administered by a 'Coordinator of Youth Programs", which includes three components: Intramural sports, other recreational activities, and homework labs. The program will be offered three aftemoons a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. at the three Arcadia middle school campus', The Committee requests funds in the amount of $25.000 to implement the program this fiscal year; $12,500 from the School District and $12,500 from the City. The requested funding would provide programs through the end of the current school year. Mrs, Kimball noted the.intention of the Committee is to complement the current after school programs with scheduled activities at all three middle schools, Considerable discussion ensued. it was noted that each middle school currently allocates $15,000 per year for after school and lunch time activities for which a portion is used for clubs and sport activities. In reference to the requested $12.500 each from the City and the School District, it was noted, these funds would be for the initial start-up of a pilot program. School Board Member Romo. expressed concern about putting the requested programs in place at this time. Realistically, part of the program would be interviewing and selecting activity leaders and a coordinator to manage the program,.. how quickly could all this be done? Further. Califomia law has changed as to who can be hired to deal with students on school campus', Mr. Romo mentioned specific procedures which take a I 2 1/20/99 41:0028 I certain amount of time to complete. He also questioned if the leaders would be college students or senior citizens. Mrs, Kimball described the Committees concept of such leaders in the start-up program. The discussion tumed to funding the program after the initial start-up, The Committee will request $50,000 divided between the School District and the City for FY 1999-2000, The half-time Coordinator of Youth Programs will be paid from this budget. These monies will also fund part-time leaders, as needed. There will be no fees charged to students this current year; there could be some fee based activities as the program develops; the Committee hopes to have scholarships available, as needed. Mayor Pro tem Chandler noted in reference to the request for funds. there are other interests for allocation of City funds, such as safety personnel and code enforcement. School Board President Gibson stated in part, that this is a good time to get the program up and started as a pilot program from January to June this year. However, to not extend the program to a full year is not a "full-test call'. After the program is evaluated and deemed to be moderately successful modest fees could be charged, Mayor Kovacic noted, although the Library was very successful, due to budget constraints the Council closed it on Fridays, The question is... does the School Board and City Council want to start middle school programs now or delay for a time, . I Councilmember Marshall noted the City has provided senior citizen activities, $12,500 is a conservative amount to began programs for the youth of the City., School Board Member Romo stated in part. that although there are a lot of unanswered questions, the District should do what is needed to start the process and move forward with the program... it would benefit the community and the youth of the City. Dr. Towner, Superintendent of the AUSD, noted the District has setaside $25.000 to start up the program. The issue is the shared cost. " Councilmember Harbicht commented the idea of providing an after school program is a terrific idea. However, unfortunately, he is not able to just take a look at one special interest and make a decision without considering the interests of other citizens, who are concemed about budget reductions which resulted in fewer fire fighters and police personnel, also code enforcement personnel, Further. Wildemess Park was closed during the week because of budget constraints. The Council needs to reopen this wonderful facility and he is committed to doing this. He is also committed to having the highest level of police and fire safety for the community; and getting the streets swept every week, Councilmember Harbicht commented the appropriate time to consider this request for funds for the Youth Master Plan program is when Council considers the City budget... when all the other items are considered for fund allocation. His job is to do the best he can for the entire community, While he has a great deal of sympathy for what the Committee is trying to do for the youth of the community... and it is a great idea, he is not prepared to make an allocation of funds at this time. " I School Board Member Steinmeier stated, in part, there is an inequity between senior citizen's programs and youth programs in the City, She supports the efforts of the Committee to have an outstanding youth program. The decision to begin a pilot program is up to the City Council... the School District has funds setaside for its share of the program, 3 1/20/99 . ......... ._":..0-_', 6. DEVELOPMENT SANTA ANITA PARK UPDATE tJ')/.'.5:,-9 41 :0029 Mayor Kovacic agreed with Councilmember Harbicht regarding budget allocations, however, he would favor placing the request for funding the program on an agenda if the I votes were available this evening, Consideration of the Committees after school pilot program will have to be deferred to another date for discussion when all of the council is present. School Board Member Dougherty expressed similar concerns as her colleagues in that, she wondered if the Committee had requested enough funds to begin the program. This. because of all the instructors that would be needed. Further, would there be enough revenue raised to support the classes if the Committee eventually had fee-based classes. Mrs. Dougherty expressed her support of the programs as presented by the Committee in its effort to provide positive after school aC!ivities for the students. President Gibson thanked all of the Committee members for their presentation this evening and the time they have given to the Youth Master Plan, Mrs, Gibson noted that while the School Board is committed to the Youth Master Plan, their charge is education and their funds have to be primarily allocated to this purpose. The City Manager commented that he and Superintendent Towner would meet and talk about budgets for FY 1999-2000. City Manager Kelly presented an update on the potential development at Santa Anita Park (race track and parking lot site). Mr. Kelly noted Mr. Frank Stronach, the new owner of the site. has not submilled a specific plan for development. Mr. Stronach is exploring different commercial and entertainment type activities. The project is still in conceptual form. Mr. Stronach has mentioned the possibility of rebuilding the stables and barnes at another location on the site; housing at the north side of the parking lot; a hotel; and a variety of retail shops. Referencing the possibility of residential development, it was noted this would have ramifications for the School District. Speaking to the issue of zoning, the City Manager noted the majority of the property is currently zoned S-1 for horse racing. The perimeters of the site. north. east and south, are zoned R-1 residential. The site is zoned for horse racing and commercial in the City's General Plan which allows some flexibility, The City has a process to go through to bring the site zoning into compliance with the General Plan. School Superintendent Towner noted the School District would be extremely concerned if residential would be developed on this site. This in reference to the student enrollment at the high school, in particular, which is nearly at maximum at the present time. If residential development at the race track is proposed the School District would have to do some serious projections to accommodate the increase in students. Councilmember Harbicht noted the development plan is very fluid at this time. Council could keep the School District infonned of the progress of the development plan.. Mayor Kovacic advised the City will keep the District apprised of the numerous public hearings. which will occur within the process of approval of a development plan. Mr. Tom Austin. Vice-President of the Los Angeles Turf Club, confinned the development plan is still very much in flux at this time, 7. CIVIC CTR. By consensus of the City Council and the Board of Education. this item will be carried MODIFICATIONS over to the next joint City Council/School Board meeting. & NEW POLICE FACILITY -. --. ..". '. .. 4 1/20/99 I : '. '. " " , , " " t I;: ,'. , , , .' .. I .' , I I I ADJOURNMENT (Feb, 2, 1999) ATTEST: 41:0030 At 7:00 p.m. the Joint Meeting of the City Council and the Arcadia Unified School Distirct Board of Education ADJOURNED; the City Council to Tuesday February 2. 1999 at 6:00 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Council Chambers for a Regular Meeting to conduct the business of the City Council and Redevelopment Agency and any Closed Session necessary to discuss personnel, litigation matters or evaluation of properties, G 5 --4, , c, Mayor of the City of Arcadia 1/20/99 .. ."' .-........... ..:.