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SR 05-23-2002TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM Mayor and City Council Pat Klaers, City Administrator May 23, 2002 Joint Meeting with the School Board The Elk River School Board has invited the City Council to join them at their May 23, 2002 regular meeting for a joint session to discuss issues of mutual concern. The School Board will adjourn from its regular meeting and meet with the City Council for a worksession in the Training Room at 7:30 p.m. Accordingly, it is appropriate for the School Board to take the lead in this joint meeting and most of the topics in the agenda have come from discussions at School Board meetings. Police Liaison Program Chief of Police Tom Zerwas will be at this meeting to update everyone on the Project Alert program. This program replaced DARE. The city has two police officers that teach Project Alert. These two officers work in all the Elk River schools but mainly spend their time in the two junior highs and the senior high. Attached for your information is a memo from the Chief of Police regarding the Project Alert program. Also, attached is the School Liaison Funding Agreement between the school and city. To date, no changes have taken place. e Facility Use The City Council Chambers will be under reconstruction from about May 2003 through April 2004. Accordingly, both the City Council and the School Board are going to have to fred a different location to hold their meetings. The city will likely use a combination of the Lions Park Center facility and the Little Theater. Regarding the school's use of the Council Chambers, the city would like to know the long-term plans of the school district. By this I mean, is the school going to use our facility for the foreseeable furore or are they planning to develop their own cable ready meeting room? If use of the Council Chambers is to continue, then the city Se e Se will have to look at its fee structure due to the wear and tear on our facility because of the large crowds that attend the School Board meetings. Also, there may be a time when a building supervisor fee will be necessary, much like what the school charges. Additionally, in the last year there have been a number of concerns raised regarding the large crowds that attend some of the School Board meetings. Issues related to parking on the streets and on the grass and the overflow crowd in the Council room exceeding the frre safety standards are among the concerns that have been brought to our attention and which need to be addressed. If possible, when a large crowd is anticipated it would be appropriate for the School Board to hold its meetings at a location other than city hall. Safety Concerns With cutbacks in the school busing program, the safety of children walking to school has been highhghted. It should be noted that currently the city typically requires sidewalks on through streets on one side of the street in all new subdivisions. Additionally, the City Council and County Board recently discussed crosswalks on county roads and using crossing guards to assist in having children safely cross County Road 77 by Salk Junior High. The School Board concerns regarding pathways or sidewalks along county roads need to be brought to the county. (However, it is likely that the county in turn will pass the issue back to the city for either funding and/or additional right-of-way.) Building/Development Projects I beheve the school district is most interested in the activity is taking place in east Elk River, although there are a few additional residential developments that are scheduled around Meadowvale School. Regarding east Elk River, single family homes will continue to be built along with townhomes for the foreseeable furore. The Comprehensive Plan will guide anyexpansion of the Urban Service District. Nonetheless, there is currently a significant amount of property in the Urban Service District in east Elk River that can develop residentially and if rezoned to townhomes can develop at a higher density than currently projected. Whether or not the total number is 1,000 homes, 800 homes, or 1,500 homes depends on the type of plats the City Council approves and whether or not the City Council approves any rezonmg to higher density. (See attached 1998 projection.) Nonetheless, based on the past history of building in Elk River (see attached page from the 2001 Building and Zoning Annual Report) everyone can expect about 250 ne~v living units to be constructed each year for the next five plus years with a majority of these being in eastern Elk River. Mutually Beneficial Partnerships This is a School Board agenda item and I'm not sure how the discussion will proceed. Nonetheless, I understand that recently the Arts Alliance made a request to the School Board to use Handke School for activities. Attached is a recently approved School Board resolution, which endorses a partnership with the Arts Alliance. e e e I'm not sure what is being requested under this agenda topic but ultimately I think we can expect a financial request from either the school or the Arts Alliance. This financial request xvill either be to assist in the ongoing operating expenses and/or part of the capital expenses to renovate the school into an arts or community facility. School Dedication Fees This is also a School Board issue. By law the city cannot charge school dedication fees. Special legislation and a new law would be necessary in order for this to take place. The city is supportive of this type of fee but at this time cannot legally collect a fee for schools. YMCA Update It is appropriate for the Mayor to update everyone on the status of the YMCA pro}ect in Elk River. City Recreation This issue relates to the youth association's use of school facilities and the role of city recreation with this situation. Previously with community recreation, this organization scheduled and arranged for maintenance of all city and school fields within the school district. Since this organization has disbanded city recreation has taken over this identical role and responsibility within the Elk River city limits. It seems more appropriate for the city to schedule and maintain only its facilities (Oak I~noll, YAC, and the softball complex) and then have the school (community education) schedule and maintain their own facilities. The school currently does the scheduling of school facilities outside of Elk River so this would not be an additional responsibility. Collecting fees from the youth associations and arranging for school maintenance of school facilities would be new but was done by the school prior to community recreation being established in 1992. The city does not want to get into the situation ~vhere it would maintain, groom, and line fields when it does not collect the fee and schedule/coordinate the facilities, as the city would be losing some control over its maintenance commitments and communication becomes much more difficult when it is a three party situation. Additionally, by no longer maintaining school facilities the city street/park department would have more time to get to some of the routine maintenance work that seems to get neglected occasionally because of the work load and also to schedule some special park projects that have been on the Park and Recreation Commission's work list for a while. If the school can schedule and maintain their facilities, this would be a welcome change for the city. (See attached sheet listing the fields in Elk River.) River Police Department MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: DATE: Thomas D. Zerwas, Chief of Police May 16, 2002 SUBJECT: Juvenile Liaison Officers I would like to update the city council and the school board on the status of our liaison program. We currently have two (2) officers that provide the liaison services for the senior high, Ivan Sand School, two (2) junior highs, four (4) elementary schools, and two (2) parochial schools in the City, of Elk River. At times, this is quite a stretch for two (2) liaison officers to handle. Ivan Sand and the Focus Day Treatment Program could almost have a liaison officer that works these two (2) schools exclusively. I know finances, as such, are presently not feasible. I would like all members to keep this in mind for better times hopefully to come. This was our first year for Project Alert. As you all are aware, we jointly decided to discontinue D.A.R.E. until studies are completed as to its effectiveness. Project Alert was conducted at Handke and Meadowvale Elementary Schools; and, Parker is attempting to complete Project Alert before the end of the school year. As for Lincoln Elementary because of scheduling conflicts with the school teaching staff, we were unable to have Project Alert implemented there for this school year. The liaison officers are covering three (3) lessons out of a total of eleven (1 I) lessons for all sixth grade students. The lessons covered are Consequences of Smoking Marijuana and Tobacco, Drinking Consequences and Alternatives, and Inhalant Abuse. Both liaison officers are pleased with the content of their lessons. Hopefully Project Alert is proven effective down the road in our school district. Lastly, our liaison officers enjoy a great working relationship with all of the school administrators. We hope to see this program continue and grow. If you have any further questions or comments, give me a call. TDZ/kma Independent School District ADMINISTRATION OFFICES 327 King Avenue DAVID M. FLANNERY Elk River, MN 55330 Superintendent of Schools (612) 241-3400 Fax (612) 241-3407 May 26, 1999 Letter of Understanding between the City of Elk River and the Elk River Area School District For the five year period beginning January 1, 2000 and ending December 31, 2004, the Elk River Police Department will provide two full-time liaison officers for service in the Elk River secondary schools. These schools include Salk, VandenBerg, Ivan Sand and the High School. In return for this service, the School District agrees to commit annually a percentage of the existing crime levy, currently $1.50 per capita, that equals the percentage of the secondary students attending school in Elk River. Using this formula for the year 2000, the School District commitment is $43,000. If the crime levy is increased beyond $2.00 per capita or if the secondary enrollment in Elk River changes by more than 20%, both parties agree to sit down to renegotiate the particulars of this understanding. City of Elk River r , Chair Elk River Area School Board Date ~-~ 'JL/~q~ - Bill Summary H. F. 705 Page 1 of 1 Minnesota House of Representatives House Research Bill Summary FILE NUMBER: H. F. 705 Version: As introduced DATE: March 24, 1999 STATUS: K- 12 Education Finance Committee Authors: Juhnke and others Subject: Increasing the crime levy for school districts Analyst: Tim Strom, 651-296-1886 IThis document be made available in alternative formats can lupon request. Please call (651) 296-6753 [voice]; or the [Minnesota State Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529 [TTY] for II Iassistance' Overview School districts may only levy the amounts authorized by statute. Since 1991, school districts have had authority to levy for certain crime prevention Programs. House File 705 increases the levy authority from $1.50 per capita to $2.50 per capita. Section 1 Crime levy. Increases school district levy authority for certain crime prevention programs from $1.50 per capita to $2.50 per capita. httv://www.house.!~g.~.[3~.e.mn.us/perl/billsum.pl?fname=H~FO705&session=81 8/28/00 COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL/INSTITUTIONAL VALUATIONS $50,000,000 $45,000,000 $40,000,000 $35,000,000 $30,000,000 $25,000,000 $20,000,000 $15,000,000 $10,000,000 $5,000,000 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 1991-2001 TOTAL RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNITS BUILT 1991-2001 250' 200- 150- 100- 50- · SINGLE FAMILY · MULTI-FAMILY 0 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 ~ 08 a RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE FAMILY ARTS CENTER WHEREAS, the mission of lSD #728 states "As an important community partner"; and WHEREAS, lSD #728 Community Education and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) are located at Handke Elementary; and WHEREAS, the proposed partnership for the Family Art Center includes the Elk River Area Arts Association (ERAAA), ISD #728 and the City of Elk River; and WHEREAS, community parmers mutually benefit by sharing resources and collaborating in the use of facilities; and WHEREAS, healthy communities of the future will require space for inter- generational activities; and WHEREAS, retired school facilities can continue to provide benefit for the community; and WHEREAS, lSD #728 plans to retire Handke as an educational space upon passage of levies to support existing educational programming and upon passage of future bonds and levies to support two additional elementary schools. WHEREAS, Handke is well suited to be a community facility when no longer needed as an elementary school by ISD #728; and WHEREAS, community gathering space was the number one priority in a 2002 Elk River Town Meeting and the 2001 Community Conference, and as a priority finding by Operation ER; and WHEREAS, the Elk River Rotarians are renovating Handke Stadium and the stadium is a Minnesota Historic site; and WHEREAS, the ERAA has pledged to commit substantial time to fundraising and programming. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors for lSD #728 support the parmership between ERAA, ISD #728 and the City of Elk River for the Family Arts Center and commit to allocate Handke Elementary as the facility for the Family Arts Center upon the successful passage of levies and bonds to support educational programming and two additional elementary schools. Bd/misc/ArtsRes BALL FIELDS Eity Fields Oak Knoll 1 Oak Knoll 2 Oak Knoll 3 YAC 1 Orono 1 YAC 2 Orono 2 YAC 3 Orono 3 YAC 4 Orono 4 Kuss Field School Fields Varsity Jr. Varsity SFBL 1 SFBL 7 Vandenberge 3 Vandenberge 4 Vandenberge 5 /andenberge 6 Note: Salk 101 Lincoln 1 Salk 102 Lincoln 2 Salk 103 Parker 1 Salk 104 Parker 2 Salk 105 Handke 1 Salk 106 Handke 2 Meadowvale 1 Meadowvale 2 One Lincoln field has been removed and one is not available due to maintenance. SOCCER FIELDS City Fields Oak Knoll 9 Oak Knoll 10 Joplin Park School Fields Salk 1 Salk 2 Salk 3 Salk 4 Salk 5 Note: Salk 6 Salk 7 Meadowvale 1 Meadowvale 2 Joplin Park is not designated as a soccer field but is currently being used due to a shortage of fields in Elk River.