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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-02-09 City Council Summary MinutesCITY COUNCIL MINUTES PALOALTOCITYCOUNCIL MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE VIA KZSU- FREOUENCY90.1 ON FM DIAL Special Meeting February 9, 1987 ITEM Joint Study Session with Palo Alto Unified School 8 0 2 6 District Oral Communications Adjournment at :11:15 PAGE 8 0 2 7 8 0 2 8 805 Special Meting Monday, February 9, 1987 In lieu of its regular meeting, the City Council held a special meeting for the purpose of conducting a joint study session with the Palo Alto Unified School District to discuss City/School Financing. The special meeting was held in the offices of the Palo Alto Unified School District, 25 Churchill Avenue, at , 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Bechtel, Cobb, Fletcher, Klein, Levy, Pa ti tucci , Renzel, Sutorius, Woolley Mayor Woolley announced that she would not participate in the item due to a conflict of interest: The responsibility of chairing the study session was shared by Jack Sutorius, Vice Mayor, and Carolyn Tucher, President, Board of Education, President Tucher described the numerous factors that have con- tributed over the past several years to the School District's cur- rent financial situation, including State legislation, court deci- sions, and declining enrollment. Board member Calfee cited the additional issues impacting the school community, such as the changing demographics of Palo Alto and the few families with children. He expressed concern about the District's future need for teachers, as many will soon be retiring and Palo Alto's salary scale is not as competitive as it once was. City Council and School Board members contributed their observa- tions about the well-being of the School District, the value which the community places upon the schools and district property, particularly the open space, and the significance of the Council and Board of Education coming together to deal with Lila problem. Councilmember Renzel did not want to see the School District dip capital reserves. L UI. usawr £IS weer +s ver Councilmember Cobb stressed the importance of the City and the School District presenting a strong unified package to the voters. It would be a challenge to gain the support of the Palo Alto households that do not have children in school. Councilmember Fletcher .suggested industry in Palo Alto should. be encouraged to take a leadership role in supporting a school tax election. e School Superintendent Julian Crocker presented an overview of the School District's information on financial forecasts. He explained the financial model which formed the basis for several scenarios and responded to questions concerning the projected figures and the assumptions used in the forecasts. Councilmembers Klein and Patitucci explained their proposal that. the City lease the District's surplus school sites within the City. The lease would be financed with funds generated by a utility users tax. The tax proceeds would be devoted not only to the lease but to other City priorities, e.g. infrastructure improvements. School Board and Councilmembers then offered comments and ques- tions concerning the length of the proposed lease, the use of the school buildings, the value of Athe utility tax as a revenue source, how the School District would apply the lease revenue, and the relationship of this proposed lease to existing leases by the City of School District property. ,Vice Mayor Sutorius stated that it would be appropriate for the City/School Liaison Committee to explore the issues raised here. City Manager Bill Zaner pointed out that the City must analyze all the costs associated with the proposal. He also cautioned that the City and School District must look ahead to the possibility et= the Gann Limitation constraining implementation of the proposal. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. Dr. Louis Fein suggested that at its regular meeting on February 3, 1987, the board took action to merge the two cur- rent high schools - on the basis of what now appeared to be a false deficit and a nonexistent financial problem. 2. Lisa Steick urged a continuation of the outstanding educa- tional programs, maintenance of open space at all school sites and rental of unused school sites to small businesses such as child care vendors. 3. Ken Delmar spoke about the need for subsidized rentals for cultural groups and suggested that the proposed lease would allow the City to rent buildings on unused school sites to such groups. 4. Allison Lee listed the many cultural groups who would be eager to take advantage of subsidized rentals of surplus school sites. She suggested that the proposal include the lease of Spangenberg Theater. 8 0 2 7 2/09/97 5. Susan Levenberg expressed her support for the proposal and for a tax to finance it. 6. Laura Grams urged maintenance and improvement of the artistic climate in Palo Alto. 7. Susie Richardson was concerned the PAUSD may be forced to use capital £ om its Property Fund which she believed should be considered as an endowment to maintain the educational pro- grams in the PAUSD. The Council and Board of Education discussed the steps ahead. If they were went to the voters at the November 1987 election, it was necessary to formulate the ballot measure by July. Board President Tucher suggested that the City/School Liaison Committee should attempt to report back to both bodies at their meetings in April. MOTION: Ceuntilae ier Cobb sieved, seconded by Klein, to refer the proposed land lease/utility tax to the.. City/Scheel Liaison Committee and that reports be returned to the City*_ .Council and Palo Alto Unified Scbeel District Board for its regularly scheduled seetiaa erg March 1,, 1917 so thatdecisions can be made in April, 1917. MOTION PASSED unanimously, Woolley not participating." ADJOURNMENT AT 11:15 p.m. ATTE APPROVED: M LQby Mayor - .i ty C erk