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ACCEPT: City and San Leandro Unified School District Liaison Committee Meeting Highlights of May 17, 2012
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CITY AND SAN LEANDRO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LIAISON COMMITTEE
May 17, 2012
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
San Leandro Unified School District
17435 Juniper Street
San Leandro, California
(Professional Development Center)
HIGHLIGHTS
Committee Members: Councilmember Pauline Cutter, Councilmember Michael Gregory, Board Member Mike Katz-Lacabe, Board President Morgan Mack-Rose, Board Member Diana Prola
City Staff Present: City Manager Chris Zapata, Deputy City Manager Jacqui Diaz, Public Works Director Michael Bakaldin, Recreation and Human Services Director Carolyn Knudtson, Police Captain Ed Tracey, and Chief of Police Sandra Spagnoli
SLUSD Staff Present: Superintendent Cindy Cathey, Assistant Superintendent Song Chin-Bendib, Maintenance Manager Greg Dyer, Measure B Director Mike Murphy, Community Services/Accounts Payable Technician Teresa Zumbo
Public: Maureen Forney, Steve Ilmerger
The meeting was called to order by Councilmember Michael Gregory at 4:05 p.m.
NOTE: Prior to proceeding with the agenda, Superintendent Cindy Cathey asked that Item #2, "Update on Pacific Sports Complex Maintenance and Operations Concept" be the first item on the agenda, so that an interested community member, who had not arrived, could participate in the Bancroft Field discussion.
2. Update on Pacific Sports Complex Maintenance and Operations Concept
Mike Bakaldin, Public Works Director, provided a presentation regarding the maintenance and operations of the new Pacific Sports complex.
The presentation included a chart of six proposed scenarios, along with a spreadsheet regarding costs and assumptions, marketing and start-up costs, and capital replacement fund for each, noting that these scenarios assume the City will maintain the majority of the new facility, and the District will assume maintenance of the synthetic field and track at Burrell Field. Scenario options included:
1. Closed to the Public
· Assumes facilities are locked except for paid/reserved activities with usage as noted:
a. Reservations 3 nights; 1 weekend day
b. Reservations 5 nights; 2 weekend days
2. Hybrid
· Assumes facilities are similar to current configuration (Burrell Closed; Pac Open) with usage as noted:
a. Reservations 3 nights; 1 weekend day
b. Reservations 5 nights; 2 weekend days
3. Open to the Public
· Assumes facilities are unlocked between dawn and dusk or 9 p.m. with usage as noted:
a. Reservations 3 nights; 1 weekend day
b. Reservations 5 nights; 2 weekend days
A discussion ensued regarding projected solar savings, fees, accounting for revenue generated, insurance, and field usage and sustainability after the Bond. It was also noted that Castro Valley has gone from an "Open to the Public" model to a "Closed to the Public" model.
At the conclusion of the discussion, the committee agreed to move forward with the Hybrid (Reservations 5 Nights; 2 Weekend) scenario at this time and begin developing a schedule of charges and consider a marketing person.
Before proceeding with the next item, Board Member Katz-Lacabe took a moment to acknowledge San Leandro Police Captain Tracey and Police Chief Spagnoli.
1. Discussion Regarding Bancroft Middle School Facility
Assistant Superintendent Song Chin-Bendib provided an update on the Bancroft Middle School Facility focusing particularly on the challenges the District faces at the Bancroft field due to extensive use.
Referring to the many emails received, one of the major complaints is that field users are urinating next to the fence and/or neighbors' property causing health concerns. It was noted that the District does rent the facilities for a fee, and the Community Service person that is hired is always diligent in cleaning up after their usage; however, the issue is the public and the vendors who sell food items to the users. In an effort to address this challenge, the District suggested the following possible solutions:
· Require anyone who rents District facilities to provide porta-potties
· Consider a "Park Ranger" program for patrolling/monitoring the area (perhaps contracting with the City's Park Ranger Program)
· Add signage directing people to use the bathrooms at Memorial Park, across the street from Bancroft Middle School
City staff shared issues they encountered regarding restrooms at City parks, noting that a "Park Ranger" Program has been very successful in reducing the problems of vandalism, litter, behavior, and alcohol to name a few.
A neighbor of Bancroft, and District teacher, Maureen Forney, who uses the track frequently, recalled that as part of the conceptual idea for an enhanced field there would be mutual arrangements made for the maintenance of the bathrooms and facility, adding that if it wasn't for the dedication of soccer league coaches, who clean up the litter on the field, things could be much worse. She felt that while we have created a beautiful park that provides recreational amenities to the public, there is a lack of provisions for ongoing upkeep and cleanliness.
Following the discussion, Councilmember Gregory suggested agendizing a discussion on an extension of the joint use between the City and District with regards to the Friends of the Creek (Cary Drive) at a future meeting. Researching cost estimates to implement a Park Ranger Program and proceeding with signage directing individuals to the park for restrooms were also suggested.
With respect to the Police personnel in attendance, the committee moved to Item #4.
4. Discussion Regarding Gang Prevention Intervention Community Needs
Board President Mack-Rose commented on the confusion at a recent City Council meeting and apologized for the District's lack of clarity with regards to the process for allocating the City's one-time funds for this use.
Since that meeting, President Mack-Rose explained that the District has received further clarification of the process and data, and that the District is still hopeful that the City Council will support the School Community Gang Prevention Program, which would enable the District to hire another gang prevention specialist at Bancroft Middle School.
As an update,President Mack-Rose stated that funding from the County is still looking good, however, she noted that the San Leandro Education Foundation had originally committed to raising funds to maintain the program, not to expand the program, and as a result they have other priority needs for those funds and are not interested in expanding the program at this time. President Mack-Rose plans to draft a follow-up proposal for the Council members and will copy the City Manager and Police Chief, adding that year-to-date data indicates that suspension fights at Muir totaled 69 and at Bancroft was 112.
City Manager Chris Zapata provided a brief synopsis on how the one-time funds were discovered and how a portion of these funds were allocated. Regarding the remaining one-time amount, the City Council Finance Committee heard a proposal that would include an advance of $50,000 from the City Manager's contingency fund, adding that the City is prepared to go to the Council on Monday night proposing that $50,000 be distributed among three programs: $20,000 to Building Futures Program, up to $5,000 to the Martin Luther King Program and $25,000 to the School District's Community Gang Prevention Program. This would be considered by the City Council at that meeting, and may change.
The District expressed appreciation to the City for their support.
3. Discussion Regarding Community-Based Health Center - Next Steps
Superintendent Cindy Cathey explained that the District is the recipient of a grant from the San Francisco Foundation to work with community partners to develop a plan to implement a Community-based Health Center on or near the high school campus. The Community-based Health Center is built upon a national research-based model designed to provide essential services to students and families who experience issues that, when ignored or go untreated, impact a student's ability to focus on learning. These services include: medical, mental, social, emotional supports and academic supports for students and their families.
One of the biggest challenges is finding a facility large enough to house the health center. Currently the District has inadequate facility space to house such a center and is working with the City and County partners to explore options.
Recently, it came to the District's attention that the Girls Inc. facility across the street from the San Leandro High School main campus is for sale and the District would like to explore the feasibility of this building for use as the health center. In order for the District to show an interest, there are many preliminary steps that must be taken, noting that recently the Board approved a contract with an outside consultant to provide a feasibility study on the property, and the next phase will be to perform a site assessment.
City Manager Zapata shared a specific idea under consideration to facilitate the District's acquisition of the property, whereby the City would potentially provide a loan to the District, which would be repaid out of the District's Developer Fees fund.
District staff appreciated the City's willingness to pursue this concept. Committee members unanimously supported the concept and expressed support to move forward. Next steps will be a joint presentation by the District Superintendent and City Manager to the entire City Council.
5. Discussion Regarding District Budget Community Outreach Program
Superintendent Cathey commented that while the members of the committee had received letters and were serving on a committee, she recapped the District's collective efforts to improve education for San Leandro students and the importance of building understanding on how the budget works, and to ask the community what their priorities for schools are and their willingness to consider community funding for our schools.
It was also noted that the City has added a link to the District's Community Survey on their website.
6. Spring Forum for Families and Children - Wrap Up
Deputy City Manager Jacqui Diaz, on behalf of Mayor Cassidy, thanked the forum's planning committee for their contributions, commitment and willingness to contribute their time to make the Spring Forum on Children and Teens a success, adding that the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. She thanked Board Member Katz-Lacabe for his part in videotaping the keynote speaker, former California Superintendent of Public Education, Delaine Eastin.
The committee thanked Ms. Diaz for all of her hard work.
7. Public Comments
Eagle Scout candidate Steven Ilmerger addressed the committee regarding his interest in doing an Eagle Scout project on habitat restoration. He would like to create an outdoor classroom and trail that leads to the San Leandro Creek behind Bancroft Middle School at the end of Cary Drive. This would give students an opportunity to learn about the creek and the environment.
Piggybacking on this request, Councilmember Gregory said that he has suggested that the Superintendent and Hank Ackerman, Alameda County Flood Control director, meet and discuss the possibility of redeveloping this site.
8. Committee Comments
· Councilmember Cutter commented that she is excited about the future of Burrell Field.
· Councilmember Gregory reported that the City was awarded two Safe Routes to School grants, amounting to approximately $900,000, to conduct traffic safety education programs for San Leandro High School (Bancroft and 136th Avenue intersection) and thirteen K-8 schools.
He also reported that Tuesday night, the Richmond City Council voted to place a penny-per-ounce soda tax measure on the November 6 ballot. He would like to see the committee discuss this item at the next meeting.
· Piggybacking on the creation of a multi-use type pavilion for the creek area, Board member Prola suggested that might be a project for parents who are interested in beautifying the district.
· Board President Mack-Rose reminded the committee to "Save the Date" for the Annual Kickoff Campaign of the San Leandro Education Foundation (SLED) 100 on June 27, hosted by the Gregory's.
9. NEXT MEETING (July) Agenda Items
· Marketing of Rentable Facilities
· Bancroft Middle School (BMS) and Friends of the Creek
· Update on Health Center Concept
· Costs of the Park Ranger Program at BMS
· Soda Tax Concept
10. Adjourn
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.