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06-03-1977 - Special Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF JOINT SPECIAL MEETING WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL and WEST COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT JUNE 3, 1977. • The joint special meeting called to order at 7:34 P.M., in the conference room of the Los Angeles Public Library. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Tice; the invocation was given by Dale Henderson.. ROLL CALL West Covina Unified School Present: Dale Henderson', Mary Lewis, District - Board of Richard Jennings, Richard Brammer Education Absent: Ray Fleck West Covina City Council Present: Mayor Shearer; Councilmen: Tice, Browne, Chappell, Miller Others Present: G. R. Menefee, Rhineas Goldstein, H. Fast, L. Eliot, M.Miller, G. Davidson Bill Freemon - S.G.V.D.T. Citizens Committee Members: H. Krieger, B. Bacon, APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Lewis, seconded by Brammer to approve the agenda for the joint meeting of the Board of Education and the West Covina City Council. Motion carried. • CONSIDERATION OF Mayor Shearer stated the purpose of the DISPOSITION OF SUNSET meeting is to discuss further the Sunset SCHOOL SITE & FACILITIES School situation. Approximately 6 months ago the Citizens' Committee constituted by the City Council and the School Board pre- sented its report. Briefly their report called for the acquisition by the City of the Sunset School site and facilities and its development as a recreation center for the City, includ- ing multi -purpose building with the development of ball fields, swimming pool at West Covina High School, etc. This Committee recommended that the value of the land over and above $575,000 be applied towards the cost of the pool with the remainder of the cost coming from the City and all costs being supported through the selling of general obligation bonds. The City Council accepted in total the recommendations of this Citizens' Committee chaired by Mr. Krieger. We are here this evening to find out if this recommendation meets with the approval of the School Board and if not are they willing to proceed under some other conditions and if so what those conditions are. City Council members agreed with the statements made by the Mayor. Dale Henderson stated the report submitted by the Task Force was received,by the Board of Education and submitted to staff for their recommendation. The recommendation coming back from staff was in fact the input of the Task Force recommendation in total. Mr. Henderson then stated his concerns and those of one other member of the Board - we have had some problems with regard to capital restoration and staff has come up with a • figure of $1,219,000 necessary over the next 5/7 years; and as a person responsible'to the people, he terms a swimming pool a luxury item and not a top priority item when the physical buildings we have our school children in now need restoration such as black topping, roofing, painting, etc. The black top at most of the school sites has to be replaced - it is dangerous and the cost of that is included in this figure of $1,219,000 for restoration. If we undertake a joint venture costing 3 million plus dollars with a $30,000 annual expenditure in face of so many other necessary needs - - that is the Board's concern. We have received a recommendation from our staff and have not acted on it as yet. JOINT MEETING CITY COUNCIL/W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Page Two 6/3/77 Mr. Jennings said Mr. Henderson stated the situation very well and clearly and added he also had a concern re considering a swimming pool and he didn't quite agree that this was the most important thing when the Board had so many restoration needs, and in effect he would say the Board is asking Council for some ideas to help us • with their dilemma - we support the idea of going ahead with the Sunset School purchase by the City if feasible and the development of that area for recreation and educational purposes. Mary.Lewis agreed and added if it were simply her feeling that the swimming pool is'a luxury item she would be more hesitant about mentioning it but in talking to parents they agree, particularly at this time when we have an.energy.crisis and a water shortage. Mr. Henderson in summary said we are in a position like this -ewe have basic essentials in terms of our School District which can only be met through capital funds and the only surplus we have in that area is whatwe might`realize from_the sale of this property and our Director of Business has brought us a rather bleak picture of the expenditures we face in the next few years. So in terms'of our priorities it is a little difficult to look at a new:venture including a swimming pool - we are in favor of a swimming pool but our problem is in looking at the figures we are looking at right now', to say a pool is a priority item ---- if -there is a way to go on with this venture without the pool as a contingency to the sale..... The Mayor asked Mr. Fast if he had a preliminary report from the appraiser and he advised "no", however we do have a preliminary number.of $961,500. • Mayor Shearer: I would like to explore some alternates. I think I hear on both sides an agreement that Sunset School would be a good place for such a facility as proposed if there is some way we can do it. Right now the hang up appears to be the municipal pool versus restoration needs. One suggestion for discussion if we would drop the consideration of the pool but apply the same concept which was outlined in the report of the dollar limit as far as cash in hand and the difference between $961,500 and $575,000 that amount be applied towards the cost of the building which I am sure would be utilized quite extensively by the school children (mentioned the lack of an auditorium and events that West Covina High School put on recently where they could have used an auditorium). Councilman Chappell: We are talking about a facility for recreation and park uses - we also hear that black topping is needed on schools which is another city recreational area used after schools and in summer vacation - so we might be able to start out with that as a compromise, dropping the pool and refurbishing .the asphalt areas. Councilman Browne said he would prefer to have the Board sit down with their business heads and come.up with some firm dollar evaluations as far as their deficits and needs are concerned and then come back to Council and discuss. Mr. Menefee said $540,000 is needed to replace the asphalt and there is a significant amount of painting needed in the first increment. • Councilman Tice felt if the pool isn't put in with this package we will never see the pool and another thing that bothered him is.that close'to one --third of the bond issue of.3� million dollars would be going to the School District for refurbishment and he didn't believe that was the intent of the bond issue originally; and looking at it from a taxpayer's standpoint if�we are not going to put.in a pool maybe we should lower the bond issue. - 2 - JOINT MEETING CITY COUNCIL/W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Page Three 6/3/77 The Mayor said the real question that the School Board has to answer at this time is what is the minimum amount of cash in hand they will accept for a deed to Sunset School? And then it would be l up to the Council to say in one package we will include enough to give you that amount plus a building and maybe include money for a swimming pool. • Mr. Brammer answered "I.believe it was agreed earlier that the property would be purchased for the appraised value." In further discussion, Councilman Chappell said a park is needed in that end of town, the west side of West Covina needs a good parksite and it is up to the City Council to try and provide that site for them -maybe the School Board can give us a better price on the property and we can go with a smaller bond issue; Councilman Miller pointed nut if the pool is dropped this would lower the bond issue by $450,000.. Mayor Shearer: I suggest we send it back to the School Board because I think before we can proceed in our deliberations we have to know what the minimum is that the School District will accept for their ground - until we know that we can't begin to make cost estimates. Mary Lewis: Just suppose we want the full amount or we didn't agree to less money, I think it would still be possible to get a bond issue election to pass for this development because I think there are so many people in this community who know how much it is needed. I.really felt.a swimming pool would be a detriment to the bond issue and the recreation center is not because it is something we really need in this community. • Mr. Henderson: I have a difficult problem in separating out the responsibility I have - - we have a piece of property that someone has said is worth $961,500 to the School District - we have an asset that we want to share and sell . I :.have a difficult time'in seeing where I can exchange an asset of $961,500 for something less than that when it comes to the very basic needs that we have in'the School District --or receive something in kind. Mayor Shearer: What If I proposed to give you a combination of things - so much cash and a 1200 seat auditorium that could be used for school purposes - what value would.the Board place on such a facility? How much cash plus the building which would be available for joint usage? If it has no value then we are going.in the wrong direction. Mr. Brammer from the sale of the property. I think the whole park section has value to the School District but we are out of money and can't build up our capital fund other than Discussion followed on the.possibility of the City doing the asphalting; the City Manager advised the city only does their own patchwork, all other work is contracted out. Mr. Henderson explained the financial predicament the School District is facing in the next 5 years due to the decline in schoolenroliment and the need for the restoration of schools with no capital other than from the sale ofthe • property. After further discussion Air. Henderson stated the Scb.00_. Board will have a meeting with their staff and come back to City Council with a figure. — 3 — JOINT MEETING Page Four CITY COUNCIL/W.C. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT 6/3/77 Mr. Henderson said there was one other thing — in their deliberations their expectation is that the bond issue will pass but if it should fail it was hoped that the Council would be supportive of a zone change on the property The Mayor advised that has not come up in any Council discussion and he • didn't think legally Council could make any kind of a commitment regarding a zone change because first, the Planning Commission has to hear it and then there is a hearing before the City Council. Further advised, if it turns out that the ultimate buyer is somewhat other than the City of West Covina there is obviously going to be a request for a zone change but Council would have to make that decision at that time. Councilman Browne pointed out it would also necessitate changing the General Plan of the City through a public hearing process plus volumes of Environmental Im— pact Reports. Mr. Henderson asked that a special board meeting be called for June 14, 1977 — Board members agreed. There being no further business in front of the West Covina Unified School District motion made by Mr. Jennings to adjourn their meeting at 8i40 P.m., seconded by Mr. Brammer an:d...carried. Motion by Councilman Browne to adjourn City Council meeting at 8:40 P.M., seconded.by Councilman Tice and carried. • 0