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.
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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.
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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.
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