A. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL

The Special Joint City Council meeting with the Lodi Unified School District (LUSD) Board of Trustees of June 20, 2002 was called to order by Mayor Pennino at 6:00 p.m.

Present: Council Members – Hitchcock, Howard, Land, and Mayor Pennino

Absent: Council Members – Nakanishi

Present representing the City: City Manager Flynn, Deputy City Manager Keeter, City Attorney Hays, and Deputy City Clerk Taylor

Present representing LUSD: Board Members Richard Dean, Ken Davis, Harvey Robins, Clifford Mettler, Norman Mowery, Ken Mullen, and Bob Weaver; Superintendent Bill Huyett; and Facilities Planner Mamie Starr

B. TOPIC(S)

With the aid of overheads (filed) Mamie Starr presented, in part, the following information:

• The Citizen Oversight Committee, consisting of seven community members, has already conducted one session, and is committed to meet specified guidelines for quarterly sessions and providing an annual report. At the request of Council Member Howard, Ms. Starr clarified that there was one bond approved in November 2001, but there were three bond series. Great strides are being made on the first bond series, and plans are proceeding toward laying the ground work for series two and three. In response to City Manager Flynn, it was reported that interest rates were not locked in, but that LUSD would be going out to market each time.

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• Allocations of funds have included working to secure interest-free dollars through Federal Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB). Ms. Starr stated the LUSD application for QZAB funding has been greatly enhanced by the lobbying efforts this year of Mayor Pennino and Council Member Howard during the Council of Governments One Voice in Sacramento in February and in Washington D.C. in March. Mayor Pennino stated Council should attend this event in 2003 to continue voicing support of federal funding for LUSD facilities and projects.

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• LUSD is working diligently to secure the passing of a bond on the November 5, 2002 ballot, which would automatically provide for matching State funds, thereby allowing continued aggressive moving of funds for projects. Superintendent Huyett interjected that should the bond not pass, development fees would escalate from $3.16 to $6.13 per square foot at 8:00 a.m. on November 6, 2002 as part of a covenant made with the development community for all projects not possessing an agreement.

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• The project schedule was adopted by the LUSD Board and shows the level of priority, charts the progress of construction, tracks allocations from Measure K, and reflects LUSD Board approval. Ms. Starr stated project priority was based on where schools fell in line for state funding, which primarily were proposed new facilities. Superintendent Huyett stated that although LUSD has worked long and hard to get its school bond passed, the district is already way ahead of others in planning. This is due mainly to the foresight and preparedness of Ms. Starr and her staff, who have done their homework in concept, design, land acquisition, use of development impact fees, and creation of a facility master plan.

In response to Council Member Howard, Mr. Huyett stated that currently charter schools within LUSD have a combined attendance of less than 1,000 students, which allows LUSD to continue receiving state funding credit for these students. He shared that LUSD would be in jeopardy of losing these additional funds if the number of charter students went above 1,000, and that there was a current agreement which limited charter school attendance.

• The new facility construction plan adopted by LUSD consists of tilt-up concrete construction of a single structure with 26 classrooms and the office surrounding the multi-purpose room, with relocatables and portables added to the facility as needed. Additionally, the plan offers increased security benefits and a cost saving of $1 million per facility over the previous plan.

LUSD President Dean thanked Council for its continued involvement in the 2X2 Committee, lobbying for government funds at One Voice, and for participating in the Reciprocal Use of Public Facilities Agreement, which includes the recently approved Amendment #1 modifying fees and adding City and LUSD facilities. He stated the agreement further demonstrates a mutual commitment to cooperate, educate, and support community services and events.

Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock asked Mr. Huyett to comment personally on whether our community would vote to support a bond to pay for city projects or facilities such as the animal shelter or aquatics center. Mr. Huyett stated that voter demographics for the area do not indicate support of higher taxes, and that it would be very difficult to get a two-thirds vote. He then added that a project generating a high level of community ownership and support just might succeed. Ms. Hitchcock shared that Council recently toured local parks and that mention was made that the Grape Bowl might be used less if proposed stadium lighting was installed at Tokay High School. Ms. Starr responded that while Friends of Tokay has paid for the Environmental Impact Report, lighting would cost a great deal of money and that other hurdles include limited parking and stadium seating to meet the needs for that facility to host football games and other events.

Council Member Howard stated she was pleased to have the opportunity to lobby for LUSD funding at the Council of Governments One Voice. On behalf of the Youth Commission, she thanked Council and the LUSD Board for their designation of representatives of the commission, and for the support of its many programs, projects, and events.

Council Member Land thanked LUSD for a great meal and for the opportunity to discuss items of mutual interest and concern.

Mayor Pennino shared his support for the agreement, stating that events such as the Celebration of the Arts, which serve the greater Lodi area, should be considered for the waiving of fees. He thanked the LUSD Board for the fine dinner, for their participation in the 2X2 Committee, which needs to address lifeguard issues and possible Grape Bowl improvements, and for the great programs and joint partnerships which allow all participants to win. Further, Mayor Pennino invited President Dean to speak at this year’s State of the City Address. He stated the program format this year will feature a variety of speakers covering community interests in addition to his presentation regarding City government.

Dr. Mowery stated he enjoyed socializing with City Council and staff members over dinner, and will continue to support mutually beneficial efforts and agreements between LUSD and the City of Lodi, including the possibility of adding the ProStyle Sports complex to the joint use agreement should that project come to fruition.

C. COMMENTS BY THE PUBLIC ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

None.

D. ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

ATTEST:

Jacqueline L. Taylor
Deputy City Clerk