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| Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent | ||
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| BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Community Partnerships November 24, 2003 |
Doyle Administration Building 545 West Dayton Street, Room 103 Madison, Wisconsin |
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The Partnerships Committee meeting was called to order by Carol Carstensen at 5 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Board Members Ray Allen (arrived at 5:02 p.m.), Carol Carstensen and Ruth Robarts. Citizen Members Mary Ellen Johnson and Don Severson.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
OTHER BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Bill Clingan, Shwaw Vang
STAFF PRESENT: Mary Gulbrandsen, Roger Price, Joe Quick, Art Rainwater, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary
LEGAL COUNSEL PRESENT: Clarence Sherrod
1. Approval of Minutes
Ray Allen arrived at this point and assumed the chair.
2. Public Appearances
Karen Perzentka spoke as a Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center board member and as a neighbor in support of building the Center on the Jefferson/Memorial property. The Center would provide a safe haven for organized activities to an already thriving, friendly environment. The proposal would enhance partnerships between the school district and community. There are already projects like this and there will be more across the country.
There were nine written registrations in support of building a Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center on the Jefferson/Memorial site.
3. Announcements
There were no announcements.
4. Wexford Ridge Proposed Neighborhood Center
(Packets included the proposal and a memorandum from the administration regarding issues yet to be addressed (11/20/03).
Art Rainwater and Roger Price presented information provided in the written materials. They noted legal and legislative concerns with leasing school district property. They emphasized that current law prohibits such a lease for less than 15 years and the district has no way to predict what the needs of the district will be over time regarding property. They were concerned that this lessee may have difficulties maintaining the building. A number of neighborhood centers have had financial difficulties and it is very difficult to forecast financial viability. Should the center find itself in this situation, the district would have legal rights, but no remedy. Managing the lease and leased property would take district resources that should be devoted to education.
Paul Terranova and Attorney Michael Christopher presented a Madison Metropolitan School District and Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Partnership Proposal, information entitled "Legal Issues Responses," and the Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center Annual Report 2002 (copies are attached to the original of these minutes). They highlighted responses to concerns addressed previously and at this meeting, specifically pages in the proposal summarizing the ground lease and city zoning issues (pages 5-7). Additional provisions and default provisions have been added to the lease (page 6), which would be for an initial term of ten years that would be automatically renewed under the same terms at ten-year intervals, resulting in a 99-year term. A page in the proposal responds to concerns about the instability of neighborhood centers. Should the district wish to build on the same site, there is room for an additional high school.
DISCUSSION: Reasonable rent, building to code and to MMSD code, legislation limiting lease to 15 years, need for long term commitment for capital campaign, obligation of future boards to long-term lease, role of the city and support in the event of default, discussions with the city about partnering in the lease, students who are suspended or expelled and their right to be on the grounds policy and enforcement issues.
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Don Severson that the Partnerships Committee recommends that the Board direct the administration to meet with representatives of the proposed new Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center to develop a proposal that resolves remaining legal and legislative issues and come back with a proposal to open the Center according to the proposed schedule.
DISCUSSION: Viable and useful opportunity for partnership that leaves private property available for purchase that would increase tax rolls taxpayers already own the school district property. Intent of the motion is to agree on lease language that would allow the proposed Center to go forward. Results of Senate Bill anticipated in 6-12 months. Come back with a negotiated agreement go beyond identifying issues report on resolving issues.
Alder Paul Skidmore noted there is a consensus of support in neighborhoods for the proposed Center and its location. There is an ongoing issue of traffic and high speeds which he proposes addressing through traffic engineering, enforcement and education. There is a proposal to lower the speed on Gammon Road to 30 miles per hour. He encouraged the use of open space planning, noted this is an opportunity for joint use of the property, and urged looking at neighborhood components and density.
DISCUSSION: Cost of land developers not required to donate lands for schools. Major concern about flow of traffic at Gammon Road; seriously consider stoplight or speed limit change. Staff and programming at the Center will take traffic into consideration. Motion does not preclude holding hearings or getting public input.
Ray Allen moved to amend the motion, seconded by Don Severson, so that the Board endorses the concept of the partnership proposal with the Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center to build a Center on the Jefferson/Memorial property and the lease options presented, instructs the administration to provide information about site options, and that public hearings should be held to get community input.
Don Severson asked that the phrase, "using the preferred location as the first alternative unless significant issues are raised" be added, and that, if there are issues, the recommendation would be the second or later alternative. Art Rainwater stated there has been agreement on the preferred location. Mr. Severson withdrew the suggested addition.
There was no vote on the motion to amend.
Paul Terranova expressed the hope that the issue could be solved expeditiously. The seed money was received from the city two years ago and the longer the process goes on the more difficult it is to retain the capacity and funds to plan.
Ruth Robarts made a substitute motion that the Partnerships Committee endorses the concept of the new Wexford Ridge Neighborhood Center on the Jefferson/Memorial property as proposed on November 24, 2003 and recommends that the Board of Education direct the administration to report back to the Board no later than February 1, 2004 with a proposed lease arrangement at the preferred site. The motion was accepted by Don Severson who had seconded the original motion, and was unanimously carried.
5. Other Business
There was no other business.
6. Adjournment
It was moved by Ruth Robarts and seconded by Don Severson to adjourn the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Motion unanimously carried.
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