Loading...
2001-05-25 Special CC MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FRIDAY- -MAY 25, 2001- -4:00 P.M. Mayor Appezzato convened the Special Meeting at 4:03 p.m. Roll Call - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt, Kerr and Mayor Appezzato - 4. Absent: Councilmember Johnson - 1. [Note: Councilmember Johnson listened to the Council Discussion and Public Comment via telephone.] Agenda (01 -257) Funding for Alameda Unified School District. Mayor Appezzato stated that he called the Special Meeting because of the teachers' crisis and the large number of calls and letters received. The City is facing a crisis for the entire community; he pledges to do everything that he can to help, however little it might be. City Government is concerned about the schools; City Government and the School District are two separate jurisdictions with separate funding streams; however, City Government and the School District cannot be separated. The taxpayers fund the kind of community they want; citizens elect the School Board and the City Council to lead the School District and City Government. Unfortunately, a few years ago the community voted down a School Bond initiative; if the Bond had passed, it would have helped alleviate the current drastic situation faced by the School District; Alameda was the only city which failed to pass a School Bond initiative in the area; and that he will personally support a School Bond Initiative, hopefully on the November ballot. Mayor Appezzato further stated the City Council should support funding for two school programs; that the City Manager was requested to meet with the Superintendent of Schools to consider how the City could support or help the School District; the City Council should support the DARE and Crossing Guards programs for one year, as a demonstration of support for the schools; it is not a lot of money [$45,000.], but it makes a statement that City Government cares; the City Council should direct the City Manager to continue to work with the Superintendent of Schools to find creative ways to help the School District meet some of its financial needs; the School District asked the City for help in six programs; personally, he is not prepared to ask the City Council to grant monies for all six programs; the $45,000 requested is a Special Meeting Alameda City Council 1 May 25, 2001 modest amount; and a number of companies that do business with Alameda have been asked to help fund the public awareness campaign for the School Bond initiative. Vice Mayor DeWitt stated education in the United States needs a lot of support and funding; teachers should concentrate more on reading, writing and arithmetic; currently, funds are going to support areas like child care, not education; funds should go toward better education in the classroom; that he strongly supports assisting the School District with the many non - academic expenditures that are involved; City Government, parents, and the entire community must help. Mayor Appezzato stated a number of letters were received practically asking the City to take over the Schools or to provide tremendous financial assistance; the City Manager will consider every possible avenue of funding and non - funding to help ease the situation until the November [School Bond] Ballot Measure. Councilmember Kerr stated that the City is not indifferent to the health and welfare of the children in the community; the Recreation & Park Department does a tremendous job in providing all kinds of activities that help take care of children; and noted that much needed City Capital Improvement Projects, in the amount of $95 Million, are unfunded. In response to Councilmember Kerr's inquiry whether the City has 250 liquid General Fund monies, the City Manager stated that liquid General Fund monies exceed 250, however $5.6 Million of the $10.5 Million is loaned to Redevelopment Projects Areas. Mayor Appezzato stated education is probably the most critical need in the country and community today, everything else pales by comparison; reserves should be used in time of crisis and for programs considered important. Councilmember Daysog stated schools, teachers, school - administrators and janitors are valued for their contributions to children. It is important for City Council to partner with the School Board to find ways to work on challenges. It is also important for the City to keep in mind its fiscal challenges during the process. Capital Improvement [Project] dollars are traditionally separated from operating dollars, and operating funds would be considered for assisting the School District. There are some issues and challenges the City will face in the coming months, e.g. spending and hiring freezes; the City must work within the context of the City's budget challenges; $45,000 this year for Crossing Guards and the DARE Program will not break the bank. A Special Meeting Alameda City Council 2 May 25, 2001 precedence must be set of being strategic in terms of how scarce resources are managed; before allocating any monies, the City and School District should determine priorities; the City's three principles should be: 1) transparency, e.g. where the funding comes from; 2) discussions in context of the City's budget; and 3) a link between a City contribution and an outcome, e.g., an improvement to the teachers situation. Mayor Appezzato stated it is time to take a symbolic action [approve $45,000 for Crossing Guards and DARE Programs] that the City does care about the School District, and the City Manager should meet again with the Superintendent of Schools to discuss the four other School District funding requests and also Council's comments. Via telephone, Councilmember Beverly Johnson as private citizen stated that the Council should fund the Crossing Guards and DARE Programs to send a message to the community that the City stands beside the School District. Assemblywoman Wilma Chan thanked the City Council for considering the issue of helping the Alameda community and for its on -going support of children's programs; stated the current situation is extraordinary; teachers have taken a preliminary strike vote; a number of bills in Sacramento are being worked on to bring more money to school districts, including School District Equalization and a 7.1% increase in funding over last year for K - 12; a personal request was put in to help Woodstock Child Care Center; there is a bill to bring back PERS money to the School District, which would result in about $400,000 more to schools; if everyone is committed, over time the School budget will improve; if the community is willing to look at a parcel tax, we will be in much better shape in a few years; Council's action is very timely. Carla Greathouse, Alameda Education Foundation and PTA Council Joint Task Force on Funding Equalization, expressed gratitude to the Council for considering Mayor Appezzato's request for financial assistance to the Alameda Unified School District; stated the School District and City need to work together; the Task Force came up with three conclusions: 1) AUSD is running lean and the current administration is doing everything possible to maximize the District's take of State and federal tax dollars available for public education, 2) the District cannot look to the State to help with on -going financial difficulties, and 3) it is largely up to the local community to augment public school funding, primarily through passage of parcel taxes. Mayor Appezzato stated that he apologized the funding [$45,000] was Special Meeting Alameda City Council 3 May 25, 2001 not more, however, it was a step in the right direction. Ms. Greathouse responded that the Alameda Education Foundation would continue to come back to the City. Barbara Mooney, Alameda, encouraged the City Council to vote in favor of the funding for the District, and stated that everything possible would be done to pass the parcel tax. Jeni Marr, Alameda, expressed gratitude to the City Council, and thanked Councilmember Daysog for his statement that funding for the School District should include an assurance that said funding would help alleviate the current labor crisis. Gretchen M. Lipow, Alameda Education Association, stated that anything the Council could do to help the kids and the programs would be greatly appreciated; doing things together should be considered in order for the City to understand the School District issues more clearly, and for the District to understand the City's issues as well; there may be other projects next year, e.g. the Children's Center and programs, that could be looked at together. Mayor Appezzato stated November will be a red letter day hopefully, and that he cannot imagine the community turning down another initiative. Councilmember Daysog stated, in regard to Ms. Lipow's comments, that expectations should not be set too high; the City must step up, but in a sober and rational way. Mayor Appezzato stated expectations should be set high, and if not met, the City should try harder. Joyce August, Alameda, discussed various financing options, and stated teachers should be placed before programs. Councilmember Daysog stated clear expectations must be set for the purposes of the public who work with the School District and City Hall. Judith Klinger, Alameda Education Association, stated it is hoped that it is just the beginning of more partnerships between the City and the School District. Michael Johnson, stated, on behalf of the Superintendent of Schools, that he [the Superintendent] is supportive of the continuing partnership between the District and the City, and he is willing to continue to work with the City Manager to look at areas whereby common concerns can be shared. Special Meeting Alameda City Council 4 May 25, 2001 Vice Mayor DeWitt inquired of Mr. Johnson if the City funds under discussion would assist in alleviating the teacher negotiations. Mr. Johnson responded that more dialogue would need to take place between the City Manager, the Mayor and the Superintendent of Schools to be able to respond to the question. Councilmember Daysog stated there should be a framework for discussion out of which come priorities; the City must be clear and strategic in its approach. David Brown, representative for County Board of Supervisor Alice Lai - Bitker, stated Supervisor Lai - Bitker is supportive of the City assisting the School District; through the Board President, an increase in County support for the health and social service programs in Alameda schools has been requested; and a commitment has been made to support the parcel tax effort in November. Mayor Appezzato suggested Council grant $50,000 to the School District, instead of $45,000; it is an indication and a statement that the City cares. Vice Mayor DeWitt inquired of the City Manager where funding for the School District would come from, to which the City Manager responded it would be absorbed into the existing budget and could be accommodated on a one time basis over the course of the next year. Vice Mayor DeWitt inquired whether the City's funds would assist with the teachers problem, and stated that in his opinion, it appears the City must do what it can and then allow the School District and the teachers to negotiate. The City Attorney responded that funds could be earmarked to go to the teachers salary dispute. Vice Mayor DeWitt stated the City would be getting too involved if funds were earmarked accordingly. Vice Mayor DeWitt moved the City fund the Crossing Guards and DARE Programs in the amount of $45,000 for a one year period, and direct the City Manager to work with the School District to look at other ways to assist; for example, financial and /or facility use. Mayor Appezzato seconded the motion. On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following voice vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt and Mayor Appezzato Special Meeting Alameda City Council 5 May 25, 2001 - 3. Noes: Councilmember Kerr - 1. Absent: Councilmember Johnson - 1. Abstentions: None. Councilmember Daysog stated things should be done strategically; that he does not believe people want symbolism, they want a clear plan; he will support the motion, but Council must think the matter through strategically. Mayor Appezzato stated symbolism is extremely important at times. Councilmember Daysog stated there should be clear expectations of what the City can do and can try to do. Councilmember Kerr stated there is an increasing momentum in the community that whenever the School District has a problem, it should come to the City to solve it; the School District must pass a school tax; the tax measure should be handled more sensibly than the last one and include the new programs it would fund if passed by voters; its objectives should be stated very clearly. Councilmember Kerr further stated that the City's credit rating would be on the line if the City took over the School District's debt in the form of a loan, and that the ability to fund Capital Improvement Projects would be severely compromised; that she values public service people, including teachers, but there is a strong responsibility to the people the City has agreed to pay a fair wage. Mayor Appezzato agreed that the initiative must be very clear. Councilmember Daysog stated when interacting with advocates of the education community, he clearly stated moving forward would be done on a strategic basis; that he expressed the need for a clear strategy in order to husband resources at City Council /School District Committee meetings. However, the $45,000 contribution should not get in the way of the planning that can be done; both can be accomplished. School Board Member Elefant thanked the City Council; stated the District is trying to continue its partnership with the City on solving mutual problems; the District hopes to continue the discussions; there are a lot of other joint projects that the City and School District have been working on together; anything that the City can add to the District's budget frees up money and provides the ability to pay teachers a competitive wage. Mayor Appezzato stated the City and District should work as a team to make it the best community possible. Special Meeting Alameda City Council 6 May 25, 2001 Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Appezzato adjourned the Special Meeting at 5:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Diane B. Felsch, CMC City Clerk The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown Act. Special Meeting Alameda City Council 7 May 25, 2001