Council Regular/Special Meeting

MINUTES OF THE GILBERT TOWN COUNCIL IN SPECIAL MEETING OF MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 AT 5:30 AM, MUNICIPAL CENTER, ROOM 300, 50 E CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, GILBERT, ARIZONA COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Jenn Daniels, Councilmembers Scott Anderson, Eddie Cook, Brigette Peterson, Jordan Ray and Jared Taylor COUNCIL ABSENT: Vice Mayor Victor Petersen STAFF PRESENT: Manager Patrick Banger and Clerk Lisa Maxwell HIGLEY UNIFIED President Kristina Reese; Members Scott Glover and Amy SCHOOL DISTRICT Kaylor; and Superintendent Mike Thomason MEMBERS PRESENT: AGENDA ITEM CALL TO ORDER OF JOINT MEETING WITH HIGLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Mayor Jenn Daniels called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS 1 Introductions and an overview of the purpose of the meeting. Mayor Jenn Daniels welcomed everyone in attendance and thanked them for coming. Everyone introduced themselves. 2 Presentation and discussion on Gilbert growth and development with an update on current and upcoming activity within the Town, including the areas of economic development, transportation and public safety. Town Manager Patrick Banger discussed relevant statistics for the Town of Gilbert including those portions of the Town within the Higley Unified School District (HUSD). He looked at how Gilbert is growing and how the Town is projected to grow in the future and spoke about collaborative efforts between the Town and HUSD. Town Manager Patrick Banger discussed major projects and opportunities in the Town including Heritage District developments, the Gilbert Memorial Park, the Town’s 311 app, the Town’s new sign code, a proposed Public Safety Training Facility, Phase 1 of Rittenhouse Park, the Town’s long range infrastructure plan, 1  the Greenfield Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion, the What Works Cities Open Data Portal, the Lindsay Road/Route 202 Interchange, and the Gilbert Regional Park. 3 Update from the Higley Unified School District activities, including current and upcoming projects and goals for the Board. Superintendent Mike Thomason reported all schools in HUSD are rated as excellent or highly performing according to State Department of Education standards. The two high schools in HUSD have a 95 percent graduation rate. The graduating class of 2017 received scholarships totaling $33,000,000. Bridges Elementary School which opened two years ago has a gifted program and there is a waiting list to get into the school. HUSD has adopted a boutique model with each school offering a unique curriculum. Parents have the opportunity to find the school that best meets their particular needs. Superintendent Mike Thomason said HUSD has a schedule to update all core classes on a five year rotating cycle. HUSD also has a rotating schedule for updating infrastructure and buses. A recent resignation left a vacant seat on the HUSD Board. Seven candidates were interviewed last week and recommendations will be sent to the Maricopa County Superintendent of Education. The Superintendent will then select a person to fill that vacant seat. More than 90 percent of the HUSD teachers returned this fall. That is one of the highest percentages of returning teachers in Arizona. HUSD gives bonuses and stipends to their teachers whenever they have any money available. A middle school teacher in the HUSD was recognized as the Arizona Diamondbacks Teacher of the Year. This teacher used the $5000 prize money to buy supplies for her school. Councilmember Scott Anderson asked about the Higley Performing Center for the Arts. Superintendent Mike Thomason responded HUSD made changes to their contract and they are now making money. The problem is attracting larger acts because HUSD cannot compete with casinos. The Center is doing well attracting smaller acts. Mayor Jenn Daniels said the Town has a contract with HUSD to use their pools. She asked if there is the possibility of the pools being available to Town groups more often. Groups ask the Town for pool time and this may be an opportunity for HUSD to rent the pools. Superintendent Mike Thomason said the problem is finding a time when the school is not using the pool. He will look into this opportunity futher. Superintendent Mike Thomason said the school has lighted fields and basketball 2  facilities which are rented all the time. HUSD has to regularly turn people away. Superintendent Mike Thomason said they are very excited about the Gilbert Regional Park which is within the HUSD boundaries. Councilmember Jared Taylor asked if HUSD applied the State approved bi- literacy seal to the diplomas if the graduates in their Mandarin and Spanish immersion programs. Superintendent Mike Thomason replied the Mandarin program was accepted. There are more requirements for the Spanish program and HUSD is working to meet those requirements. President Kristina Reese said there is a new Advanced Placement (AP) program at both high schools. Fifty-one freshmen were identified in middle school to participate in this program. They are taking AP and honors classes and at graduation they will receive a diploma with an AP designation. This is the second school district in Arizona to offer this program. Councilmember Brigette Peterson said she appreciates how well HUSD is doing. Mayor Jenn Daniels said she appreciates how HUSD is focusing on critical issues affecting the students. 4 Discussion on how the Town can help the Higley Unified School District be successful including infrastructure and public safety needs. Mayor Jenn Daniels said she appreciates Superintendent Mike Thomason attending the Advancing Education in Gilbert (ADED) meetings which serve as a forum for community wide dialogue in regards to K-12 education in Gilbert. President Kristina Reese reported there are traffic problems during drop-off and pick-up times, specifically at Coronado and San Tan schools. She said an officer issuing tickets for crossing the yellow line in a school zone would deter people from doing this. She sent pictures through the 311 app to the Town of this happening. Commander Randy Brice said the Police Department gets approximately 40 requests a week to patrol school zones. He will see this request moves to the top of list. Mayor Jenn Daniels said Kristen Myers in Transportation Planning can also look at this problem to see if there is some solution. 5 Closing Remarks. Mayor Jenn Daniels said she appreciates the dialogue and the opportunity for the Council and the School Board to connect. ADJOURN Mayor Jenn Daniels adjourned the meeting at 6:34 p.m. 3  ATTEST: ___________________________ ___________________________________ Jenn Daniels, Mayor Lisa Maxwell, CMC, Town Clerk CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the special meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Gilbert held on the 16th day of October, 2017. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and held and that a quorum was present. Dated this ____ day of ____________________. ___________________________________ Lisa Maxwell, CMC, Town Clerk 4