City Council Committee Agendas

Mount Vernon City Council Committee of the Whole Joint Meeting with the Mount Vernon School District Minutes December 16, 2015 Present: City of Mount Vernon: Mayor Boudreau, Councilmembers Fiedler, Hulst, Lindquist, Molenaar, Quam, Ragan and Urban. Mount Vernon School District: Superintendent Bruner, Boardmembers LuAnne Burkhart, Audrey Olson, Robert Coffey, T.J. Larrick, Peri Kirkpatrick, Student Representative Staff Present: Finance Director Huschka, City Attorney Rogerson, Community Development Director Hyde, Library Director Soneda, Deputy Director Holahan, Police Chief Dodd, Senior Planner Rebecca Lowell Others: Councilmember-elect Hudson, staff of the School District, members of the Library Foundation, and other community members Councilmember Hulst brought the committee meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 1. Presentation and Discussion of Current and Future Capital Needs of the School District. Superintendent Carl Bruner presented. The last capital bond passed by the Mount Vernon School District (MVSD) was in 2001. It has been 15 years since a bond has been passed. Since that time, the School District has grown by 1,100 students. A bond was attempted in 2007; however, it did not pass. Since then the School District has been reviewing needs; however, any new capital bond proposal was further delayed due to the recession that began in 2008. Plans were shelved for several years. In 2013 the School District reconfigured a committee to look at long-term and short-term scenarios, and with the help of HKP Architects took a slate of 5 projects to the Board for approval. The School Board passed a resolution to place these five projects on the February 9, 2016 ballot. Efforts taken prior to this included maximizing use of all schools, purchasing portable classrooms, of which there are now 61 portable buildings in the district, modifying attendance th boundaries to accommodate school overcrowding, and moving 6 grade to the middle schools. Julie Blazek, with HKP Architects presented the five projects. 1. New elementary school off of East Division, due to elementary overcrowding and poor condition of Lincoln and Madison Elementary Schools. Estimated state assistance: $6.1 million and estimated local cost of $33.7 million. 2. Replace Madison Elementary, which would occur after the new elementary school is built. Estimated state assistance: $6.9 million and estimated local cost of $33.7 million. 3. Expand LaVenture Middle School due to middle school overcrowding. Estimated local cost of $9.6 million. Not eligible for state match as it is not an old enough building. 4. Renovate Old Main at the High School, due to poor condition of the building. Estimated state assistance: $7.6 million and estimated local cost of $12.2 million. 5. Replace the Agriculture Building at the High School due to overcrowding and poor condition. Estimated state assistance: $4.6 million and estimated local cost of $17.2 million. Committee of the Whole December 16, 2015 Page 2 The total local cost is $106.4 million for all five projects. The estimated annual tax impact was reviewed. E.g. a home valued at $250,000 would have a $70 annual increase in property tax. Dr. Bruner addressed a question regarding Lincoln School. The state assisted dollars that are eligible for this school would be used on the Madison School replacement; therefore, Lincoln can no longer be used as a school, but would rather have to be re-purposed. Mayor Boudreau asked about the construction timeline should the ballot measure pass. Ms. Blazek said that the full construction would be a five year project schedule, in large part due to keeping the property tax burden at a minimum until a bond fully expires (matures) in 2019. 2. Discussion on Potential Joint Capital Projects between the City and School District. Councilmember Hulst introduced this item. Mayor Boudreau presented. The Library performed a feasibility study for a new library. The current library is 33 years old and the City has out-grown this current facility. The Mayor indicated an interest in a joint th project with the School District with a focus on the School’s site at 4 and Fulton Streets which is home to the School District’s current administration building. Architect Tom Theisen presented some concepts of a joint project at this site to include a new library for the City and the School District’s administration building. 1. Scenario 1 is a 1-story 60,000 square feet (SF) building, Library at 40,000 SF, and the school administration at 20,000 SF with the necessary parking for both uses. 2. Scenario 2 is an 80,000 SF 2-story building. 3. Scenario 3 is a 90,000 SF 3-story building. A couple other variations were presented. All scenarios include needed parking. Board member Burkhart stated that the location is a good location, with great views, and she appreciates the conversations. 3. Other. a. City Attorney Kevin Rogerson briefed the City Council on a lease agreement between the City and Meridian Aggregates that is on the Council’s agenda for action this evening. The meeting concluded at 6:57 p.m. _____________________________________________ Submitted by Alicia D. Huschka