City Council Joint meeting minutes

SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
SEPTEMBER 29, 2008
ST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE DISTRICT 885 SCHOOL BOARD
SAINT MICHAEL CITY COUNCIL
ALBERTVILLE CITY COUNCIL
6:00 PM

The St. Michael-Albertville School Board, St. Michael City Council and the Albertville City Council met in a special joint session on Monday, September 29, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. at the New St. Michael -Albertville High School.

MEMBERS PRESENT: STMA School Board: School Board Chairperson Lefebvre, School Board members Weber, Scherber, Steffens, Holland, and Birk. Other STMA staff: Superintendent Ziegler, STMA High School Principal Dale Carlson, Director of Technology Wayne Hoistad, Director of Building and Grounds Terry Zerwas, and Albertville Primary Principal Ann-Marie Foucault. City of Albertville Council members: Mayor Klecker, Council members Berning, Fay, Vetsch, and Wagner, and City Administrator Kruse. City of St. Michael Council members: Mayor Zachman, Council members Eggert, Hagerty, Kasel, and Marx, City Administrator Derus, Community Development Director Weigle, City Engineer Bot and City Assessor Tom Zander.

Others Present: a number of members of the ARY Architect team, a number of staff from Donlar Construction (High School Construction Managers), and some residents that accompanied the group on the tour of the new high school.

TOUR OF NEW HIGH SCHOOL
The meeting commenced at 6:05 p.m. The purpose of the initial part of the meeting was to tour the new STMA High School, which is currently under construction and approximately 65% completed. Donlar staff led the tour. At the conclusion of the tour, approximately 6:55 p.m., everyone drove to the current STMA High School Board room, to reconvene the meeting.

RECONVENE MEETING AT THE STMA HIGH SCHOOL BOARD ROOM
STMA School Board Chairperson Lefebvre reconvened the meeting at 7:05 p.m., once the group had reassembled in the board room at the STMA High School building. Lefebvre led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.

SET AGENDA
Chairperson Lefebvre asked for additions to the agenda, and then declared the agenda set as printed with the following items added:
-Discuss STMA High School tour
-A discussion of establishing wards for the STMA School District 885
-Bikes on walking trails

REACTION TO STMA HIGH SCHOOL TOUR
Chairperson Lefebvre asked for reactions after the tour of the new STMA High School. The following matters were discussed:
-Number of restrooms
- Locker rooms by gyms
- The building is not segregated by grades; it is more segregated by use, i.e. there are math; science, art, etc. areas. This was done because it is more cost-effective to construct and better department coordination.
-Student lockers are generally segregated by grade
- The capacity of the new building is 2,000 students; there will be approximately 1,400 students attending next fall when it opens.
- The existing high school will become the District’s second middle school.
- Using the field house as a community fitness facility was discussed. There are some challenges with doing this, including staffing. The School Board explained that Community Education will be looking into possible community use of the field house.
- Superintendent Ziegler explained an operating levy was not planned at this time, but it is possible that they will need to go back to the voters after the 2009 School year depending on state funding. She went on to explain that out of the 340 school districts in the state, District 885 is among the lowest (301 out of 340) in State per pupil aid. They are; however, among the top districts in bonded debt.
- There are approximately 600 employees in the district.
- Two years ago approximately 500 babies were born or moved into the district.
- The existing High School will need some remodeling to turn it into a Middle School.
- There are no plans to build a football stadium at the new school, but there is adequate space if they choose to do it later on.

HOCKEY DEBT
Albertville City Administrator Kruse explained that both Albertville and St. Michael had written off the hockey debt from the original arena construction. Kruse questioned whether the School District should also consider writing their debt off as well. Everyone acknowledged that it is unlikely that the debt will ever be repaid. STMA School Board Chairperson Lefebvre said he did not want to lose sight of the fact that this debt was never paid back, and if there is ever talk about another expansion paying off capital debt, this is a good reminder. STMA School Board members generally indicated they were inclined to write off the debt at this point.

ROAD UPDATES
St. Michael City Engineer Bot updated the following current street construction projects:
- Phase II CSAH 19
Phase II, from the southern Albertville border to TH241 is on schedule. Pavement is planned to be installed in November 2008.
- Jamison Avenue
Final plans for Jamison Avenue will be complete in a week. The project is scheduled to go out for bids in February, and construction is expected to start May 2009, with completion expected to be August 1, 2009. Bot continued explaining that if there are unforeseen complications, like weather, they could concentrate on completing the north end in time for the opening of school. STMA School Board member Holland asked for a trail along Jamison Avenue, which Bot explained was in the plan. Other Jamison Avenue details are:
o There will be a median on Jamison Avenue at the intersection of CR 18 with a traffic signal.
o 60th Street NE will remain a gravel road, except where it ties into Jamison Avenue.
o There is no plan for a right turn lane on CR 119, (south end of Jamison Avenue). In 2011, CR 119 will be reclaimed and a decision on adding a turn lane will be made at that time.
o There are no plans to install sewer or water utilities on Jamison Avenue.
- One-way Pair
The One-Way Pair will not be completed until October 2009; this year they are doing the work that can be constructed almost completely without disrupting existing traffic.
- Other Street Projects
Naber Avenue Interchange is still in the planning stages.

HOCKEY ARENA FEASIBILITY STUDY
Albertville City Administrator Kruse mentioned that there is a needs study being conducted on the arena.

STMA School District Wards
Albertville Council member Vetsch questioned the STMA School Board about the establishment of wards for the STMA School District. Chairperson Lefebvre explained that the Board has discussed it in the past and gave details on the process to set up wards, but indicated it is not something the Board is actively pursuing. Board member Birk commented that he is in favor of wards, and shared his point of view, but also acknowledged the Board is divided on the issue.

BICYCLES ON WALKING PATHS
Albertville Mayor Klecker commented that when he and his wife were recently walking on the bike path, they were almost hit by a bicyclist that had come up from behind them. The group briefly discussed trying to get information out in newsletters or present it on in-school infomercials.

CLOSING WITH ALBERTVILLE ON LAND FOR POND
Superintendent Ziegler announced that the STMA School District and City of Albertville were closing soon on the property that Albertville is purchasing from the STMA School District and has been using as a storm water pond. Ziegler remarked that the pond seems to work very well during recent heavy rains.

SENATOR COLEMAN EVENT
St. Michael Mayor Zachman announced that U.S. Senator Norm Coleman would be at the CineMagic Theater on Friday, October 3, at 3:00 p.m. Everyone was invited.

NEXT MEETING
The next month with five Mondays is December 2008, which falls into the winter Holiday Season; therefore, the group decided to hold the next joint meeting on Monday, March 30, 2009.

ADJOURN
STMA School Board Chairperson Lefebvre adjourned the meeting at 8:12 pm.

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