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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council - 03/31/1975 - Joint Meeting MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE EDEN PRAIRIE SCHOOL BOARD AND EDEN PRAIRIE CITY COUNCIL. THAT MET IN ROOM 101 OF THE EDEN PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL ON MONDAY, MARCH 310 197 it' STARTING AT 7:45 P.M. ROLL CALL CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SCHOOL BOARD Wolfgang Penzel Charles Komsch i i es Joan Meyers Bette Anderson William Bye Dorothy Bennett Loren Irvine Paul Enblom ODUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD STAFF MEMBERS Dr. Robert. Fa I Ion Roger U I stall s Richard Putnam Merle Gamm VISITORS - Bob Hansen, Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Tom Horner, Eden Prairie Sun Mr. Andy Martin, Eden Prairie News The meeting was ca I I ed to order at 7:45 P.M. by the chairman of the School Board, 4LCharles Komschlies. ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS TO AGENDA Wolfgang Penzel recommended adding a discussion concerning swimming pools. MOTION MADE BY LOREN IRVINE, SECONDED BY WOLFGANG PENZEL TO ADJOURN THE MEETING BY 9:45 P.M. MOTION PASSED WITH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AFFIRMATIVE. WELCOME, MR. ROGER ULSTAD Chairman Komschlies extended a welcome to Mr. Roger Ulstad, new Eden Prairie City Manager. SCHOOL PARK SITE STUDY Richard Putnam made the main presentation concerning the School Park Site Study. He ref I ected that th e Comm i ttee was ma k i ng no recommendat ions. The comm i ttee was only providing data concerning results of studies made to date. Mr. Putnam reported that three sites had been analyzed for a possible City-School Joint Venture. These sites are: ( 1 ) an area near the city hat1 ; (2) an area known as the Bluff Site; ( 3) an area adjacent to the area vocational technical institute generally referred to as the Northrup King Site. Mr. Putnam highlighted some of the aspects of the three specific locations. These highlights are as follows : CITY HALL SITE The City Ha i I Site Is better described as the southwest ouadrant of the intersections of County Roads i .and 4 consisting of approximately 200 acres. This land is owned by a number of people (7 or 8 different parties) . All of the parties involved have Indicated a willingness to sel i . With the 200 acres i nvo i ved and the type of terrain involved, there is adequate space _to_provide .... JOINT MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 31 , 1975 PAGE 2 continued SCHOOL PARK SITE STUDY continued construction area for all of the previously discussed needs for both the city and the school . THE BLUFF SITE The Bluff Site is located on the southeast Quadrant of the airport consisting of approximately 150 acres. There is a concern with this location because of the runway locations and flight patterns. It would be imperative to construct a school In a location outside of the ft rght patterns . Mr. Putnam indicated that with the land Involved It would still be possible to stay outside of any flight patterns assumina that runways were not changed. An additional concern involved a land fill area but this did not seem to present an overhearing concern. There is also a lame tow-land area involved in this site. Other planning around the site is yet undetermined. There are several parties that own the property and it appears that they would be E enera l l y favor-able to selling. NORTHRUP KING SITE This property is owned entirely by Northrup King. The site has several advantages including flat terrain, good central location, and near the AVTI . Northrup King has been contacted and they have indicated an unwillingness to ,. sel i at this time. CHERNE/NORTHRUP KING SITE , A fourth site not previously discussed, but still a possibility is the Cherne/Northrup King Site. Other owners of this combined area are willing to i sell if the price is right, except for Northrup King. Roger Ulstad provided a financial summary concerning potential purchase of land by the city and school . Mr. Ulstad reported that approximately $262,OOO would be available for purchasing land from the school at the end of the 74-75 school year. Allocating this money from the school would create a cash flow problem. In addition any further allocations out of annual capital outlay tax levies would place a considerable strain upon the school budget. Mr. Ulstad reported that there would be approximately $ 100,000 from the 1968 park fund that co u l d be used for this purpose, but that other sources of revenues from the city were limited and questionable. This really leaves a bond issue as the remaining alternative . Dr. Fallon then entertained a question and answer session with the members of the two boards. Wolfgang Penzet asked how- Iona before Northrup King would be willing to sell? Richard Putnam replied that no selling date was indicated, but it is known they have purchased another farm near Northfield. Wolfgang Penzei asked if Northrup King would give us first chance to purchase. Dr. Fal Ion repi led that this is always a possibility but usually with a dollar -price tag. attached. Richard Putnam replied that the flat landsites need less land, therefore, less land would be needed at the Northrup King Site as opposed to the other possibilities . Wolfgang Penzel asked how soon we will need the land for the additional second site. Dr. Fa Ion repl red that this depends on population increases. If we grow 6% a year a new secondary school will be needed by about 1986 recognizing* that other school buildings will be needed prior to that time. Wolfgang PenzeI asked what happened to the Round Lake Site. I s It large enough? Dr. Fa I Ion rep I led that we al ready have the Round is s J01NT MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 31 , 1975 AM& PAGE 3 continued SCHOOL PARK SITE STUDY continued i Lake Site and the purpose of the committee was to attempt to locate and isolate a second site. Richard Putnam replied we already have the first site, we are just looking further down the road to our future needs. Bette Anderson rep[ led that the Round Lake Site appears to have about twice as much land as the school really needs for a single unit. it is possible after further study that all of the major uses being considered should not be on one site, but instead should be divided between, two sites. This would make the avai labil ity of two sites highly desirable. Wolfgang Penzel reacted that he liked the Northrup King Site and feels that Northrup King must sel i before too long because of the taxes and other pressures . , Paul Schee indicated that there are concerns about obtaining adequate sites in the future because developers are obtaining tracts of land near the airport but outside the flight pattern which before long will leave the school with I imi- z ted site selections to choose from. Dorothy Bennett asked what the cost per acre would be? Richard Putnam repl led that it would depend upon the site Involved . He Indicated concern about quoting prices, but the general indication would be as follows: City Hall Site has no utilities therefore represents the lowest present cost of somewhere between $ 1200 - $2500 per acre. The Bluff Site location has utilities nearby, and represents an investment of $2500 - $5000 per acre. The y. Northrup King Site represents the most expensive land and would be in excess of $5000 per acre. Dorothy Bennett suggested that we should determine the potential of the Round Lake Site before proceeding with the second site. Mr. Bye reacted to comments about "one time buildings" . He felt than "one time buildings" are not realistic to consider since the growth of Eden Prairie could cause these "one time buildings" to require two or three such buildings as population grows. He suggested a need for dividing short-range and long-range needs and p 1 ann I.ng accord- I ng I y . Richard Putnam replied that regardless of what Round Land is used for, other land wil I be needed sometime in the future. Loren Irvine indicated that it probably won't be too long before we w i I I be unable to buy the kind of land that we real I y want in Eden Prairie because as the population grows land wii I become more and more scarce. Since it Is obvious that additional sites are needed, It would be best to make a selection now rather than wait when avai fable choices are more I Imited and costs are higher. If we have a need we should convince the constituents at the present time and consider a bond issue for the purchase of the land since other available funding alternatives seem Impractical . Bette Anderson replied that this discussion would be far easier in a few months when a more detailed steering committee study wi I I be partially completed and ready for analysis. Bette Anderson spoke against the Northrup King Site feeling it is too expensive. They City Hall Site would provide r, rear end loaded financing-that Is bringing the utilities in late-which has some advantages, and the Bluff Site is still a possibility. Wolfgang Penzel remarked that he thought the intent of the meeting was to I isten to the data and not to make a decision until more facts were available. Since the data has been presented, maybe the discussion should cease at this time. William Bye replied that costs must be discussed . The owners might be making a mistake in getting paid all at one time. Possibly a deferred payment plan through trust arrangements might be advantageous to both the combined governmental bodies and the potential sellers . Dr. Fallon replied that we must pay in not more than four annual Installments in order to stay within state statutes. MOTION MADE BY WOLFGANG PENZEL AND SECONDED BY DOROTHY BENNETT TO ACCEPT THE REPORT PRESENTED AND TO REQUEST THE FACILITIES STUDY COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE FOUR ALTERNATIVE SITE LOCATIONS PLUS THE ROUND LAKE SiTE AND TO RETURN TO THE J01NT BOARDS WiTH A PROGRESS REPORT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MOT i ON PASSED W i IN TWO NEGATIVE VOTES FROM BETTE ANDERSON AND JOAN MEYERS. JOINT MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 31 , 1975 PAGE 4 continued: COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT MOTION MADE BY BETTE ANDERSON AND SECONDED BY WILLIAM BYE TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUT iON: THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD AND THE CiTY COUNCIL HEREBY INDICATE THEIR DESIRE TO ESTABLISH A COOPERATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WHICH WILL ENSURE IMPROVED SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OF EDEN PRAIRIE. TH 1 S WORKING RELATIONSHIP EXTENDS TO THE PLANNING, PROGRAMMING, ACQUISITION, DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF SCHOOL-PARK SITES , JOINT SUPPORT OPERATIONS, AND OTHER SERVICE AREAS WHiCH ALLOW COORDINATED FOCUS UPON COMMON GOALS. z IN SUPPORTING THIS WORKING RELATIONSHIP IT IS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT STATUATORY PROVISIONS GOVERNING JOINT WORKING RELATIONSHIPS ARE ASSUMED TO BE IN EFFECT AND IN NO MANNER ARE THE POWERS OR RESPONSIBILITIES OF EITHER GOVERNMENTAL UNIT DIMISHED. MOTION PASSED WiTH ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AFFIRMATIVE. PRAIRIE VIEW PARK - CITY PLANS Richard Putnam made a brief presentation Indicating that the city owned approximately 15 acres of flat land adjacent to the Prairie View School . Currently plans being proposed would cost approximately $ 125,000 and this project Is presently one of seven priorities established by the city. The poss i b i I i ty that this would be one Included in the proposed referendum question now being considered exists. Komschites asked what the priority would be on this project. Wolfgang Penzel answered that It is one of the seven priorities and some decision and conclusion would be reached within the next ' three months . BOND ISSUE - SCHOOL DISTRICT PLANS Dr. Faison summarized the topic by stating that the real question is - when does. the .schoo i district plan a Bond Issue ? Paul Schee reported that specifics on this question cannot be answered until the first phase of the steering committee study report is completed to determine if a school is actually needed and if so, when It w l I I be needed . This report is expected to be available within three months It would appear somewhat obvious that a Middle School is definitely needed, in the near future, and without attempting to predict the outcome of the proposed steering committee's report it could conceivably result In a recommended bond election within 12 months. Paul Schee further reported that a building to house approximately 900 students would cost somewhere between 4.9 and 5.4 mill lion dollars. This estimate includes approximately $600,000 for a pool . The cost would Increase as the size of the building increased. Mr. Bye asked If two bond issues In one year were too chose together. Dr. Fallon felt that two within one year would be quite close. Wolfgang Penzel reported that at a recent survey taken, 80% of the persons surveyed indicated a strong preference for a pool . He requested that the feelings of the school board be given to the city council as soon as possible concerning their plans for a possible swimming pool . SWIMMING POOL Discussed above. JOINT MEETING MINUTES QF MARCH 31 , 1975 PAGE 5 continued: FUTURE MEETING DATES It was decided that the following meeting dates would be tentatively selected: MAY 29, 1975 J ULY 31 , 1975 SEPTEMBER 29, 1975 OTHER BUSINESS There being no other business the meeting adjourned at 9:50 P.M.