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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - September 25, 2018 SMLODI CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2018 A. Roll call The Special Joint Town Hall meeting between the Lodi City Council and Lodi Unified School District of September 25, 2018, was called to order by Mayor Nakanishi at 6:00 p.m. Present: Council Member Chandler, Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce, and Mayor Nakanishi Absent: Council Member Johnson, and Council Member Kuehne Also Present: City Manager Schwabauer, City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Ferraiolo NOTE: Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce left the meeting at 7:11 p.m. NOTE: Present from the Lodi Unified School District were Board Members Joe Nava, Bonnie Cassel, Daryl Talken, Ron Heberle, and Ron Freitas and School Superintendent Cathy Nichols -Washer. B. Topic B-1 Discussion of Items of Mutual Concern Mayor Nakanishi announced that the City will hold three Town Hall meetings, with this joint Town Hall meeting with Lodi Unified School District (LUSD) being the first. The next two will occur on October 8, 2018, regarding efforts to address homelessness, followed by the third meeting on October 15, 2018, to discuss crime statistics in Lodi. LUSD Superintendent Cathy Nichols -Washer read a statement from LUSD Board President George Neely, who could not attend the meeting, regarding the relationship between the School District and the City, sharing of resources, and benefits of public education and its impacts community -wide. Jeff Palmquist, LUSD Assistant Superintendent Secondary Education, and Julie Jansen with Lincoln Technical Academy provided information regarding secondary Career Technical Education (CTE) courses for students who want to further their education in community colleges, technical schools, or four-year colleges and universities or receive on-the-job training. Further, Ms. Jansen announced that Lincoln Technical Academy will host its second annual open house on October 24, 2018. Mr. Palmquist provided information regarding LUSD's goals toward improving student learning, including ensuring every high school has a computer science and technology pathway. Leonard Kahn, LUSD Chief Business Officer, provided an update on the 15 projects currently underway using Measure U funds approved in the 2016 election, including five building improvement projects totaling $122 million; six fire alarm projects for $4.3 million; and four parking lot projects for roughly $5 million. Ms. Nichols -Washer reported that LUSD has many offerings for students needing additional help or wanting an extra challenge, including intervention programs for students struggling in the system, the Board's commitment to continuing the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program, and college -credit courses and programs. In response to Mayor Nakanishi, Lisa Kotowoski, Assistant Superintendent Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, provided detailed information on the GATE Program, including information on the primary school, the cluster classrooms at other schools, qualifications 1 and criteria for the GATE Program, and that GATE is available to students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Ms. Nichols -Washer added that the GATE Program is not offered at high schools; however, the Advanced Placement (AP) Program is available to high school students. In response to LUSD Board Member Joe Nava, Ms. Nichols -Washer provided information on the Middle College program offered at San Joaquin Delta College, which is open to all students; not solely GATE or AP students. In response to Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce, Mr. Kahn stated that the Reese Elementary School parking lot project will be the first one completed at roughly $1.4 million of Measure U funds and estimated that construction will begin in May with the project completed before the new school year as long as the school and the District can coordinate timing. With regard to using the nearby church parking lot in the interim until the parking lot is completed, a mutually -acceptable agreement could not be reached between LUSD and the church. City Manager Schwabauer highlighted the long-standing history of the partnership between the City of Lodi and LUSD, including maintaining the old high school site as a community asset to serve as a City community center; the School Resource Officer Program and shared contribution toward that resource; partnering on a gang intervention officer who works at the schools and other areas; the Storm Drain Detectives Program who ensure water quality in the Mokelumne River meets standards; informal sharing of properties and facilities; and the joint use agreement for sharing of resources that includes the Grape Bowl, sports fields, and the swimming pool. Mr. Schwabauer provided details on the gang intervention program, the partnership with the School District to fund the full-time gang intervention officer, the functions of the officer, and the results of having this officer work with at -risk youth. Police Chief Tod Patterson provided background information on the School Resource Officer program and acknowledged the officers who mentor and coach students and handle issues at the school sites. He further recognized the efforts of the gang intervention officer and the outreach he does with at -risk youth and thanked the School District for its partnership and financial contribution to both of these programs. Lodi Police Officer Jim Landis described a typical day as a School Resource Officer, explaining they are there to interact with the kids, build relationships, and provide "Gang Resistance Education and Assistance Training" by teaching kids to be better citizens and to give back to their community. Much of what the School Resource Officers do is not tracked, but results of the program are realized in the years afterward. Chief Patterson added that gang violence decreased from 250 incidents in 2011 to 44 currently, which can be attributed to the efforts of the School Resource Officers and the gang intervention officer. Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services (PRCS) Director Jeff Hood provided background information on the joint use agreement with the School District, explaining that the City utilizes seven school sites primarily for the After School Program, but also for athletic fields and pools at Tokay and Lodi High Schools. He further expressed appreciation for the School Districts patience with PRCS over the last year with the changes in field prep at Zupo and Kofu Parks and the softball diamonds due to decreased staffing levels. The Department is currently struggling to meet the needs and demands of the School District, and he thanked the athletic directors and coaches for stepping up to help. LUSD Board Member Ron Heberle expressed the importance of maintaining the 2x2 Committee meetings between the City and the School District in order to keep lines of communication open and to work together on issues relating to joint uses and programs that benefit the community as a whole, adding that the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce should also be part of the joint partnership. Mr. Heberle stated it is beneficial to remind the public of the great programs and offerings available to the community. Council Member Chandler pointed out the City and School District are working on a collaborative 2 effort through the Lodi Public Library to get library cards in the hands of every student in the Lodi Unified School District and shared another program he helped implement through the Lodi Rotary Club to issue dictionaries to all third grade students in the District, which he would like to see expanded through organizations such as the Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission. Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce suggested collaborating with an Asset Based Community Development Program project and joining the book libraries in front of residences on the east side. In response to Mayor Nakanishi regarding efforts to help children be healthy, Ms. Nichols -Washer explained that elementary schools have certified physical education teachers who educate students about nutrition, health, and healthy lifestyle choices in addition to teaching physical education. The District also participates in the Fit Life Impact Program through Lodi Memorial Hospital, which provides instruction to students and their families on how to be physically active, eat healthy, and live healthy lifestyles. Reverend Nelson Rabell, Associate Pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, expressed the need for transportation to and from school for children who walk long distances or through gang -filled areas because many of the children have experienced difficulties or have been harassed. Mayor Pro Tempore Mounce stated there is a program through the bus system where kids can purchase discounted bus rides and suggested providing vouchers for people who are economically challenged. Reverend Rabell stated that members of his congregation have indicated the cost to ride the bus is too high. Ms. Nichols -Washer stated that Mr. Kahn will contact Reverend Rabell to discuss this further. Pastor Mark Price, Senior Pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, pointed out that the City is becoming more and more diverse, yet he believes the leadership on the Council and at the School District does not reflect the city's demographics. He questioned how Reese Elementary School, which has 41 percent people of color, can get a new parking lot approved after one complaint, while Heritage School, which has 98.5 percent people of color, has complained about its parking situation for a number of years yet received no resolution to its problem. He added that the fact that some kids walk along dangerous areas, while others do not, also does not provide equal education for children and does not compare with upper and middle class families because they do not have the same resources available to them. He encouraged the leadership to become better aware of who it represents and to understand the community's demographics. Mr. Kahn stated that Heritage School is budgeted for parking relief in the future, but not during this current year, and stated the area has some restrictions in that there is no open space to create a parking lot; therefore, the only choice will be to add parking in the alleyway area on the north side of the complex. Pat Patrick, President/CEO of the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce, stated that studies show the Lodi community will realize an increase in elderly people, as well as growth in the Hispanic population, in the near future. He stated the Chamber's Vision 2020 plan identified that the community needs to raise up leaders from the Heritage District and he encouraged everyone to bring both sides of town, east and west, together into one Lodi. He described the five Vision Action Teams through the Chamber Vision 2020 plan and its roles and functions and introduced a recent graduate of various Chamber leadership groups and opportunities. C. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. ATTEST: Jennifer M. Ferraiolo City Clerk 3