Long Range Plan Minutes September 26, 2006

Long Range Plan Review Committee
Minutes
September 25, 2006

Members in Attendance:
Harry Amend* Rex Fairfield Jeffery Hill David Miller Dave Patzer
Rosie Astorquia* Jim Ferguson Doug Jaworski Leslie Miller Ann Siebert
Hazel Bauman* Scott Fischer* Mary Larson Jane Morgan Lori Smith
Jeff Bengtson Russ Hansen Bryan Martin* Jill Neal John Swallow
Susan Clayton Katie Harris John McLeod Vern Newby* John Young

*Ex-officio members

Welcome:
Jill Neal called the meeting to order at 4:37 p.m. The meeting was held at the Midtown Center meeting room. Jill and Harry thanked current, outgoing and new members for their attendance. The committee members introduced themselves.

Approval of June Minutes:
Motion by Russ Hansen, second by John McLeod to approve the June 7, 2006 minutes, approved unanimously.

Recognition of Jill Neal:
Harry presented outgoing chair, Jill Neal, with an appreciation plaque on behalf of the Board of Trustees, the Long Range Planning Committee, administration and the community. He thanked Jill for her dedication, leadership and all her hard work. Jill thanked everyone and stated she could not have done it without the help of this committee and the Board because it is a team effort.

Incoming Chair:
Harry stated that he has known Dave Patzer, incoming chair, for a number of years. He is excited to have Dave as the new chair and commended him for his style and integrity.

Superintendent’s/District Report – Harry Amend:
Harry directed the committee to the informational update memo that was provided by Steve Briggs. It covers enrollment, levy basics, the summary of expenditures from the 2002 S.P.F.L. and summer projects that were completed. The Ramsey Elementary remodel was a result of this levy and Harry encouraged everyone to take a tour of the school. This also the fourth year of the technology funds that were provided through the levy. Harry further reported that the District received (last year) an Emergency Response & Crisis Management Grant in order to enhance the District’s emergency preparedness and response capacity.

Recommendation for October 2nd Board Meeting:
Harry gave some background information for anyone that may have missed the last meeting or is a new committee member. He explained that after the School Plant Facilities Levy (S.P.F.L.) failed last March, the Levy Steering Committee commissioned a survey in order to determine why the levy failed. The members received a preliminary report at the last meeting. The completed survey was mailed to the committee last week so they could study the results in order develop a recommendation at tonight’s meeting that would go before the Board at their October 2nd meeting. Harry opened up for discussion the results of the survey as well as the timing of the next S.P.F.L. If time allows, the scope will also be discussed. The following comments were made by the committee members:
• How much time is needed in order to communicate effectively with the voters in order to sell programs, provide information, etc.? The community needs to be engaged.

• The Supplemental Maintenance & Operations (M & O) levy goes before the voters in May in conjunction with the Trustee election in order to save money in election costs. Do we want to double up something with that levy? Does the timing need to be different? Do we forego the S.P.F.L. this year in order to focus solely on the M & O? The M & O is critical to the District.
• Historically the District has run the S.P.F.L. on an off-year from the M & O
• The S.P.F.L. projects are needed but do not want to jeopardize the M & O

Vern Newby pointed out that the first critical piece needed from Long Range Planning is whether the M & O is something that is feasible next May? If so, how much is the community willing to support for those programs? The next step would be to determine if there is anything else that is feasible to do this year.
Further comments made by the committee:

• Everyone has seen how their assessment has gone up but they haven’t seen how it translates to dollars yet. There is a lot of mistrust. We need to do one thing at a time, the M & O in May. After that, we need to determine when to do an S.P.F.L. (6 months, 1 year later) and pick our most urgent needs (maybe one project at a time).
• The Assessor tends to be about one year behind (using previous year sales tax). Might have a perfect window coming up.
• There are huge issues happening this fall which may determine how the taxpayers look at their tax bills – Proposition #1 and Proposition #2. Also, the special Legislative session in August took $3,000,000 off taxes and the S.P.F.L. will be dropping off. The needs haven’t changed but it would be challenging to try to pass an S.P.F.L. after patrons have seen their tax bills go down.
• The tax bills will go down as of October 1st (three quarters of a year)
• If the M & O does not pass you will not recognize this District. It represents 14% of the budget.
• The majority of people that participated in the survey still felt there was a need for facilities. It has do with the perception of how the dollars are being spent. We need to put together a recommendation, with public input, on how to spend the remaining $4,000,000+ left from the 2002 S.P.F.L.
• Need to be real thoughtful and careful on what you are requesting on the M & O. It narrowly passed the last time (54%). Most people don’t understand their tax bills (education is needed).
• The worst idea would be to try to pass the M & O and S.P.F.L. at the same time (survey results show this). Need to concentrate on the M & O.
• Critical deadlines – the budget process needs to be formulated (May) and the budget hearing needs to occur 28 days before the Board of Trustees annual meeting (June).
• With some work, we can win back the voters that gave the District an A or B. We need to pass with a majority not a super majority.
• Need to get our supporters to the polls. All of the projects were in the south.
• Possibly do an advisory vote

Motion by Jeff Bengtson, second by Jill Neal that the Long Range Planning Committee is going to take some time to study where to go with the S.P.F.L. and concentrate our energies right now on the Supplemental Maintenance and Operations Levy tentatively scheduled in May.

Committee discussed followed on:

• Getting the information out to the voters that we listened to them and that we are going to hold off and put our energies into the M & O that is extremely critical at this point.
• Needs are not going away and talking to patrons about this while campaigning to receive some feedback.
• Increasing construction costs
• Cost of living in this area
• Enrollment
• The District’s C+ rating not being acceptable
• A possible hybrid solution (run an S.P.F.L. for $5,500,000 and add it to the remaining $4,500,000 for projects)
• Run a bond for Lakes so it makes it more affordable in order to stay ahead of rising construction costs.

After discussion of these issues, the committee unanimously approved the motion.

Harry stated that the work of this committee for the remainder of the year will be to talk about the remaining $4,000,000 + that is leftover from the 2002 S.P.F.L., what the next S.P.F.L. should look like and when it should go.

The Levy Steering Committee is sending out a letter to 125+ stakeholders later this week. This is an update letter to individuals and/or companies asking them if they would be willing to contribute money for a long campaign (part of it would be to help pay for the survey). Everyone on this committee will receive a copy of this letter later this week.

Board of Trustees Report – Vern Newby:
Vern pointed out that the great thing about an S.P.F.L. is that once it expires it drops off and gives some tax relief but a bond does not work that way.

Homework for Next Meeting:
Dave requested that the committee members do the following homework prior to the next meeting:
• To give some thought to the leftover $4,000,000+ from the 2002 S.P.F.L.
• Review the enrollment information provided by Steve Briggs
• Harry has all the Robinson survey data on DVD (contact him if you are interested in this)
• Need a volunteer for the Vice Chair position

He thanked all the outgoing members for their tenure on the committee and welcomed the new members. Jill will be staying on the committee as immediate past chair in order to offer some continuity. Dave’s challenge and promise to the committee is to keep the meetings progressing along with the agenda, keep the time in mind and to provide as much information prior to the meetings as possible in order to have meaningful conversations.

Next Meeting:
The next Long Range Planning meeting will be held on Monday, October 23 at 4:30 p.m. at the Midtown Center meeting room.

Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Cheri Beard
Administrative Secretary

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