HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998.0129.TCJM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
400,0 MINUTES OF THE JOINT MEETING OF THE
FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL &
FOUNTAIN HILLS SCHOOL BOARD
JANUARY 29, 1998
A public meeting of the Fountain Hills Town Council was convened and called to order by Vice Mayor
Wiggishoff at 6:30 P.M., Thursday, January 29, 1998, in the Fountain Hills Town Hall Council Chambers,
located at 16836 E.Palisades Blvd.,Building B,Fountain Hills,Arizona.
ROLL CALL:
Fountain Hills Town Council: Vice Mayor Marianne Wiggishoff and Councilmembers Bill O'Brien, Sid
Apps, and Al Poma. Mayor Miles and Councilmen Don Lawrence and Pen Mower were absent. Also
present was Town Manager Paul Nordin.
Fountain Hills School Board: President Ginny Chin, Dana Saar,Jim Dickey,Nan Lesnick and Kim Schumann.
Karen Jones was absent. Also present were Tom Mann and Don Combrink.
AGENDA ITEM #1 - REPORT BY THE FACILITIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON FUTURE
DISTRICT BUILDING PLANS.
Tom Mann presented those in attendance with information compiled by the Facilities Advisory Committee
relative to future building needs of the school district. He stated the Committee recommended that a new 1100-
student middle school be constructed and ready to open by June 2001. Also remodeling of Four Peaks School
to increase the capacity of the school by 150 students. These two recommendations would need to be provided
for by a$19 million bond issue. A review sometime in the year 2001 would be needed to question whether a
third elementary school was needed. He stated a possible $10 million bond issue would be needed for that
matter. The Committee had reviewed the various existing sites and deemed the state0owned lands as the best
location for a middle school.
Vice Mayor Wiggishoff thanked the Committee for sharing their report and asked the Board how it would
address a possible public perception drawn from the presentation that the Town should spend $19 million
because capacity has been exceeded by,in one case, 12 students.
Dana Saar stated the quality of education was the single most important concern. Ms. Lesnick stated the
community should be asked to continue the quality of education by approving future bond elections. Mr. Saar
stated the expenses of teacher salaries, books, etc. comes out of the regular budget. Mr. Mann stated a study
was in the process regarding the usage of Indian lands for future school sites. Mr. Dickey predicted that the
Town could have a problem using state lands when preservation issues had been stressed. Attorney Matt
Behrens suggested the Town Council ask the State Lands Department for use of part of the state lands for a
school facility and the rest remain as a preserve.
Town Manager Paul Nordin asked if utilities were available in the outlying areas being considered. Also of
concern was the Fire District.
Mr.Dickey suggested the matter for the urgency of construction of a middle school be brought before the entire
Council at their February 19th meeting for a presentation.
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AGENDA ITEM #2 - UPDATE ON THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE AND HOW IT MIGHT
EFFECT THE TOWN AND SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Ginny Chin reviewed a number of bills before the Arizona Legislature which dealt with development fees,
raising the number of school days, redistricting or unification of school districts and tax deductible status of
schools. She pointed out tax-deductible donations in the amount of $500 for private schools and $200 for
public schools(used for extra-curricular activities only)were now allowable.
AGENDA ITEM #3 - JOINT USE OF FACILITIES, SITES, BIDDING PROCEDURES, STATE
LAND,AND OTHER POSSIBLE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS.
Mr.Nordin pointed out that the School District and the Town were going to be bidding for a fuel supplier in the
near future. Continuing efforts were being made regarding the park usage at Four Peaks School. Vice Mayor
Wiggishoff suggested the Town's newsletter contain school messages and that Channel 11 was also at their
disposal.
AGENDA ITEM #4 - DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBILITY OF COMBINING THE TOWN AND
DISTRICT GROUPS FOR HEALTH AND MEDICAL BENEFITS.
Superintendent of Schools Walt Dunne stated that the school district is a self funded trust at the present time
and would be unable to join the Town in seeking the same insurance carrier. He suggested if the school district
broke away from that system it was possible to retain the same carrier and suggested both groups could obtain
better rates if joined. Councilman Apps suggested the need for input from teachers.
AGENDA ITEM#5-ADJOURNMENT.
Councilman Apps MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Poma SECONDED the motion, which
CARRIED unanimously. Vice Mayor Wiggishoff adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS
By: r
J Mil ,Mayor
Town Council/School Board Work/Study Session 1/29/98
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Cassie B. Hansen,Town Clerk
PREPARED BY: �. C! �ivs•��-•—�
Linda .Lemmen,Administrative Assistant
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Work/Study
Session Meeting held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 29th day of January 1998. I further
certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present.
DATED this 19th day of February 1998.
)JILAA_A-_,
Cassie B.Hansen,Town Clerk
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