HomeMy WebLinkAbout5C - Building Permit Fee Waiver
DATE:
5C
FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRf 719 REQUESTS
FOR BUILDING PERMIT RELATED FEE WAIVER.
APRIL 1, 1996
AGENDA #
PREPARED BY:
SUBJECT:
School Board Chair, Renee Clark, and Board Member,
Mike Autenrieth, will be present to request that the
City Council give consideration to waiving some or all
of the fees associated with the Westwood building
construction project. Les Sonnabend has submitted
the attached letter on behalf of the School Board
discussing aspects of this request.
Since staff has not had the opportunity to provide the
City Council with a report on this request, I
recommend the following actions:
. The Council should hear the request at the April 1
meeting and ask questions as appropriate
. The request should be deferred for future
consideration.
. That the Council should receive a complete report
with recommendations from the staff following a
joint meeting between the School District, Savage
City Council and Prior Lake City Council
tentatively set for April 29.
16200 ~~~~t~SfAQP~.E., Prior Lake. Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
T
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DISTRICT SERVICES CENTER
Fax: (612) 440-1096
Phone: 447-2185
Dr. Les Sonnabend
Superintendent
Jere Phillips
Business Affairs
Dr. Jerry Spies
Curriculum & Personnel
Bob Cully
Transportation
Jean Winters
Food Services & Purchasing
Leanne Weyrauch
Community Services
Fred Blaisdell
Special Services
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Dr. Craig Olson, Principal
Lori Boynton. Assistant Principal
Fax: (612) 440-4036
Phone: 447-4131
Athletic Office
440-4036
Attendance Office (business hours)
447-4131
Attendance Office (after hours)
447-4692
Cable TV/Public Access
447-4131
Counseling Office
440-4033
Swimming Pool Office
447-4687
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 719
5300 WestWood Drive SE
PO Box 539
Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372
March 26, 1996
Mayor Lee Andren &
Prior Lake City Council
Prior Lake City Hall
16200 Eagle Creek Avenue SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Dear Mayor Andren & Council Members:
We would like to express the appreciation from the entire Prior Lake - Savage Area School
Board for the opportunity to meet with you in a combined workshop on February 5th.
While we have some evident disagreements on issues, we have many more areas of
generalized agreement and cooperation already established.
At the conclusion of the workshop on February 5th, we discussed various city fees that are
assessed on building additions and remodeling projects for our schools in the City of Prior
Lake. We expressed a desire to reduce or eliminate some of these fees and you asked that
we present a request to you outlining possible remedies.
HIDDEN OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL In that light, we would like to offer the following opportunities:
Dr. Paula Tetzloff, Principal
Fax: (612) 447-2184
Phone: 447-2188
Early Childhood Family Education
447-3233
GRAINWOOD ELEMENTARY
Linette Manier, Principal
Fax: (612) 440-1095
Phone: 440-1091
FIVE HAWKS ELEMENTARY
Darwin Fosse, Principal
Fax: (612) 447-4159
Phone: 447-4139
WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY
Rickey Ravnhoidt, Principal
Fax: (612) 447-2139
Phone: 447-2178
PONDS EDGE EARLY
LEARNING SCHOOL
Cindy Solberg, Intern Principal
Fax: (612) 440-2934
Phone: 440-2930
Early Childhood Family Education
440-2940
.
First of all, we believe that this presents a timely opportunity to be pro-active in
collaboration between local levels of government. We do not accept the fact that there is
a standard procedure that is followed by everyone and therefore we must also blindly fall
in line with past practice. We believe that there needs to be systemic change in how we
co-exist, fOi tria banefit of aU Otii citizens. We have a unique opportunity to Cia ate a
relationship that could become a metro area modeL
. We would like to state up front that we are more than willing to pay any actual costs
associated with the construction of these projects. For example, the amount of money
that is set aside in reviewing plans and doing actual inspections - if that indeed
represents the actual cost of the people involved, those certainly should be paid. As we
add up the costs associated for the remodeling portions at WestWood, the high school,
and Five Hawks, it appears that the fees being assessed the district are significantly in
excess of the actual costs to the city.
. Secondly, when it comes to SAC and WAC charges associated with classrooms, we
don't believe a one size fits all formula works for our public schools. We can present
information on the Pond's Edge building that the amount of water being used upon which
the SAC and WAC charges should be based is significantly less than the amount of
water used when that facility was a bowling alley. A formula based on classrooms
without any actual tie-in to water and sewer usage does not seem to reflect actual costs
associated with public school use.
Serving Prior Lake. Savage. Spring Lake Township. Cedar Lake Township. Credit River Township. Sand Creek Township
r
..
Page 2
. The park fee subject, we believe, is an area where we can cooperate and meet needs that the city may have as
well as the schools. Referring to the August 9, 1994 memo from Bill Mangan to City Manager Boyles, the part
that we most strongly object to is in the last paragraph of the first page where it says, "With the park system
expanding and the constant shortage of funding sources, we would recommend to you that we not short change
ourselves by waiving the one source of revenue that we do have. W We think that the school district being
viewed as a source of revenue, especially in the area of park dedication, is way off base. We are in the process
of upgrading play equipment at WestWood through the generous support of service clubs in our community as
well as hard working parents, through the efforts of PTC. This will be of benefit to the entire community and at
no cost to the city. We have done so at Five Hawks and at Grainwood also. These facilities are open all year
long and are used extensively by city residents when school is not in session. To suggest that we are not
spending money on green space that is used by Prior Lake city residents is just not a fact. If, in fact, the park
fees are waived, we would very much like to continue to upgrade our green space so it is as attractive as
possible for our citizens.
. Another area of concern is the landscape ordinance. We believe that we can and should be treated as a
separate entity. We have both agreed that we are good partners in providing attractive green space and we will
continue to do that in terms of planting trees and taking excellent care of our facilities and our grounds.
In conclusion, we believe that the public views the city and the school district as tax supported entities. We are sure
that the tax payers would not look favorably on the city using money in excess of actual costs, as charged to the
school district, to support other city projects. Stated simply, one taxing authority should not have to raise taxes to
support the activities of another taxing authority.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely yours,
PRIOR LAKE - SAVAGE AREA SCHOOL BOARD