2000-R-09Mayor Schmidt spoke about the proposed Middle School. He went to
a School Board meeting several weeks ago, and as a citizen he
voiced his opinion. After that, he was accused of possibly
working for the other side instead of having the concerns of the
children of Edgewater. This is an issue they are going to have
to deal with in the future. He spoke about the proposed sites
that were discussed such as a site on U.S. J1, Roberts Road,
Mango Tree Drive, Oak Hill, and Indian River Boulevard. He
further commented on why he feels the Indian River Boulevard site
is the best place for the Middle School.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS
A Res No 2000-R-09 Supporting Volusia County School Board in
the planning and design of Middle School site 'FF'
City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Saralee Morrissey
is available to answer any questions. Staff recommends approval
of the recommendation supporting this site.
Councilwoman Lichter stated her first concern is safety. She
would say from past experience with all good intent when we deal
with the County or the State to say I believe, I think, they
promise, maybe isn't enough for her. She wants to see it in
writing. She can not prematurely say yea or nay.
Councilwoman Lichter spoke about the financial implication to our
community. She spoke about the Board of Education having to find
the property for the school. She is supportive of the concept of
a school here but she doesn't have to help select the property.
She also feels ecology is a factor. If she is pushed tonight to
a vote on the resolution as is, she could not support it tonight.
She supports the concept of the school being here but she has to
see things in writing.
City Manager Hooper commented on it being too soon to have some
of the data Councilwoman Lichter is asking for. Steps will occur
but it is premature at this time to have all of that data.
Councilwoman Lichter stated in the past when a school was built
in this community, did the City Council at this preliminary time
get involved with the support. City Manager Hooper stated he
thinks the normal function is to ask the local governments. He
spoke of the due diligence process the School Board goes through.
Councilwoman Lichter feels the Coronado Horse Farm is a risky
place safety wise. A bit riskier than other places. She has
doubts at this time.
Councilman Vincenzi spoke in favor of planning a Middle School
but he also has questions about the proposed site. He hasn't
received any information in writing regarding this.
Councilman Brown also feels we need a Middle School in our area.
He also hasn't received any information and would not be happy
with a school that is not safe for the kids. He spoke about kids
cutting through people's property and the potential for
vandalism. He would like to see more paperwork. He likes the
area but if it can't be made safe he can't see that would be the
place to build a school.
Councilwoman Rhodes asked if they have recourse to see that it is
made safe. They can build a school there if they buy the
property whether we want them to or not. Any input we would have
as far as the safety factors go would be through the County and
the School Board.
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Council Regular Meeting
May S, 2000
Councilman Brown feels they have an opportunity with the widening
of S.R. 442 that possibly it could be incorporated in to build in
more safety factors.
Councilwoman Rhodes spoke about making suggestions that could be
more efficient and less costly to keep our kids safe. City
Manager Hooper stated the efforts and the discussion with DOT are
under way. That first stage is underway. What he is hearing
Council say is they support the idea and the concept but they
would like a little more. He suggested they bring this
resolution back at the time the due diligence is completed and
then they can have from the School Board more information for
Council. The School Board is seeking input from the Council and
they want to work with the City.
Councilwoman Lichter feels sidewalks in themselves do not
guarantee safety. She spoke about receiving no information from
the Board of Education or any meeting dates. She would be more
supportive if the Board of Education came to speak to the
Council.
City Manager Hooper asked the council if they would like to
continue this item and then at the end of the due diligence time
frame, the School Board or himself will work to bring Council as
much information in the way of facts as they can.
Councilwoman Rhodes asked if at the end of the due diligence time
frame they will have any more concrete facts than they have now.
City Manager Hooper spoke about the crossing guards being
controlled by the City as much as anybody. If we want it, we are
going to help do it. The due diligence will tell the Council a
little more about how much they know of the property, if they
have come across any problems. There may be more facts in the
way of what DOT will be able to do and there may be some
preliminary site plan evaluation to that.
Saralee Morrissey, Volusia County School District, spoke about
the concerns being expressed also being concerns of the School
District and School Board. It is their feeling that this site,
they think at this point in time, is most suitable for a Middle
School. Some of the issues Council has raised are a little bit
beyond their due diligence and come with the actual school
planning and site design. All that has been funded for Middle
School 'FF' is the site acquisition. She further spoke about
safety concerns that have been discussed with D.O.T.
Ms. Morrissey explained crossing guards are funded by Volusia
County and are funded for elementary schools only. At this point
in time, the County Council has not funded crossing guards at
middle schools and has left it to each community.
Ms. Morrissey explained they are in due diligence right now which
is a lot of the exploration on the site regarding the soils, the
bald eagle, and whether or not they are able to work within it.
She further spoke about working with D.O.T. She would be happy
to come back at a later time.
Councilman Vincenzi stated he would like to hear from her after
they are done with their due diligence. He asked if they would
finish the due diligence process and decide to purchase it or
will they finish the process and then come back and speak to
people. Ms. Morrissey stated they may finish the process and not
decide to purchase it. They don't have to have the Council's
support to move forward though they would like to have it because
it would be a positive indicator of working together in the long
term.
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Council Regular Meeting
May 8, 2000
Councilman Vincenzi would be willing to put this on the next
meeting after the due diligence process is done. Ms. Morrissey
explained their option runs out in July and she would be happy to
come back before that and hopefully have all the answers.
Councilman Vincenzi feels the resolution is premature. Whether
they decide to put a middle school there or not really is not up
to the Council. They are just voicing their concerns and the
concerns of the citizens.
Councilwoman Lichter feels they should know what the City is
going to be required to do. She asked if this could be tabled to
a future time.
Ms. Morrissey explained they do not need a formal resolution.
Whether that site works out or not, they do believe that this
middle school belongs in Edgewater and they would like to feel
comfortable that they can work together. They are going to have
these issues at whatever site is chosen for a middle school.
Councilwoman Lichter asked if there is a certain amount of
acreage that is needed for a middle school. Ms. Morrissey stated
their site standard for a middle school is 40 developable acres,
for a high school it is 80 and for an elementary school it is 20.
Councilwoman Rhodes asked Ms. Morrissey if she felt confident
that if they came back sometime before their option runs out in
July, that they would have more answers for us. Ms. Morrissey
stated she doesn't want to leave Council with the impression that
she can answer all the questions. She feels like Council wants
specifics that she won't have.
City Manager Hooper explained Ms. Morrissey will come back and
tell the Council the results of the due diligence and basically
say whether or not they are still interested in purchasing the
site after they have learned more about it. The site planning
and how you are going to do traffic is probably not going to have
any more information than they have today.
Ms. Morrissey commented on their experience in other communities.
David Turner, Willow Oak Drive, presented a petition to Council
with a letter that was given to the School Board. He read the
petition.
Council decided to table this issue until a later date and bring
it back when they have more information.
City Manager Hooper asked Ms. Morrissey if she had a date when
the due diligence would be done so they could reschedule their
meeting. Ms. Morrissey asked to schedule her towards the end of
June.
City Manager Hooper made a staff presentation. Mayor Schmidt
stated he does sit on the Volusia Council of Governments and this
is a resolution that every city has done. It allows us to show
full support so they can get the money to conduct a study.
Ed Keenan, 1905 Pine Tree Drive, spoke about why he thinks this
is a very good idea.
Legal Assistant Matusick read Res. 2000-R-10.
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Council Regular Meeting
May 8, 2000