Joint City School Board (City's Minutes)
April 7, 2005 - 10:30 am Council Chambers

Present: Mayor L. DiIanni, Councillors M. Ferguson, M. Pearson, P. Daly, S. Manchia, E. Johnstone, D. Morrisey, G. Paparella, T. McCabe, M. Gallagher

Councillor Ferguson assumed the Chair.

There were no declarations of interest.

The meeting commenced with an open dialogue on the role of the committee, common interests, role of staff etc.

Members expressed the following points:

• importance of continued cooperation between the city and the two boards
• ways the committee could streamline processes to save money
• having regular meetings to deal with issues as they arise
• establishing a closer relationship at the staff level- appointing a "go to" person for both boards
• appreciated previously held meetings and progress made to date
• would like to address parkland dedication issue.
• start working closer together
• start fresh and go in the direction we want to go
• be cognizant of not having the money we use to have, make good decisions and be decisive.
• address future issues including accommodation issues - community assets, shouldn't be one entity to control assets. Single tax payer working for them and the community sake - role of this group is important., certain issues that we can bring to bear through earlier communication to avoid situations where we are scrambling. i.e. input from community at back end which changes directions of board or city and need to start all over again and retool. Communication needs to be in the beginning. We need to look forward. Wipe slate clean and work cooperatively from now into the future.
• Explore surplus school sites, other operational issues, garbage collection, use of buses to supplement darts, better community solutions.
• On the issue of communication, departments have good intentions but there isn't one person gathering the issues and assessing affects on the board and relaying the information back to the board.
• establish what do we want to do, bounce ideas off together, not to interfere with our roles of councillors and trustee
• Community is upset that we aren't working together, two separate entities
• Each have different roles and should have similar goals and there are occasions when there is an interface between the roles of the city and the boards. Two situations - park dedication and why we have a formula and financing arrangements for developing and purchase of lands, and the other is the accommodation study - Veterans park, Couldry Park , University Gardens , Robert Land school.

New Business Item - Parkland Dedication

With respect to Parkland dedication, Tim McCabe provided an overview of the issue.

Pat Day expressed concerns with respect the by-law. The by-law does exempt some institutions. The School Boards provide much more green space and facility use than the other organizations which are exempted through the by-law.

Pat provided an example of a new school on the west mountain whereby the property was purchased for $20,000 and the parkland dedication costs were $80,000. This issue needs to be resolved.

There are additions being built onto schools and the parkland dedication costs range from $8500 to $16,600 - $50,000 between the four schools.

Pat requested the committee explore the option for existing buildings, the boards be exempt from paying the parkland dedication fee.

Additions list to be submitted to Tim and review the timelines.

The following schools are currently affected by the imposed fees:

• St. Luke's
• St. Agnes
• St. Michael's
• St. Augustine 's

(Pearson/DiIanni)
That the Planning and Economic Development Committee be requested to review the exemptions to the parkland dedication by-law specifically as it relates to new additions of school board facilities.

That staff be directed to further review the impact of the exemption on the development charges by-law. CARRIED.

The Committee requested the following items be listed on future agendas:

1. Fencing issue
2. Explore use of a reciprocal ledgers - addressing operational and capital issues - a cashless ledger which is reviewed and reconciled every year

Meeting Frequency

The committee agreed that the meetings be at the call of the chair and could range from monthly (if there are immediate issues of concern) to twice a year.

Issues to be addressed were to be e-mailed to Mary Gallagher.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.