Recommendation

Staff recommends that the City Council hear the report from the Staff on the City/School 2+2 Committee, comments from the Council’s Representatives on the 2+2 Committee (Mayor Grocott and Council Member Lewis), offer any comments and discussion and then accept the report. 

Fiscal Implications

There are no fiscal implications or budget impact to hear and accept the 2+2 City/School Meeting Report.  As the 2+2 City/School Committee continues its work, some of its future actions and recommendations may have a fiscal impact on the City budget.

Background

In 1995, the City of San Carlos and San Carlos Elementary School District started a program at the staff level of both agencies of work together to maximize the use of the resources of both agencies.  This was done in recognition of the fact that the agencies serve the same residents and students and that together, we can often achieve better results.  Key initiatives have included joint use of School and City Facilities for Parks and Recreation classes and activities (Summer School, Club Ed, etc.) shared technology initiatives (Net Day, Challenge 2000, Technology Goes to School) and work on traffic circulation.

This program was expanded to involve members of the City Council and the School Board through the 2+2 City/School Committee.  The 2+2 Committee has two representatives from each governing  body (City Council and School Board) as well as staff from each agency – City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Parks & Recreation Director and Public Works Director/City Engineer (City) and School Superintendent and Business Manager (School District) .  It meets on an as needed basis each year to discuss matters of interest and concern to the agencies.  At the October 3^rd meeting of the 2+2 Committee, several key projects were discussed as noted below. 

Discussion of Athletic Fields at School Sites

The topic of City use and scheduling of the athletic fields at School Sites was discussed.  This includes the existing agreement between the City and School District for the Athletic Field at Heather Elementary School, and the need to upgrade that field, the City interest in an agreement and upgrading the field at Tierra Linda Middle School and the City Council discussion about the possibility of a field at Central Middle School.

Some of the key points from the discussion of the Athletic Fields at School Sites were:

·         The land at these sites needs to be retained in ownership by the School District, but a long-term lease for their upgrade, scheduling and use by the City can be considered

·         The School District will explore contributing to the upgrading of these fields over time

·         The three sites are under construction, with Tierra Linda Middle School emerging from construction last (in about 1 year from now)

·         In any agreement, the Schools will get first access to the fields after school

·         City access to the fields will be earliest in the day at Heather Elementary School (3:00 p.m.) and later at the Tierra Linda and Central Middle Schools (5:00 p.m.)

·         The School District will schedule a discussion of their priorities and approach on the City access and use of School Fields at an upcoming School Board meeting later this year

Traffic Circulation at School Sites

An ongoing agenda item at the 2+2 Committee Meetings has been traffic circulation at school sites with a focus on the traffic issues at Tierra Linda Middle School/Charter Learning Center/Carlmont High School intersection.  Key points during this discussion were:

·         Traffic remains a concern at this intersection and the School Principal and Vice Principal are involved in directing traffic each day

·         The proposal for a “loop road” around the Tierra Linda/Charter School campus is no longer practical due to the recent addition of parking spaces by the City of Belmont

·         The addition of a turn lane at the Tierra Linda/Charter School site is one option to improve conditions at a cost of approximately $250,000 (one-time Capital Project).

·         Another alternative that has proven successful in the past is a Shuttle service.  (Approximate cost: $200,000 per year for this site plus access to CalTrain station).

·         The City and School District will explore the turn lane and shuttle options going forward.

School Opportunities – Cable TV Channels & Fiber I-Net

In the City’s current Cable TV franchises with Comcast and RCN, there can be up to 4 PEG (Public, Education and Government) Access channels.  Two have been activated (Peninsula TV – Channel 26 and City of San Carlos – Channel 27).  City staff is recommending that the remaining two channels be activated before the new Video Law (AB 2987) takes effect and it is harder to obtain these channels.  The new channels would be used for Countywide Educational Programming (County Office of Education) and San Carlos Schools Programming (San Carlos Elementary School District).

There was also discussion about the new Fiber Optic Institutional Network (I-Net) that Comcast will build in San Carlos under the City’s Cable TV franchise.  It will include all of the City’s key buildings and all of the School District’s schools.  The complimentary part of the I-Net will move video around the I-Net to City Hall (hub site).  Voice and Data features can be added at the City and School District’s cost.  The School District will work with the City staff to explore making these additions at the school sites.

Submitted by:                                                                             Approved by:

Brian Moura                                                                                Mark Weiss

Assistant City Manager                                                                 City Manager