INFORMATION #2 08-19-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

SchooI Fees August 19, 2002 2 Police Liaison Services Police Chief Tom Zerwas and Assistant Chief Jeff Beahen have provided considerable information on this topic akeady so I will not go into great detail. As you know, the School District and the City entered into an agreement in 1999 regarding the payment for liaison services. Using that formula for the year 2000, the School District commitment was $43,000. Even though the agreement states that the amount may increase based on student population and the crime levy, no adjustment has been made. Prior to this agreement, the School District paid a larger share of the program's cost. Police Security The School District requests that the police provide security service at numerous school functions, including athletic, extracurricular, and special events. In addition, the City provides traffic control assistance on School Street at the end of each school day to alleviate the congestion caused by students leaving the school parking lot. The City charges per hour for services as requested by the School District. In no case does the City charge for services unless they are requested and approved by school officials. In addition, the City provides a juvenile liaison officer free of charge at some school events. All security for high school hockey games is provided by the City as part of the ice rental fee and is not charged directly to the School District. Security services are charged at a rate of $41.00 per hour, which is the average overtime rate (since all of these hours are outside of regular duty) for a police officer, including benefits. The City is simply covering its costs and passing them through to the School District for these services. For traffic control services, the City charges $10.00 per day for Community Service Officer Bob Swenson's time to direct traffic. Cable TV Production The School District requested use of the City's council chambers for School Board meetings, so that the meetings could be broadcast on cable TV. The City provides production staff for all School Board meetings held in the council chambers. The City charges $50.00 per hour for production services and use of the council chambers. Initially the fees charged were lower; however, City staff found that the wear and tear on the council chambers and equipment were far more than expected due to the number of citizens who attend the School Board meetings. As you know, this room is not designed to accommodate the number of citizens in attendance at some of the School Board meetings. Ice Rental Both of the boys and girls school hockey teams use the City's ice arena for practice and games. For that service the City charges an ice rental fee and receives part of the admission revenues. The School District has also rented the arena for dry floor events. Since the amount is so minor it has been included in with Ice Rental in this memo. As you know, the ice arena fund is annually subsidized by the City's General Fund. In addition, capital outlay costs, such as a new Zamboni and matting in the locker rooms, have been paid for through other City funds. Obviously ice rental fees and other fees generated by the arena do not cover the costs to run the ice arena. The City certainly could justify increasing fees charged to the School District and other users, but has chosen not to. City Council has consistently approved subsidizing this facility and based on projections will need to continue to do so in the future to keep the arena operational.