09-09-1997 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

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SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL AND INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 728 SCHOOL BOARD HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1997 Members Present: Members Absent: Staff Present: Mayor Duitsman, Councilmembers Dietz, Thompson, Farber, and Holmgren None Tom Tyler, Police Sergeant; Bryan Vita, Juvenile Liaison Officer; Bob Kluntz, Juvenile Liaison Officer; Steve Miller, Juvenile Liaison Officer; Tom Zerwas, Chief of Police; and Pat Klaers, City Administrator Call Meetin.q To Order Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the special joint meeting of the Elk River City Council and lSD 728 School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman. Joint Meetin.q School Board Chair Jeff Gongoll introduced the topic of the meeting which was a discussion on the school D.A.R.E. program and the school junior/senior high liaison program. The City Administrator provided some background information on the current operation of the school D.A.R.E. and junior/senior high liaison program. It was noted that the three officers are all trained in D.A.R.E. and that they rotate in their positions; one position is strictly a junior/senior high liaison officer, one position is strictly an elementary D.A.R.E. position, and one position is mainly a junior/senior high liaison officer who also teaches secondary D.A.R.E. The positive benefits of having the Elk River officers interact with the students at various grade levels were discussed. The City Administrator stated that the City Council discussed this issue at its meeting on 9/8/97. At this meeting, the Council agreed to offer the elementary D.A.R.E. program to the school district at no charge provided that the payment for the school liaison program move closer toward the actual cost of the service. Currently the school reimburses the city at a rate of 42 percent of the officers salary and benefits while the city pays 58 percent of these expenses plus all of the other officer related expenses. Since the officer is in the school 75 percent of the year, it is the goal of the city to move toward this 75 percent repayment level over the next few years. For the 1997-98 school it is suggested that this repayment percentage move to approximately 47.5 or a total of $60,000 for two officers. Further adjustments need to be made in future years in order to slowly move toward the appropriate repayment level for the city services provided.