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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-09-1997 Cities & Schools CITIES AND SCHOOLS FORUM MINUTES Tuesday, December 9, 1997, 7:00p. m. Auburn High School's Cafd /luburn I. INTRODUCTIONS The December 9, 1997, meeting of the Cities and Schools Forum convened at 7:08 p.m. at Caf~ Auburn at Auburn High School, 800 Fourth Street Northeast. Dessert was served by the Caf~ Auburn staff and students, and the meeting was convened by Superintendent Cowan. II. TRANSPORTATION ISSUES Councilmember Richard Wagner was called upon to initiate discussion regarding mutual transportation concems shared among the schools and member cities. Concerns regarding the negative impacts of increased rail traffic volume and the reopening of the Stampede rail line were discussed. Concerns dealt with the necessity of ensuring the movement of increased volume of rail freight through the community without severely limiting home/school to/from work, motorized freight, commercial and emergency vehicular movements. Separated crossings at Cross Street, 3~a Street NW, "M" Street, Auburn/Black Diamond Road and NW 277m are very much needed to ensure unimpeded non-rail movement east/west and north/south. There is strong support for requiring both BNSF and SPUP to mitigate the impacts of volume increases upon member cities and the Auburn School District. A concem regarding inadequacies of the overall transportation budget and the need for some sort of comprehensive approach to providing budget for road and street repair, improvement and expansion without adversely impacting other essential services and programs was emphasized. Representative Robertson outlined several approaches to resolution of the problem being considered by his caucus. III. HUMAN SERVICES ISSUES Mayor Booth opened discussion of human services and the impacts of funding changes upon local jurisdictions and citizens. Devolution at the federal level has apparently negatively impacted state funding which has in turn reduced available resources at the county level, causing increased pressures for funding at the local level. Some examples pointed out were reductions in Section 8 housing and welfare-to-work pressures. The State's willingness to fund continued support to legal immigrants was cut off by federal Gities and Schools Forum Minutes December 9, 1997 Page 2 legislative action. A discussion of funding and program approaches ensued. The issue regarding program responsibility was also discussed what should be a local, regional, state or federal responsibility and how to fund a specific service most directly, given the present bureaucratic structure of the governance structure. IV. LOCAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM Superintendent Cowan opened discussion regarding the nature, structure and funding of the local educational program. The Aubum School District program is of very high quality, held in esteem both locally and statewide. The District has been careful to be certain the educational dollar is used as legislatively intended and there is program accountability supporting all decisions. The District staff is eoncemed that the student transportation service is underfunded by approximately $1.9 million dollars and that the vocational education program will be adversely impacted by year two of the two-year budget. Representative Robertson understood concerns shared and will continue to work towards responsible funding of education. V. ADJOURNMENT The meeting concluded with a discussion of how communication might be improved among and between the committee and legislative group. With no further business being before the committee, adjourmnent was moved by consensus at 8:30 p.m.