HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-23-2009 Work SessionCITY OF FAIRHOPE
WORK SESSION AGENDA
MONDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2009 -5:00 P.M. -CITY HALL DELCHAMPS ROOM
1. Education
2. Police Departm ent-Organizational Chart
3. Franch ise Agreement Addendum -Recreation and Non-Profit Organizations
STATE OF ALABAMA )(
COUNTY OF BALDWIN )(
The Mayor and City Council , met in a Work Session
at 5:00 p .m., City Hall , Delchamps Room,
161 North Section Street, Fairhope , Alabama 36532 , on
Monday , 23 November 2009.
Present were:
Mayor, Timothy M . Kant
Council President, Debbie Quinn
Councilmember, Dan Stankoski
Councilmember, Lonnie Mixon
Councilmember, Mike Ford
City Clerk, Lisa A. Hanks
Councilmember, Rick Kingrea and City Attorne y, Marion E. Wynne were absent.
Council President Mixon called the meeting to order at 5 :00 p .m.
Councilmember Quinn stated Ms . Lee wanted to present a grant proposal and be heard .
Council President Mixon replied that this item needed to be addressed by the Financial
Advisory Committee.
1. Education
Bob Callahan, Baldwin County Board of Education representativ e, stated there were
several rounds of proration. The County is $61 million less in revenue this year which
resulted in a loss of 16 teachers at the high school , loss of 5 at the middle school , and loss
of 4 at the intermediate school. Mr. Callahan passed out the handout "Comprehensive
Strategic Plan for Financial Survival and Recovery ." He mentioned strategies for
survival. He also mentioned 600 students attend Newton and showed a map of the feeder
pattern for Fairhope Schools.
Councilmember Quinn asked ; what taxes we would receive if the City has its own school.
Mr. Callahan replied 1 % of the Sales Tax, but ½% is ear-marked to the Baldwin County
Board of Education until 2014 and twelve mils ad valorem tax .
Council President asked about equity funding. Mr. Callahan gave an example based on
$5 ,200 per student allotment.
Work Session
Monday , 23 November 2009
Page-2-
Councilmember Ford mentioned several years ago 17 mils were supposed to go toward
our schools based on what we paid. Mr. Callahan replied that 5 mils are not collected.
Mr. Callahan stated that something would have to change in the calculation that
Montgomery uses for each school system. Every area of our County is unduly burdened
on the current calculation and Montgomery issues the funds .
Amy Thompson stated they are a group alarmed of our school system situation and wants
a feasibility study .
Scott Thompson state he recently moved from Montgomery and now resides in Fairhope.
He is also requesting the funding of a feasibility study. We looked at the 1 % County
Sales Tax and a possible 3 mil property tax , but these are just a band-aid for a broken
mechanism. We have had a 40% increase in students since 2000. We are all paying tax
dollars for education. Mr. Thompson asked ; can we do it better with a smaller school
system. He said I don't know. We need to deal with this issue now. He mentioned
several newspaper articles and asked; don't we want to spend money on the future of
education.
Amy Thompson stated that Baldwin County is lumped in with all other cities and
classified as a wealthy district who can afford this system. We could get $45 million
back to the City . She then read part of the County's proposed cuts for education.
Mayor Kant stated our schools have always been second to none. We need to figure out
how to protect our schools.
Councilmember Stankoski mentioned an example of a house for sale in Pennsylvania on
the waterfront for approximately $1.8 million. $24 ,000 was taxes collected with $15 ,800
for school tax. A house sold for $1.8 million in Baldwin County would result in around
$4,300 total property taxes. Also , if schools go down, property goes down.
Kristie Street stated that there are 6 schools in the feeder pattern not 5 schools. There are
600 children in our area attending J. Larry Newton. Due the time left in the Work
Session, Council President Mixon interrupted Ms. Street and said we needed to get on
with the agenda items .
Work Session
Monday, 23 November 2009
Page -3-
2. Police Department -Organizational Chart
Chief Press explained the need for the revised organization chart. He mentioned an
incumbent moving up in a Captain position and the need for an Investigation Supervisor.
These positions would incur a small monetary increase .
3. Franchise Agreement Addendum-Recreation and Non-Profit Organizations
Sherry Sullivan explained the need for an addendum to the City Franchise Agreement.
She mentioned the use of recreation facilities and all of its amenities. We have
individuals teaching classes who we recommend should pay for a Business License,
Franchise Agreement, and a 15% Franchise fee . Ms. Sullivan also mentioned that a small
committee from the Recreation Board met to discuss this issue and wanted all of the
above fees plus an additional $50 per use (daily fee). We should approve each
individual's schedule for activities , receive a monthly income report, and allow no
advertisement.
Council President Mixon said he would like a committee to go and investigate the
Franchise Agreement issues. He stated he would address this in the Council meeting and
would like Nancy Wilson, Gregg Mims, Chuck Zunk, Sherry Sullivan, Liz Chandler, and
Tom Kuhl and myself to be on the committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:54 p.m.
Lisa A. Hanks
City of Fairhope
City Clerk