HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-29-02 WS• CITY OF LAKEVILLE
COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES
April 29, 2002
Present: Mayor Bob Johnson, Council Members Mulvihill, Luick, Bellows and Rieb; City
Administrator Bob Erickson; Assistant to City Administrator John Hennen; Police Chief Dave
Martens; ISD #194 SRO Jason Polinski; and Deputy Clerk Judi Hawkins.
ITEM NO. 1. REVIEW RESULTS OF .2001 MINNESOTA STUDENT SURVEY,
SCHOOL DISTRICTS # 192, # 194 AND # 196.
Gail Hoxie-Setterstrom, ISD #192; Elaine Korsch, ISD #194; and Don Brundage, ISD #196,
provided results of the 2001 Minnesota Student Survey in their respective districts with
comparative results from previous surveys. Results varied, with students from each school
district responding differently to questions relating to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sexual activity,
seat belt use and numerous social behaviors. The survey is administered every three years to
6th Stn and 12th graders, but students may choose not to participate. The Grade 6 version of
the survey was shorter than the Grades 9 and 12 version and did not include items
considered appropriate only for older students. In ISD #194 approximately 80% of seniors
took the survey.
• Even though Lakeville High School (ISD #194) students have the advantage of several
"protective" factors that would seemingly lower the risk for drug and alcohol use (i.e., two-
parent homes, higher household income and parents who students felt they could talk to),
79% of seniors and 57% of 9th graders perceived chemical use to be a problem in school.
This and other statistics showing students' willingness to take risks is of great concern.
Project Northland will come to an end after the next school year and school staff is hoping
to continue the program's efforts with the help of parents, school personnel, city
government, faith and business communities and the students themselves.
Don Brundage stated that ISD #196 is part of a downward trend in the state. Mr. Brundage
has followed the trends in his district and attributes some of ISD #194's situation to growing
pains and/or a large number of students moving in from all other areas, a phase which ISD
#196 went through several years ago. He also stated that this community-wide issue calls
for community-wide involvement.
Mayor Johnson asked if there was any way to extrapolate information to determine if the
DARE program offers beneficial results to the 5th grade students who participate.. Ms. Korsch
stated that no DARE questions are asked in the survey. She stated that the parents' efforts are
a great aspect of preventing abuse. problems. This includes keeping open lines of
communication and spending quality time with-their children. Council Member Mulvihill
stated that she is concerned with the increasing trend of youth smokers.
City Administrator Bob Erickson asked Don Brundage what programs were used in ISD #196
• that targeted youth and helped reduce the trends. Mr. Brundage listed the following
programs:
City Council Work Session Minutes
April 29, 2002
Page -2-
. Across-aged peer protection group where 12`" graders are selected to work with
small groups of 6`" graders.
^ A 4-H alcohol decision-making program for 4`" graders.
^ Operation Alert for 7-9`" graders, sponsored by the Conrad Hilton Foundation.
^ SRO's are available at every school in the district.
Mr. Brundage stated that part of the challenge in Lakeville is the affluence of the population
and compared LHS with the socio/economic demographics of Eastview High School in
Apple Valley. The wide use of drugs vs. alcohol at the Lakeville High School is an indicator
that students have more money to spend.
City Administrator Erickson also asked Gail Hoxie-Setterstrom of ISD #192 and Elaine
Korsch of ISD #194 what is being done in their districts to curtail the trends.
Ms. Hoxie-Setterstrom stated that the SRO is available for students but his time is distributed
throughout the district. ISD #192 has also increased drug and alcohol education as part of
new standardized elementary school health programs.
Ms. Korsch stated that guidance counselors are available at all the schools and the 4-H
alcohol decision-making program described by Mr. Brundage is also used in ISD #194 4`"
grade classes. Project Northland is used in grades 6, 7 and 8 and there is an active SADD
(Students Against Drunk Driving) chapter at the high school. A leadership program allows
• seniors to assist incoming 10`" graders with the transition to high school.
City Administrator Erickson noted that of great concern are the 6th graders ir? ISD #194 who
are already exposed to drugs and alcohol in the schools. He feels this is a challenge to be
dealt with by the community. Mr. Erickson would also. like to see comparative figures for
Eastview High School and Lakeville High School, due to their comparable socio/economic
demographics. He stated that Lakeville is a unique community when considering the value
of homes and income levels of many residents. Mr. Erickson will speak to a former Lakeville
City Council Member who might be willing to take on the task of researching the trends in
the schools.
Nicole Reinertz, Dakota County Public Health representative, stated that some work has
been done in several Minnesota cities, including Lakeville and Bloomington, regarding
socio/economic trends. She will obtain the information and forward it to the schools.
Mr. Erickson also mentioned that the legislature is likely to maintain the levy limits for this
session, which will put a strain on available resources, however it is important that a task
force be put together to study the survey results as soon as possible. Mayor Johnson pledged
support from the City.
Mayor Johnson also thanked others in attendance from ISD #194: Kathy Lewis, School
Board Chair; Gary Amoroso, Superintendent; Judy Johnson, Project Northland; and Barb
Knudsen, Director of Curriculum.
• Chief Martens would like to examine further statistics, such as emergency room visits, DUI's,
car accidents, etc. to determine whether these would support the survey results.
City Council Work Session Minutes
April 29, 2002 Page -3-
Council directed staff to contact the former Council Member, as discussed, to see if he is
willing to assist with further analysis of the survey results.
ITEM NO. 2. CONSIDER AUTHORIZING APPRAISAL OF PARK MAINTENANCE FACILITY.
City Administrator Bob Erickson informed City Council members that the business adjacent
to the Park Maintenance Facility, Design Cabinets, has expressed an interest in acquisition of
the site in order to expand their business. Mr. Erickson feels this would be a prime
opportunity to sell the property even though the new central maintenance facility will not be
available until approximately 2004. The sale might require rental of an interim facility. The
value of the property will be evaluated based on other recent sales in Airlake Industrial Park.
Council Member Luick asked if this is the same site where some cleanup is needed. Mr.
Erickson clarified that the cleanup is being done on the site of the current Public Works
Building. It is staff's opinion that it would be much more economical to retain that site to be
used for cold storage versus constructing a new building on the site of the new central
maintenance facility. The motor fuel tanks are up to code and would be removed when the
Street Dept. relocates to the new facility.
Council directed staff to proceed with selecting a company to complete the appraisal on
the Park Maintenance Facility property.
ITEM N THER B
0.3.0 uslNESS.
There was no other business.
ITEM NO. 4. ADJOURN.
The meeting adjourned at 6:15 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
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udi h R. Hawkins, Deputy Clerk
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