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MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
The Miami Shores Village
Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 18, 2003 at the C. Lawton McCall Community Center. The Meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM with the following members present:
PRESENT: Mayor Davis
Greg Ullman
Bob Blum
Prospero Herrera
ALSO PRESENT: Tom Benton, Village Manager
Barbara Estep, Village Clerk
Richard Sarafan, Village Attorney
ABSENT: Mark Ulmer
CONSIDERATIONS
1)
VILLAGE CLERK
Barbara
A. Estep
A) APPROVAL OF THE MARCH 4, 2003 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.
Mr. Blum requested that
the following statement be added to the Minutes within the Presentation
portion relating to the Charter School: Mr. Henderson announced
that the Middle School had just received the Platinum Award for their
achievements. Following his request
to add the referenced sentence, Mr. Blum moved approval of the amended
minutes. Mr. Herrera seconded the
motion and the vote was unanimous in favor.
2) VILLAGE MANAGER Tom Benton
A)
PRESENTATION REGARDING THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ISSUE AND THE CHARTER SCHOOL.
Mr.
Benton provided information, broken up into two parts, on the bond issue
and proposed charter school. Mr.
Benton first spoke of the plans for the school, highlighting the
information contained in the tri-fold brochure as attached. Following this portion of Mr. Benton’s
presentation, he opened the floor for questions.
Barbara
Maddox Mrs. Maddox asked
about enrollment policies. Mr.
Benton indicated that a policy would need to be adopted by the new school’s
Board of Directors but he would assume that those children already enrolled
in the middle school would be allowed to progress through the upper grades
and graduate. Mrs. Maddox then
commented that the resident’s taxes may be used to educate non-resident
children. Mr. Benton confirmed that
the scenario was possible. Mrs.
Maddox asked whether or not the Village had a projected number of resident
students for future years. Mr.
Benton stated that the Village did not have such numbers.
C.F.
Chambers Mr. Chambers
asked whether or not the Village could “set-aside” seats for new property
owners that may move into the Village.
Mr. Benton stated that he did not believe it possible to “hold”
seats for new residents.
Rod
Buenconsejo Mr.
Buenconsejo asked about student enrollment with
respect to whether or not every Miami Shores Village child would get into
the school. Mr. Benton explained the
process and the proposed population of the school (200 middle school and
300 high school students). Mr.
Benton stated that if more Village students apply than there are seats
available, a lottery system will be utilized for enrollment.
Nadine
Davey-Rogers Ms.
Rogers asked about the estimated utilization of the schools and the
costs. Mr. Benton provided Ms.
Rogers with information that had been given to the Village at the time the
telephone survey was completed.
As
no one else present came forward with further questions, Mr. Benton
proceeded with the second portion of his presentation which dealt with the
finance aspect. Mr. Benton reviewed
the proposed financing for the project, including information on the
general obligation bond and the donation from the North Dade Medical
Foundation. Following Mr. Benton’s
presentation, he asked for questions from the audience.
Scott
Marken Mr.
Marken asked whether or not the donation from the
Foundation would be incremental or a lump sum and whether figures used in
Mr. Benton’s examples had been adjusted for inflation or increases in
assessed value of properties. Mr.
Benton responded that the numbers had not been adjusted and that he
believed the Foundation’s donation would be provided all at once.
Kathy
Martin Ms. Martin read
a prepared statement regarding the charter middle school. She did not pose any questions related to
Mr. Benton’s presentation.
Diana
Estes Ms. Estes
commented upon Ms. Martin’s statements.
Herta
Holly Ms. Holly
expressed her opinion that the Shores has a great
opportunity to have a dedicated high school for Shores residents.
Helen
Ferre Ms.
Ferre asked about the demographics of the area
schools and if anyone had determined the economic impact to the Shores with
the addition of a high school.
At
this point in time, no other individuals came forward with questions. Therefore, Mr. Benton thanked the Mayor
and Council and residents for their time.
3) COUNCIL COMMENTS
Bob Blum Mr. Blum commented on
the questions and statements made during the meeting relating to the
charter school.
Greg Ullman Mr. Ullman thanked those in
attendance for coming to the meeting.
Prospero Herrera Mr. Herrera thanked Mr. Benton for
his presentation and endorsed the school issue.
Mayor Davis Mayor Davis spoke about everyone’s hard work on the school
issue.
4) ADJOURNMENT
The March 18,
2003 Council Meeting was
adjourned at 8:30 PM.
_____________________________
Al
Davis, Mayor
__________________________
Barbara A. Estep, CMC
Village Clerk
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