06-13-00 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL JUNE 13, 2000 Carol Koski, Family Academy, indicated that they met with Children's Discovery and agreed to work cooperatively with them and withdrew the Kindergarten program from their curriculum contingent upon the rezoning being approved. At their last open house, Family Academy was marketed as offering first through eighth grades. Morelan indicated that he understood that enrollment at Family Academy is open to all children, but asked if they were targeting a certain clientele. Koski replied that enrollment is open to everyone given that this is a public charter school. However, special needs people are being targeted. Koski reported that 90% of the students interested in Family Academy have individual education plans and special needs. There was no one else from the general public wishing to comment on this matter. Upon motion by LaValle, seconded by Morelan, the public hearing was closed. Fahey pointed out that at their last, the Planning Commission looked at the option of amending the text for the Residential Business Zoning District to allow public charter schools as a conditional use. The Planner had pointed out that this option would open any property in the City zoned RB to public schools as a conditional use permit. It was noted that once a property is purchased by a school district and operated as a school, that property will come offthe tax rolls. Fahey noted that the Planning Commission recommended against the amendment to the RB Zoning District and re-iterated their support for the rezoning of 433 Little Canada Road to Public. Scalze noted the concern with taking additional property offthe tax rolls, pointing out that once the property is rezoned to Public or the Zoning Code amended to allow public schools in the RB District, the property could be taken off the tax rolls if it were purchased by a school district. Scalze indicated that the issue for her was not Family Academy, but the City's loss of control over whether a property stays on the tax rolls. Scalze indicated that another issue is who might come after Family Academy. Scalze pointed out that Family Academy is being sponsored by School District 916, and indicated that the Capitol View site owned by 916 is not being fully utilized. She suggested that 916 should find room for Family Academy at the Capitol View site. Scalze pointed out that when School District 916 purchased Capitol View they indicated the good uses that they would put this building to. It is currently being used as an alternative learning center that serves a violent clientele. Scalze noted that