2016.01.04 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Hugo City Council Meeting Minutes for December 21, 2015 Page 8 of 10 2016, and they want everything ready prior to the 2017 school year. Staff has been receiving inquires on this and will continue to provide updates to the Council. A meeting has been scheduled by group of parents for tomorrow (December 22"d) at 6p.m., but it is not likely that any new information will be presented. Haas suggested extending an invitation to Hugo's representing board member to talk to the Council. Jay Axelrod, 15760 Jeffery Avenue North, informed Council there was going to be an official board presentation on January 7th with three open sessions following that. The meetings were scheduled to be at 4 p.m. at the south end of the district. It was his opinion that the district was making it as difficult as possible to provide comments. A meeting was to be held tomorrow, December 22, to organize parents to fight this. He stated that one of the main reasons his family moved to Hugo was to open enroll his kids in Withrow Elementary. It is a community institution, and closing the school is tragic and may result in a decline in property values. He thinks the southern schools in the district are feeling the northern schools are taking resources away from them. He talked about the parent -led group called "STOP BOLD COLD" that has formed in opposition to ISD 834's Building Opportunities to Learn and Discover "BOLD" plan. Kris Capra, 12715 Isleton Avenue North, talked about the bonding preparation process stating that in November, 2015 there was a clear message on video that they would not be closing any schools. John Waller, 14010 Homestead Avenue, talked about the amount of time children would be on the bus and felt the City should support not closing Withrow Elementary School. The Council agreed that schools play an important role in society and the issue needed to be monitored very closely. Haas made motion, Klein seconded, to direct staff to draft letter as preliminary notice letting them know we would like to weigh in, and encourage the school board to speak to the Council. Copies of the letter could be sent to the Stillwater Gazette and The Citizen. All Ayes. Motion carried. Discussion on Artwork at State Capitol Council Member Haas added this to the agenda to discuss proposed changes to the art display at the State Capitol. The State Capitol Preservation Art Subcommittee has been discussing the capitol building restoration project and is considering removal of some military art displays that are felt to be insensitive to some people. Haas stated he opposed the removal of the artwork and the Council agreed it was an important part of history and should remain as a reminder.