This facility is disabled accessible.  Auxiliary aids and services are available for individuals with speech, vision or hearing impairments (48-hour notice is required).  Please contact the ADA Coordinator at (818) 238-5021 voice or (818) 238-5035 TDD with questions or concerns.

6:30 P.M.

INVOCATION:           Rabbi Mervin Tomsky Rabbi Emeritus, Burbank Temple Emanu El.

                                    The Courts have concluded that sectarian prayer as part of City Council meetings is not permitted under the Constitution.

FLAG SALUTE:

ROLL CALL:

JOINT MEETING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY:

1.         ADOPTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR COOPERATIVE JOINT USE AND IMPROVEMENT OF RECREATION FACILITIES BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE BURBANK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND RELATED FUNDING APPROPRIATIONS:

The purpose of this report is to recommend adoption of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cooperative Joint Use and Improvement of Recreation Facilities between the City and the Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) and to appropriate funds related to these improvements.

This first step segregates funds for the estimated costs of the project, authorizes preconstruction activities to begin, such as design work, and identifies the steps necessary in the joint cooperative effort with the BUSD. Step two, which will occur at a later date, will involve the Council and BUSD consideration of a detailed Joint Use and Improvement Agreement (Agreement), which will come back to each body before any construction contract is considered.

ANALYSIS

A joint meeting of the Council and Board of Education was held on January 31, 2007, at which time there was discussion and consideration of funding improvements to Jordan Middle School, John Burroughs High School and Burbank High School athletic facilities. 

At both high schools, the installation of high quality all-weather synthetic track and field surfaces and various support facilities are recommended.  At John Burroughs High School, the replacement of the stadium seating at Memorial Field is also recommended.   Proposed improvements at Jordan Middle School include the addition of parking, irrigation, natural turf and support facilities.  During the Joint Meeting, staff received direction from the Council and School Board to: (1) obtain community input from residents near Jordan Middle School concerning the proposed improvements; and, (2) return to the Council and the School Board with the identified funding appropriations.    

Jordan Middle School Community Meetings

Related to the proposed improvements to Jordan Middle School, staff initiated the necessary neighborhood and community outreach efforts.  Notices were sent to 1,500 residents living in the area and adjacent to Jordan Middle School advising them of two community meetings. Representatives of local soccer organizations, as well as the Vikings Football Program, were also notified regarding these meetings to accommodate their input.  The meetings were held on Monday, March 12, 2007 at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 10 a.m. in the Jordan Middle School cafeteria facility. 

Each meeting began with a staff overview of the proposed improvements to Jordan Middle School along with a discussion of the scope of work proposed for the two high schools.  Following the staff presentation, the meeting was open to questions and comments from the public.  During public comment the residents in attendance identified the following concerns:  (1) traffic impacts; (2) parking impacts; (3) speeding; (4) excessive noise from the various user groups; (5) lack of enforcement related to traffic and parking violations; (6) litter impacts on the neighborhood; (7) lack of campus security; (8) vandalism to private property; and, (9) non-resident use of the school facilities.  In addition to identifying these concerns related to existing joint use of the Jordan Middle School campus, those in attendance also voiced strong opposition to the installation of field lighting. 

Steering Committee Recommendations

Following the Joint Meeting on January 31, 2007, City and BUSD staff also met on two occasions to discuss a variety of issues related to the projects at John Burroughs High School, Burbank High School and Jordan Middle School. Additionally, the Steering Committee met on Monday, April 9, 2007, to receive an update from staff on the status of the projects and to formulate their recommendations for consideration by the Council and the School Board.  The Committee�s recommendations are summarized by school as follows.

Jordan Middle School

The Steering Committee�s recommendations include appropriating $2 million in Youth Endowment Services (YES) funds to proceed with the improvements to Jordan Middle School.  These improvements will include:  (1) the new parking lot facility; (2) new public restroom facility for after school use; (3) required demolition of existing facilities to facilitate public access and allow for track and field component replacements; (4) campus security measures to limit access during after-hour use; and, (5) installation of new irrigation systems, soil preparation and re-seeding of both athletic fields.  The Steering Committee is not recommending the installation of field lights at this time.  However, as part of the scope of work, the architect will be asked to look at, as other electrical work is being completed, any necessary infrastructure work that could make lighting a future phase.  Specifically, the Steering Committee wants to insure that if lights are approved in a future phase of work, that damage is not done to this first phase of improvement work to install the lighting infrastructure.

It is clear, based on the input from the community, that the joint use of Jordan Middle School has significantly impacted the residents in the adjacent neighborhood.  More security and enforcement efforts are needed if joint use is to continue without the disruptions and impacts that were identified.  The addition of security personnel, which will be hired by BUSD and paid for by the City under the terms of a new Agreement, will greatly enhance our ability to respond and resolve many of the issues identified by the residents of this area. 

Burbank High School

Subsequent to the January 31, 2007 Joint Meeting, the Steering Committee received a proposal from coaches, players and supporters of the Burbank High Baseball Program.  Essentially, the proposal asks for consideration of enlarging and improving the baseball field in conjunction with the track and field improvement project.  City and BUSD staff, along with the members of the Steering Committee, have carefully discussed and considered this proposal.  BUSD staff was specifically asked to have an architect review the scope of work in the proposal and accordingly develop a more realistic cost estimate.  These efforts have determined that the improvement work, as outlined in the proposal, would cost approximately $350,000.  While all the members of the Steering Committee recognize the limitations of the existing baseball field at Burbank High School and gave the Baseball Field Upgrade Proposal their full consideration, they have serious concerns and reservations about moving forward with the proposed changes.  A discussion of this proposal is slated for the April 19, 2007 meeting of the Board of Education.

The members of the Steering Committee recommend moving forward with the preparation of plans for the improvement work at Burbank High School to include:  (1) a new restroom facility for use by the public during non-school hours; (2) new track and field facilities with synthetic surfaces; and, (3) added field lighting. 

Stadium at Memorial Field and Burroughs Track and Field

In addition to the track and field improvements, the members of the Steering Committee continue to recommend building a new stadium facility at John Burroughs High School.  While this will result in decreased seating capacity due to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations and compliance, it will provide a state-of-the-art, structurally sound, ADA compliant facility that will better meet the equipment storage needs of the various user groups.  Additionally, new concession and restroom facilities are proposed along with aesthetic improvements to the frontage.  The Steering Committee has received some input from members of the community requesting that, as this project moves forward, the fencing around the tennis courts and baseball field also be replaced.  The Steering Committee recommends that the additional fencing replacement be added to the scope of work and included as a bid alternate.  This would greatly enhance the aesthetics of this entire portion of the John Burroughs High School campus.

Identifying Funding Appropriations

Related to moving forward with the improvements to John Burroughs High School and Burbank High School, the Council, at the Joint Meeting held on January 31, 2007, unanimously directed staff to bring back a funding appropriation in the amount of $9,650,000.  The Steering Committee is recommending the establishment of four escrow accounts with Wells Fargo Bank to allow for the project funds to be deposited, monitored and controlled.    Additionally, at the January 31, 2007 Joint Meeting of the Council and the School Board, it was discussed and decided to target a community fundraising goal of $1 million.

The City and the BUSD have a successful history related to the joint use of facilities which has been of great benefit to the entire community.  The proposed improvements to Jordan Middle School, Burbank High School and John Burroughs High School will be important assets as we continue, in a built-out City, to try and meet the growing needs of youth sports programs. 

Recommendation:

Adoption of proposed City Council resolutions entitled:

1.     A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK APPROVING THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATIVE JOINT USE AND IMPROVEMENT OF RECREATION FACILITIES BETWEEN THE CITY OF BURBANK AND THE BURBANK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT.

2.     (4/5 vote)

A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 ANNUAL BUDGET BY APPROPRIATING $11,326,472 FOR THE BURBANK UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT ATHLETIC FACILITIES PROJECTS.