HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/04/16 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - City Council - JointJoint Meeting
St. Louis Park City Council and School Board
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
City Council Chambers
St. Louis Park City Hall
5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Agenda
5:30 Dinner/Introductions /Review Agenda (Mayor/School Board Chair) 10 min.
5:45 Focus Topics
•School start-end times
o In what ways should the city and school district collaborate regarding school
start times?
•Climate Action Plan
o What is the status of each organizations actions relative to the environment,
climate action planning and implementation, etc.?
o What opportunities exist for continued collaboration between the city and
school district?
•Race, Equity and Inclusion
o What is the status of each organizations activities or initiatives?
o What opportunities exist for the city and school district to collaborate?
8:30 Q & A regarding written reports provided:
•Southwest Light Rail Transit – City
•WHNC curriculum update - City
•Status of modifications to agreements between city and school district re: facilities
–City/School Dist.
•Ranked-choice voting – City
•Housing initiatives – City
•Student enrollment – School Dist.
•Facilities update – School Dist.
•Curriculum review process – School Dist.
8:55 Meeting summary/any next steps?
9:00 Adjourn
SWLRT Update
The construction schedule has not yet been released from the Southwest Project Office (SPO); however,
it is expected to be in the immediate future and it will be shared as soon as it is available. All indications
are that construction will start in the beginning of May. We understand the main construction work will
not initially be in St. Louis Park, but will take place in Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, and in Hopkins.
Construction in Hopkins will be near the depot and Excelsior Blvd east of Highwy169, where an LRT
bridge will be constructed over Excelsior Blvd. The Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail will be fenced and is
expected to be closed by early summer and will be closed for most of the construction period. We will
receive a 30-day notice before closure along with detour information.
Wooddale Bridge
Construction work on Wooddale Bridge will re-start the week of April 15th, with concrete work, paving,
painting and landscaping getting underway. Work is expected to be completed at the end of May. Traffic
controls on the bridge will stay the same until traffic lights are installed with the LRT project.
Update on curriculum conversations with the school district regarding more classes attending
the WHNC
The School District’s Curriculum Director, Patrick Duffy, and staff will determine the School
District’s future use and expanding use of the new Westwood Hills Nature Center building.
Patrick is in the process of reviewing curricular programs which is expected to take two to three
years. At this time, he has all of the information he needs from the City staff.
If science teachers want to explore new joint programming, the pilot program could start fall of
2020 and perhaps the more permanent programming could start fall 2021.
If science teachers do not want to expand programming at the Westwood Hills Nature Center
then likely the same schools and grade levels will continue to visit the nature center. City staff
have encourage additional participation but ultimately the decision to send more students is
the decision of the school district staff and School Board.
Changing school curriculum is a three step process:
1.The School District looks inward, reflects, and make sure it connects to their
mission. They do this by talking with staff.
2.The School District looks outside to what other scholars and school districts say
about the curriculum change.
3.The School District then looks forward – nurture what is happening and
strengthen partnerships (i.e. Westwood Hills Nature Center).
It typically takes three years for the process and five years for the transformation plan. If the
curriculum director decides they want to try a pilot program, the district may request help with
funding for the fall of 2020. It may be difficult to do this during the budget cycle because the
School District is unsure of the amount needed. One option is for the City to reappropriate the
money they currently give to Community Education to help fund this pilot program. City staff
can calculate preliminary costs for bussing and staffing for possible additions and keep in
contact with Patrick Duffy as he works through a potential curriculum change.
Joint facility use agreement
On January 25, 1971, the city and school district established an agreement to jointly operate a
Community Education program. This was one of six pilot programs in Minnesota. As a result of
that pilot program, the district and city created a cooperative agreement for the use of each
other’s facilities. Lisa Greene, Community Education Director, along with Operations and
Recreation staff, have worked together to edit and update the Cooperative Agreement and Use
of Facilities for Independent School District 283 and the City of St. Louis Park Programs. This
agreement has not been updated or edited for several years. A lot of what was currently in the
agreement was outdated and not relevant since it referenced state statues that were no longer
valid. Both Community Education Advisory Council (CEAC) and the Park and Recreation Advisory
Commission (PRAC) have approved the agreement as well as both city and school district
attorneys.
Staff would like their respective governing bodies to approve this agreement. It relates to the
joint use of facilities. It does not discuss the amount of money exchanged or what that money is
used for. This piece was intentionally left out since it does not relate to the joint use of facilities.
That discussion between the city council and school board should be separate and can happen
as a part of the budget process. A draft of agreement is attached.
198844v5
AGREEMENT
Between City of St. Louis Park
And
Independent School District No 283
Relating To The Cooperative Agreement and
Use of Facilities For
School District
Programs and City Programs
AGREEMENT, made this ____day of __________, 20198 between the City of St. Louis Park, a
Minnesota municipal corporation (hereinafter “City”), and Independent School District No. 283,
Hennepin County, Minnesota, a Minnesota municipal corporation (hereinafter “School District”),
superseding all existing joint powers agreements relating to the use of facilities for School
District Programs and City Programs and the agreements regarding the Cooperative Agreement
with Community Education. The City and the School District are referred to herein individually
as a Party and collectively as the “Parties.”
WHEREAS, the School District is authorized to provide Community Education programs
exclusively pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 124D.19, Subd. 1, and the City to provide Park and
Recreation programs pursuant to Minn. Stat. S' 471.16.
WHEREAS, Minnesota Statutes ' 471.59 authorizes governmental units to jointly exercise any
power common to the contracting parties.
WHEREAS, the City and the School District believe that providing adequate facilities for Park
and Recreation and Community Education programs is important for the citizens of St. Louis
Park and they wish to ensure that adequate facilities will be available for these related purposes.
WHEREAS, the School District shall be responsible for Community Education Programs and
the City shall be responsible for the Park and Recreation Programs.
WHEREAS, the long history of coordination and collaboration between the School District and
the City in successfully implementing these and related programs should be continued pursuant
to the terms of this “Agreement”.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City and the School District hereby agree as follows:
1.Joint Participation.
A.The School shall create a Community Education Advisory Council (“Advisory
Council”) to provide recommendations regarding the Community Education
Program and a proposed budget for both operating and/or capital expenditures.
Up to 2 City Council members or their designees may be members of the
198844v5
Advisory Council. Each Party shall determine their amount of financial
contribution to perform the functions of the Advisory Council Community
Education Program. All personnel hired to establish and operate the Community
Education Program shall be paid and supervised by the School District.
B.The City shall create a Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission (“Park
Commission”). Up to 2 School Board members or their designees may be
members of the Park Commission. Each Party shall determine their amount of
financial contribution to perform the functions of the Park Commission.
2.Facilities Currently Utilized.
A.The facilities listed in Subparts B and C are hereby made available by the City
and the School District for use by Community Education and Park and Recreation
programs, subject to conditions outlined in Section 2, infra. Utilization shall
include educational, extra-curricular, and City activities as well.
B.The School District hereby makes available the following building and grounds
for School District and City use:
(I)St. Louis Park Senior High School
(II)St. Louis Park Junior High School
(III)Aquila Grade School
(IV)Cedar Manor Grade School
(V)Peter Hobart Grade School
(VI)Susan Lindgren Grade School
(VII)Central Community Center
(VIII)Lenox Community Center
C.The City hereby makes available the following buildings and grounds for City and
School District use:
(I)Wolfe Park and Recreation Center
(II)Lamplighter Park
(III)Parkview Park
(IV)Freedom Park/(Paul Frank Field)
(V)Louisiana Oaks Park
(VI)Walker Park
(VII)Dakota Park
(VIII)Carlson Park
(IX)Nelson Park
(X)Aquila Park
(XI)Northside Park
(XII)Westwood Hills Nature Center
(XIII)Rec Center
(XIV)ROC
(XIV)
198844v5
3.Amending the facilities made available to use by Community Education and Park and
Recreation programs.
A.The City and or School District, in its sole discretion, may delete facilities made
available in Section 12, in the event the facility is sold or undergoes some change
in ownership or primary use, or is no longer used by either entity.
B.The City and the School District reserve the right to temporarily suspend use in
any facility which is undergoing renovation or substantial change, provided that
the entity which owns the facilities gives six (6) months’ notice to the other party
to this Agreement unless the parties agree upon shorter notice.
C.Facilities not listed may be made available, through a supplemental listing of a
new facility, by letter between the School Board and the City Council provided
that both entities agree.
4.Priority Use of Facilities Covered by this Agreement.
A.The City and the School District shall have priority use of all facilities covered by
this Agreement over any other user.
B.The School District shall have priority use of all of its facilities covered by this
Agreement over any other user, including the City, with respect to regular school
curriculum and related activities.
A.C. The City shall have priority use of all of its facilities covered by this Agreement
over any other user, including the School District, with respect to regular City
related activities or programs.
B.D. By August September 1 of each calendar year, the School District and the City
shall exchange a list of all upcoming uses which each foresees for Community
Education and Park and Recreation programs.
C.E. Any objections or conflicts shall be resolved by letter exchanged by the City and
the School District by September 15 of each calendar year.
D.F. If a mutual agreement may not be reached regarding the use of any facility,
priority should be apportioned by considering:
(I)The Nature of the use proposed
(II)The period of use including the time of year and the number of years the
facility has been utilized.
(III)Any previous agreements between the City and the School District
regarding use of the facility or the importance of the program being
offered.
5.Facility Maintenance and Costs.
A.Neither the School District nor the City shall demand any type of payment or
remuneration for the use of facilities covered by this Agreement, except for
reimbursement of personnel costs for those limited instances in which a facility
facilities are is used solely for these programsa Community Education or Park and
Recreation program when and the facilities facility personnel costs would not
otherwise be incurred.
198844v5
B.The City and the School District are responsible for the costs of operating and
maintaining only those facilities which each respectively owns.
C.Notwithstanding subparts A and B. of this part 54, the City may charge the School
District the market rate for use of the Westwood Hills Nature Center, Rec Center
and the ROC and the School District agrees to pay those charges.
6.Liability.
A.To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Agreement is intended to be and shall
be construed as “cooperative activity” and it is the intent of the parties that they
shall be deemed a “single government unit” for the purposes of liability, all as set
forth in Minnesota Statutes, Section 471.59, subd. 1a(a); provided further that for
purposes of that statute, each party to this Agreement expressly declines
responsibility for the acts or omissions of the other party. In addition to the
foregoing, nothing herein shall be construed to waive or limit any immunity from,
or limitation on, liability available to either party, whether set forth in Minnesota
Statutes, Chapter 466 or otherwise.
B.To the extent that tort damages or other related costs or fees become payable
against a third party as a result of this Agreement or the activities carried out
hereunder, the parties to this Agreement shall each pay an amount equal to their
respective percentage of liability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement
is solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and no other person shall have any
right, claim, or interest in it.
B.C. Each party shall obtain and maintain adequate General Liability Insurance for
their use of facilities owned by the other party.
D.Neither party shall be responsible for injuries or death of the other party’s
personnel. Each party will maintain workers’ compensation coverage to the extent
required by law, on its personnel.
C.E. Each party agrees to promptly notify the other party if it knows or becomes aware
of any facts or allegations reasonably giving rise to actual or potential liability,
claims, causes of action, judgments, damages, losses, costs or expenses,
including attorneys’ fees, involving or reasonably likely to involve the other party
and relating to acts or omissions arising from this Agreement.
7.Nondiscrimination.
The City and the School District accord full admission to, access to, and full utilization of
the facilities covered by this Agreement to all residents of St. Louis Park and no priority
usage of facilities under this Agreement shall be made on the basis of race, color, creed,
religion, sex, or national origin.
8.Assignment.
Neither party shall assign, delegate or otherwise transfer this Agreement or any of its
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other.
9.Severability.
198844v5
Every provision of this Agreement shall be construed, to the extent possible, so as to be
valid and enforceable. If any provision of this Agreement so construed is held by a court
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable, such
provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement, and all other provisions shall
remain in full force and effect.
10. Amendments.
Any modification or amendment to this agreement shall require a written agreement
signed by the both Parties.
11. Entire Agreement.
This Agreement supersedes any prior or contemporaneous representations or agreements,
whether written or oral, between the Parties and contains the entire agreement.
12. Termination.
This Agreement shall remain in effect and shall govern the usage of facilities for
Community Education and Park and Recreation programs unless and until either party
notifies the other of its intent to terminate this Agreement upon six (6) months’ notice
and writing of its Intention to terminate given to the other party by March 15 of the
calendar year. This agreement supersedes and voids agreements between the City and the
School District dated February 25, 1991.
13. Effective Date.
The effective date of this agreement shall be _______________, 20189.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their
respective duly authorized officers pursuant to the authority granted by resolutions adopted by the
City Council of St. Louis Park and the School Board of Independent School District No. 283.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK
NO. 283, Hennepin County, Minnesota
By ________________________________ By ____________________________________
____________________, Chairman Jake Spano, Mayor
By ________________________________ By ____________________________________
____________________, Clerk Thomas K. Harmening, City Manager
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk
198844v5
RESOLUTION NO. 18-__
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS PARK AND SCHOOL DISTRICT #283
RELATING TO USE OF FACILITIES FOR COMMUNITY
EDUCATION AND PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS
WHEREAS, cooperative agreements between School District #283 and the City of St.
Louis Park have been in effect for over 50 years; and
WHEREAS, State Law and circumstances have changed since Joint Powers Agreements
were initially adopted in 1956 and 1971 prompting review of the respective agreements; and
WHEREAS, such a review presents an opportunity to update policies and practices as
relates to the elected officials and advisory groups responsible for the programs; and
WHEREAS, such review will enhance the community-wide support for the programs
pursuant to State Law and reinvigorate the involvement of the community and elected officials in
these programs whose constituents are so important to the health of the community,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of St. Louis
Park that the Mayor and City Manager be directed to execute an Agreement between the City of
St. Louis Park and Independent School District No. 283 relating to the use of facilities for
Community Education programs and Park and Recreation programs.
_______________________________________
Mayor
Reviewed for Administration
Thomas K. Harmening, City Manager
Adopted by the City Council February 25,
1991
Jake Spano, Mayor
Attest:
Melissa Kennedy City Clerk
Approved as to form and execution
Soren M. Mattick, City Attorney
St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518
Executive summary
Title: Elections outreach and education program
Summary: The St. Louis Park elections team presented a comprehensive elections outreach and
education plan to the city council in February. This information is being provided at the request of the
city manager and superintendent so the school board can see that the plan includes efforts aligned with
the school district and related to school board elections.
Ranked-choice voting presents a significant change to the method of voting people are accustomed to in
St. Louis Park. This change also presents a significant opportunity to develop programs dedicated to
educating and engaging the community around all aspects of elections and the services we provide.
Voters in St. Louis Park already participate in elections at a relatively high rate, similar to other nearby
communities. Existing data shows that St. Louis Park has more registered voters, and regularly exceeds
peer communities in turnout percentages. However, existing data also shows that there is still room for
improvement, particularly in traditionally underserved populations and in municipal and school board
elections when overall engagement drops off. We know that there are many reasons why people are
active or inactive in elections. We primarily want to focus our efforts in areas that will be most impactful
to the community from the beginning.
In 2019 the first ranked-choice election will be held at the same time as the election for school board
members. The school board race will appear on the other side of the same ballot, with separate
instructions for voters. The ranked-choice side of the ballot will include instructions for voters to turn
the ballot over to vote the school board race. Additionally, election judges and staff working our mock
elections and conducting educational sessions will emphasize the need for voters to turn their ballot
over to vote in school board races. Every demonstration judge at a polling place on Election Day will be
required to instruct voters that there is a race on the other side of the ballot.
The elections team will be responsible for educating voters on these important aspects of the upcoming
election. We have offered to hold an education session with school board so members can learn about
ranked-choice, ask questions about how the two voting systems will work together, how results of both
types of races will be reported, and how elections education will function in the community. This
education session will be scheduled by Superintendent Osei, likely in the spring or summer.
Research:
Using the American Community Survey provided by the Census Bureau and historical voter data
provided by the Office of the Secretary of State, we have begun to research the composition of the
electorate in St. Louis Park. We have also begun research to identify and understand the groups of
people who generally do not participate in the democratic process, or who only participate in even-year
elections. We are using this data to develop targeted materials, programs, and messaging. We are also
using the information to create baseline data by which we will be able to measure the effectiveness of
our materials and programming over time to see if improvements are being realized or to identify
additional areas for improvement.
Strategy:
The elections team has devised a strategic plan using our experiences with voters in St. Louis Park,
actual voter data about St. Louis Park, and existing research data about voter behavior in general. Our
intent is to simultaneously address the changes in the voting system in St. Louis Park, existing disparities
in overall elections knowledge and access to our voting processes, and to develop sustainable
St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518
relationships with community members that will identify and remove barriers to participation and
engagement in elections. Our materials and plans intentionally focus on areas that voters find confusing
or misleading, and provide tactics to address those challenges.
We also used purpose mapping exercises to develop a strategic map that utilizes SWOC/T and
stakeholder analysis. These internal documents, along with our racial equity and inclusion work, guide
our development of program materials to address existing gaps in a person’s journey through the voting
process.
Target Audiences:
Based on our research and personal experience with the St. Louis Park electorate, we are breaking our
target audiences down into a few groups:
Future voters - We are working with St. Louis Park area schools and Community Education to introduce
civics to students and youth in a more collaborative way. Working with Superintendent Osei and other
district staff we have established a Student Election Program at the high school and have committed to
teaching a 6-class series for middle school students through Community Education in the spring. These
efforts serve the dual purpose of both engaging youth about elections and civic leadership on a more
consistent basis, as well as recruiting future student election judges who will serve a critical role in being
able to staff polling places in coming years. This project allows us to create an ongoing relationship with
students who will eventually become voters and, in the interim, can help us inform the adults in their
lives and encourage them to become or continue to be active voters.
19 - 39 years old - Voters under the age of 40 make up the majority of the electorate in St. Louis Park.
They are frequent voters in even years, but participate at much lower rates in municipal elections. In
order to engage this audience we are creating digital content for social media and regular sites people in
this demographic frequently use to get information and communicate. Additionally, we are collaborating
with local community partners to engage residents at events they already attend and places they gather,
such as local sporting or arts/entertainment events, community or neighborhood gatherings, local
businesses, and large-scale events such as Parktacular.
40 - 65 years old- This tends to be our most engaged group of voters. They are registered at higher rates
and prefer early voting (absentee) to other methods. They are more likely to be single-family home
owners and to be longtime residents. We intend to create leadership opportunities to encourage people
who already actively participate in their community to engage their peers about the upcoming election
and the changes related to ranked-choice voting.
65 and older- Seniors in our community make up the majority of our election judges and are a group
that receive targeted services from the city, such as health care facility voting. Because this age group is
more likely to be educated on voting and familiar with the community, we are seeking their feedback on
election materials. We are also expanding existing outreach programs to seniors who don’t live in
statutorily defined health care facilities but live in large residential communities such as Park Shore,
Menorah Plaza, and Tower Light.
Working professionals - We are engaging the business community through avenues like the Rotary Club
and the St. Louis Park Business Roundtable. Our goal is to partner with small businesses to assist with
the distribution of election materials. We also seek to communicate with large employers in the area to
engage their employees in the election process through messaging from their leadership and by
providing space for us to work with employees. This could also lead to the recruitment of new election
St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518
judges who can eventually take the place of some of our long-time judges who may be looking to retire
from their work on Election Day.
New residents - People who are new to St. Louis Park are already welcomed by a packet they receive
while homesteading. We are developing simple, short materials to distribute in that packet that include
a welcome letter, a get started guide, voter registration materials, and a magnet with key elections
information and contact details. Because 1/3 of our voters and nearly half of our residents live in multi-
family housing we are partnering with organizations like SPARC and local property owners and building
managers to distribute the same information when a resident signs a lease or purchases a condo or
other multi-family housing unit. Ideally these partnerships will give city staff access to community space
within larger buildings to hold brief education or drop-in sessions for residents.
New voters - Residents who have never voted, typically do not vote, or who have not voted in a long
time are a core focus of the work done by the Center for Civic Design. Research has revealed that these
voters usually do not participate due to basic lack of understanding of the process of voting itself, and
out of a lack of traditional knowledge surrounding voting. They may not have any family members or
friends who vote, or may not know where to begin or what to expect. Our action-oriented guides, both
online and distributed via educational pamphlets, will include the step-by-step process without
distracting information about how previous city elections have worked. They will also include ongoing
resources to stay engaged, such as social media or subscriptions through GovDelivery texts and emails
that can remind or inform voters of crucial deadlines and dates and stay active in elections.
Occasional voters - These voters are likely our core audience. They are familiar with voting but may only
participate in even-year or presidential year elections. They typically seek to understand the value
proposition of voting in municipal elections. The change in voting method will need to be
communicated; however, exit polling completed by FairVote indicated that most regular voters
understood the ranking process. These voters typically have questions regarding tabulation and the path
their specific vote takes after they have cast their ballot. We will be creating short pocket guides for
voters that provide easy-to-understand and basic information and identify other resources for those
that want to learn more. Additionally, we will be recording videos that specifically follow each potential
voting scenario (ex. ranking the same candidate for all three choices, skipping a ranking, not ranking,
etc.) on a ranked-choice ballot and how each scenario is tabulated and affects the outcome of a race.
The videos will be short and will hopefully encourage “occasionally engaged” voters to click through to
more educational resources on our website or to attend an event in the community.
Avid voters - These voters are a resource. They understand and follow elections in news media and
regularly participate. They tend to vote out of a respect for the process itself or out of a sense of civic
duty. Our overall outreach campaign is starting with and targeting this group in the February Park
Perspective with a very detailed FAQ regarding all things ranked-choice and the corresponding school
board election. The same information is also available on our website. We hope these interested, active
voters will become educators informally in their community or participate in volunteer events with city
staff.
Community leaders - People who are already active within the community are some of our core
partners, including leaders in the civics space like the League of Women Voters and FairVote. We are
also seeking partnerships with religious organizations and multicultural groups to bring education
opportunities and conversations to places people already gather in our community. We will continue to
develop these partnerships alongside other community engagement efforts the city may already be
working on. For example, collaboration on the work already being done by Darius Gray, our new
Community Organizer, and work on the 2020 Census with Community Development staff.
St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518
Elected officials and candidates –We are also working to update our candidate filing materials to be
inclusive for potential candidates seeking to understand what the requirements are for running for
office. What councilmembers and school board members do and the role they serve, city and board
operations, the commitment level required to be on council or school board, and the details of ranked-
choice voting and how some aspects of the election will be different than in past years. Due to our need
to remain impartial and unbiased, certain work in this particular area is out of the scope of the elections
team. To bridge that gap we have discussed this challenge and are partnering with outside non-profits,
like League of Women Voters and FairVote, to provide avenues for potential candidates to learn more
about campaigning in a ranked-choice election and other details that may impact their decision to run
for office.
Longtime residents - Registration and participation are high in even year elections. We are going to
research, report and take action on working with longtime residents to better understand how odd-year
elections affect them. We are using data to identify trends in regional (ward) participation and the
differences that our geographic information system (GIS) can reveal. These will lead to regionally
focused events held in targeted areas of the community highlighting that there is an election this year,
that voting will be different, and how it will impact this community.
Timeline and events:
Mock Election #1 - This will be held at St. Louis Park High School and will only be open to students, not
the public. Students attending the Career Fair on April 24th will have an opportunity to vote on issues
that are important to them. Student education on ranked-choice and voting in general have been
coordinated with district staff at the high school to take place in the weeks leading up to April 24.
Students in 9th – 11th grade attend the career fair and will represent three distinct groups of voters. We
hope to use this opportunity to further educate and engage youth in our partnership with St. Louis Park
schools. The main goal of this mock election is to test our internal administrative procedures including
ballot design and printing, equipment testing and programming, polling place procedures and materials
(signage, instructions by demo judges), transmission of results, tabulation, and reporting of results. It is
best to do this for the first time using a smaller, fixed number of voters and ballots.
Mock Election #2 - This event will take place at Parktacular in June. This will serve as a major outreach
event for the elections team and will allow us to talk to a general audience of voters. Anyone who wants
to participate and cast a ballot is welcome, they don’t have to be registered voters and they don’t have
to be 18 or older. We hope to educate people on ranked-choice voting and build awareness around the
upcoming municipal and school board elections this year. We will use this to test an absentee-like
procedure and the instructional materials we are required to distribute with absentee ballots. These
instructions will include information specific to the school board race. Volunteers and city staff will work
with each voter to help them understand their mock ballot, get feedback on ballot design and
instructional materials, and answer questions before people vote. These ballots will be run through a
central count machine, similar to what happens with absentee ballots now, and then we will again
perform our tabulation process and report results to the community.
Mock Election #3 - This will be a large, city-wide event on September 17. We will open four precincts
(one in each ward) for residents to come in and vote. Precincts will be staffed by our election judges
who will go through training prior to working and will use the materials and supplies we have developed
for use in precincts. This election will be run almost exactly like a real election, with a few exceptions.
The polls will be open for a shorter period of time, and voters will not have to go through a check-in and
St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518
registration process prior to voting. This is primarily because we want to encourage as many potential
voters to participate as possible and we want to limit the need to produce and program unnecessary
resources – such as loading voter data on poll pads or requiring someone to go through the registration
process. We will have resources available for voters to register if they need to, but it will not be a
requirement. Also, no absentee voting will be offered for this mock election simply because we will need
to dedicate our internal resources at this time of the year to preparing for the real election in
November, recruiting and training election judges, and preparing for the start of absentee voting at the
end of September.
These mock elections will allow us to test any remaining administrative procedures, get feedback from
election judges and voters prior to the real election in November, stir up some excitement and positive
publicity for the upcoming election, decrease voter anxiety about ranked-choice, and further promote
civic engagement.
Our most busy period of outreach and educational events will be closer to election season to promote
the upcoming election, voter registration, and the opportunities available for voters to participate. We
know that voters typically seek information weeks to days prior to actually participating. While they may
have participated in an educational session earlier in the year, the information will be much more
relevant and memorable if delivered close to Election Day.
Attachments
•Elections outreach and education programs
•Elections timeline 2019
•Education and outreach materials development plan
St. Louis Park Administrative Services Department • 5005 Minnetonka Blvd., St. Louis Park, MN 55416
www.stlouispark.org • Phone: 952.924.2531 • Fax: 952.924.2170 • TTY: 952.924.2518
Elections outreach and education programs
Program Purpose
Student Election Program Monthly educational and collaboration session with St. Louis Park High School students who
will have opportunities to learn about civic processes, collaborate on community engagement
strategies, and identify future career paths in local government. Interested students will be
asked to help with outreach and education activities on a regular basis and serve as election
judges in November.
Community Education Programs The elections team will teach a series of 6 classes (one series for middle school students and
one series for adults) with curriculums based on learning about civics, local government, and
elections at the state and local levels.
Elections Ambassador Program Identified community leaders and stakeholders who can act as liaisons to connect the
communities they interact with on a regular basis with resources to learn about and
participate in elections and can provide feedback on barriers and effectiveness of different
communication strategies. A similar type of program was used effectively in Minneapolis and
also for the Vision 3.0 process in St. Louis Park.
Election Judge Workgroup Focus group comprised of 6-10 election judges helping to test, design and provide feedback
on materials to be used during absentee voting and at the polls on Election Day, and to help
develop new election judge training modules.
Mock Elections Three separate events where we can test internal administrative procedures, get feedback on
ballot design, inform the public on how to vote in a ranked-choice elections and let voters
interact with the new system and ask questions.
Election Outreach Toolkit Set of educational and interactive materials for civically engaged groups (League of Women
Voters, Election Ambassadors, neighborhood leaders, candidates, etc.) and individuals to
interact and engage with their friends, family, and neighbors on ranked-choice voting and
basic elections information. Will be available online and print form in Q2 of 2019.
Traveling Education Program Series of lesson plans and presentations of varying lengths of time that can be used when the
elections team is requested to attend meetings or events to provide information. Requests
can be made directly on our website or by contacting elections staff. Each lesson plan is
largely interactive and utilizes activities to engage audiences in the process of elections and
how ranked -choice voting works. These activities include a board game, interactive/live
online voting and tabulation elements, short videos, and worksheets to design a polling place
and ballots.
Neighborhood Association Program The elections team plan to work with neighborhood leaders in conjunction with the new
Community Organizer (Darius Gray) to engage these leaders in election outreach activities
and establish opportunities for the leaders to connect the elections team with the
neighborhood they serve.
Boards and Commissions The elections team has visited the Human Rights Commission and the Multi-Cultural Advisory
Commission both to seek their advice and to engage their members in election outreach
opportunities. The team is coordinating visits to other commissions with staff liaisons.
Ongoing education opportunities for all members is planned.
St. Louis Park Employee Training The elections team will be engaging all employees in every division of the city such that they
will know what ranked-choice voting is, will be able to answer very basic questions about
elections and/or redirect questions they may receive in the office or the community to
elections staff.
Key collaborations The elections team has met and will continue to meet regularly with key civic groups
including the League of Women Voters, Fair Vote, and the St. Louis Park school district to
educate each group, coordinate messaging, and collaborate on identified outreach needs and
opportunities in the community.
Mobile voting Pilot project that will be tested in 2019 at 2-3 traditionally underserved areas of the
community to see if voter participation can be increased and to gain more information about
the barriers that prevent regular participation within particular communities. Using the
community outreach vehicle the elections team will take a mobile version of city hall to a
specific area of the community during the absentee voting period, outside of regular office
hours, and help people register to vote and/or vote early by absentee.
Elections timeline 2019
Education and outreach materials development plan
City of St. Louis Park Affordable Housing Initiatives 2019:
In support of the city’s housing goals to promote and facilitate a balanced and enduring housing
stock that offers a continuum of diverse lifecycle housing choices for households in all income
levels including affordable housing, the city has implemented a number of programs to create
affordable housing, support the preservation of naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH)
and tenant protection policies including:
•Inclusionary Housing Policy: The city adopted the Inclusionary Housing Policy in June 2015.
The policy requires market rate multi-family residential developers receiving financial
assistance from the city, requesting land use changes through the use of a planned unit
development (PUD) or requesting a zoning use amendment to the Comp Plan to include a
percentage of affordable units in the development. The units must be affordable to
households whose incomes are at 30%, 50% or 60% area median income, depending on the
option chosen by the developer. Since the policy was adopted, the city has added 54
affordable units in three developments. Another two developments are under construction
that will add additional units and several other developments have been approved or are in
the planning process. The council recently amended the policy to include a one-for-one
replacement requirement of any NOAH units demolished or converted to another use as
part of the development project.
•Affordable Housing Trust Fund: In 2018 the city established an Affordable Housing Trust
Fund. Housing trust funds are distinct funds established by city, county or state
governments that receive ongoing dedicated sources of public funding to support the
preservation and production of affordable housing. Housing trust funds can also be a
repository for private donations. Money in a housing trust fund may only be used to:
1)make grants, loans, and loan guarantees for the development, rehabilitation, or
financing of housing;
2)match other funds from federal, state, or private resources for housing projects; and/or
3)provide down-payment assistance, rental assistance, and homebuyer counseling
services.
The city may finance the fund with any money available to a local government, unless
expressly prohibited by state law. The proposed primary source of funding for the city’s
trust fund is an annual budgeted allocation of HRA levy funds, which will be available
beginning in 2020.
•Land Banking/selling public land to facilitate affordable housing development: The city has
acquired several land parcels for the purpose of facilitating mixed use development that will
include additional affordable housing units. Three recent examples include the Beltline
Station area, the Wooddale station area. The city also is in the process of acquiring a single
family property on Minnetonka Boulevard to be combined with an adjacent, previously
purchased foreclosed property, as a future site for affordable housing.
•4d tax classification program: The city recently initiated a local program that enables
owners of NOAH properties in St. Louis Park to utilize the State 4d tax classification
provision, also known as the Low-Income Rental Classification (LIRC). Minnesota’s 4d
provision reduces property taxes by approximately 40 percent on rent-restricted housing
units that are affordable to households making 60% or less of area median income (AMI).
Eligible properties must meet two conditions: 1) the owner of the property must agree to
rent with income restrictions serving households at 60% AMI or below; and 2) they must
receive some form of “financial assistance” from federal, state or local government. This
condition allowed the city to create a “Local 4d” program in which qualifying properties
receive the 4d tax break in return for agreeing to conditions which meet the city’s housing
policy goals. Participating owners must sign a commitment to keep at least 20% of the units
in their building affordable for 10 years. In return, the city pays the application fee for the
first year of 4d certification and provides grant funds for energy improvements in the
amount of $200 per unit, with a maximum of $6,000 per building.
•Multi-family rental rehabilitation loan program: The city also recently developed and
implemented a program that provides attractive financing to multifamily rental property
owners for rehab or major capital improvements. The program is designed to encourage
investments in multifamily rental properties in exchange for a commitment of units
affordable for occupancy by low and moderate income households. The loan must be used
in qualified units or in common spaces. Rents of the assisted units must be affordable to
households with incomes at or below 60% AMI for the entirety of the 10 year term period
of loan.
•Tenant Protection Ordinance: The city enacted an ordinance in 2018 that requires a three
month period following the ownership transfer of a NOAH multi-family residential property
during which the new owner is required to pay relocation benefits to tenants if the new
owner (1) increases the rent, (2) rescreens existing residents, or (3) implements non-
renewals without cause and the tenant chooses to move during this period. NOAH
properties are defined as buildings where at least 18% of the units have rents affordable to
households with incomes at or below 60% Area Medium Income (AMI). This ordinance
would not prohibit a new owner from taking the actions listed above; however, the owner
would be required to pay resident relocation benefits if they do take any of those actions
during the three month tenant protection period. The ordinance will allow for a period of
time for residents to work with housing support resources and seek alternative housing if
they are facing unaffordable rent increases, new screening criteria requirements that would
be problematic for them, or a thirty day non-renewal without cause notice to vacate.
•Legacy Program: This program was generated as an outcome of the NOAH preservation
workgroup discussions held in 2017/18. The workgroup recognized that the majority of
NOAH owners appreciate and care about their residents and that there are owners that
would be interested in creating a “legacy” by preserving their property as affordable
housing. The program is marketed to owners to make them aware of the financial
advantages of transferring their NOAH property to a non-profit preservation buyer. The city
will work with property owners and preservation buyers to assist in facilitating the process
for any interested owners.
Rental Assistance:
•Kids in the Park Rent Assistance Program: Recognizing that housing instability keeps
students from attending school consistently and diminishes their likelihood of achieving
key measures like reading proficiency, the city implemented of a shallow rent subsidy
program to assist low-income St. Louis Park rental households who have children
attending school in St. Louis Park or their assigned attendance school, to remain in their
current housing. The “Kids in the Park Rent Assistance Program” provides rent assistance
to households for up to 48 months. The participants receive a flat monthly rental
assistance amount that decreases annually over the four year period. Eligible households
must have at least one parent that works a minimum of 28 hours a week, must reside in
rental housing located in St. Louis Park, and be lease compliant. In addition to the rent
subsidy, STEP staff meets with each household to assess their economic and social needs,
establish a plan to address needs, provide referrals, and offer case management, as
needed. Participant households will also be required to attend parent-teacher
conferences and take an active role in their children’s educational progress. The Housing
Authority (HA) is the second year of administering the program and is currently serving
14 families on the program.
• Housing Choice Voucher Program – The St. Louis Park Housing Authority (HA)
administers approx. 268 rental assistance vouchers, 41 of which are project-based
(meaning the vouchers stay with rental unit). Participants rent a qualifying unit from a
private owner/landlord and the rent paid by the household is based on their income.
The difference in the rent paid by the participant and the market-rate rent is paid by the
HA. The program is federally funded.
• Public Housing Program – The HA owns and manages 157 units of public housing. The
units include a 108 unit low-rise apartment complex, 37 single-family homes scattered
throughout the city, and in partnership with Project for Pride in Living, 12 units at
Louisiana court. The rent paid by the household is based on their income and does not
exceed 30% of the household’s gross income. This program is also federally funded.
• Stable Home Rent Subsidy Program: In partnership with Hennepin County, the HA
administers a rent subsidy program to serve persons that have been chronically
homeless. The program provides rent assistance for three years and the rent paid is
based on the household’s income. Participants must reside in suburban Hennepin
County. There are currently approximately 35 participants on the program.
• Funding provided to STEP for emergency assistance program: The city has provided
$60,000 to assist in funding STEP’s Emergency Assistance Program which is dedicated to
providing rent assistance to families experiencing financial crises. The goal of the
program is to intervene so families do not lose their housing or have an eviction action
on their record.
Promote and Support Responsible Property Management:
• SPARC – St. Louis Park’s Landlord Coalition: The city facilitates quarterly meetings with
the city’s landlords and rental owners to discuss topics and issues interest including
topics related to good management practices; one initiative with this group has been to
recruit new landlords to accept Housing Choice Voucher participants.
• Rental Licensing/Crime Free Training: The city requires that rental property staff attend
a crime free training as part of the city’s rental licensing requirements. Topics include
fair housing requirements to best practices for screening applicants.
Affordable Homeownership:
• West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust (Homes Within Reach) – Homes Within
Reach is a program of West Hennepin Affordable Housing Land Trust (WHAHLT) that
purchases properties, rehabilitates and then sells the home to qualified low- to moderate-
income households. Buyers pay for the cost of the home only and lease the land for 99
years for a minimal amount. City funds are leveraged with Federal Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG), Hennepin County Affordable Housing Incentive Fund
(AHIF), and HOME Partnership, Metropolitan Council, Minnesota Housing and other funds
to rehabilitate the property and subsidize the purchase price to make it affordable. Using
the land trust model means that families can more easily purchase a home where they
work or live, retain it for generations, and not over-burden their incomes in becoming
homeowners. There was one purchase of a home in 2019. That home is the 17th home in
St. Louis Park. We are currently partnering with WHAHLT on our 18th home.
• Affordable homeownership assistance program: The city implemented an enhanced
affordable homeownership program this year that will provide down payment and
closing cost assistance loans to assist first-time homebuyers (or have not owned a home
in the least three years) in purchasing a home in St. Louis Park. Employees of St. Louis
Park businesses would be eligible for an additional loan amount to encourage them to
live where they work.
o The maximum loan amount is $15,000, not to exceed 5% of the purchase price.
o Live where you work loan amount: An additional $5,000 to employees of St.
Louis Park businesses.
o Interest rate and loan terms: 0% interest 20 year deferred loan. 100% of the loan
amount is due if the property is sold, ownership is transferred, or no longer
owner-occupied. Loan is forgiven after 20 years.
Affordable Housing Rehab Programs Technical, Design, and Conservation Services
• Architectural Design Service: This service provides an architectural consultation for
residents to assist with brainstorming remodeling possibilities and to raise the awareness
of design possibilities for rehab and expansion. Residents select an approved architect
from a pool developed in conjunction with the MN Chapter of the American Institute of
Architects. All homeowners considering renovations are eligible for this service regardless
of income; however, to ensure committed participants, residents make a $25 co-pay.
• Remodeling/Rehab Advisor: The intent of this service is to help residents improve their
homes (either maintenance or value-added improvements) by providing technical help
before and during the construction process. All homeowners are eligible for this service
regardless of income. The city contracts with the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE)
for this free service to homeowners.
• Home Energy Squad Enhanced Visit and Rebates: Home Energy Squad Enhanced program
is a comprehensive residential energy program designed to help residents save money
and energy and stay comfortable in their homes. The program which began in March,
2012, is administered by the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). The city pays $50
per resident visit which is leveraged with funds from Xcel Energy, Center Point Energy and
CEE. The cost per resident is $50 per enhanced visit. This fee is waived for low-income
homeowners. The city also provides a match of 50% of gas and electric utility rebates for
energy efficient furnaces, water heaters, air conditioners and qualifying air sealing and
insulation.
•Annual Home Remodeling Fair: The cities and school district community education
departments of St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka, and Golden Valley co-sponsor the
annual home remodeling fair. The fair provides residents an opportunity to attend
seminars, talk with vendors and city staff about permits, zoning, home improvement
loans, and environmental issues related to remodeling. The fair is a self-sustaining event
and vendor registration fees cover the costs.
•Home Remodeling Tour: This is an annual tour designed to showcase remodeled and
expanded single-family owner-occupied homes in St. Louis Park. The self-guided tour of
five to six homes provides a variety of home remodeling projects to foster ideas, share
information, and inspire other residents considering remodeling.
•Discount Loan Program: This program encourages residents to improve their homes by
“discounting” the interest rate on the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MN Housing)
home improvement loans. Residents must have a household income of $104,000 or less.
Eligible improvements include most home improvement projects with the exception of
luxury items such as pools and spas. The city contracts with CEE for loan administration.
•Move –Up Transformation Loan: The purpose of this loan is to encourage residents with
incomes at or below 120% of median area income to expand their homes. The program
provides deferred loans for 25% of the applicant’s home expansion project cost, with a
maximum loan of $25,000. The loan has 0% interest and is forgiven after 30 years if
homeowner continues to live in the home.
•The Emergency Home Repair Program: The city offers grants of up to $4,000 to low-
income homeowners to cover the cost of immediate emergency repairs such as furnace
replacement, roof repairs, etc. To qualify, a household’s income must be at or below
50% of the area medium income.
•Deferred Loan Program: This loan program assists low income homeowners in funding
basic safety and maintenance improvements. The maximum loan amount is $30,000
and the loan is deferred until sale of the property or forgiven after 15 years. To qualify
a household’s must be at or below 80% of the area medium income.
•Housing Improvement Area (HIA): The HIA is a finance tool to assist with the preservation
of the city’s existing townhome and condominium housing stock. An HIA is a defined area
within a city where housing improvements are made and the cost of the improvements
are paid in whole or in part from fees imposed on the properties within the area. The
Association borrows low interest money from the city, improvements are completed and
unit owners repay the loan through fees imposed on their properties and collected with
property tax payments. To date, seven HIA’s have been established and over twelve
million dollars of improvements has been made to 1100 units.
Prepared for the April 16, 2019 Joint School Board/City Council Meeting
Enrollment history and projections
Overall enrollment in St. Louis Park Public Schools has been relatively flat for the past several
years. Since 2013-14, the district has had over 4,500 students enrolled in the fall of each year.
The chart below shows overall trends over time. In FY 2019 (the 2018-19 school year), the
district experienced a drop in student enrollment, driven by a decline in Kindergarten numbers.
In the growing competitive marketplace for education, the district is focused on retaining and
growing the enrollment of our resident students. The Superintendent has begun a process of
connecting with families who have chosen other public options than St. Louis Park Public
Schools to better understand reasons behind their choice. Ultimately, the district will develop a
marketing plan geared towards resident students and families who have chosen other public
options.
Prepared for the April 16, 2019 Joint School Board/City Council Meeting
Since choice can go both ways, the district also enrolls students from neighboring public school
districts. The chart below shows historical numbers of St. Louis Park residents students and
students open enrolled from other public school districts. Since FY 2014, over 650 students have
enrolled in St. Louis Park Public Schools from other public school districts. In FY 2019 that
number has reached nearly 800 students.
By incorporating current enrollment patterns including birth patterns, housing patterns, and
school choice, the district predicts that overall district enrollment may decline over the next 5
years (see chart below). The work of the district to capture our resident students, combined with
the improvements to school facilities made possible with the recent voter-approved bond issue, is
expected to reverse this pattern of decline in the coming years.
2019-20 SLP Referendum Building Projects
PSI at Cedar Manor Renovation: The project is 50% completed. We are at the point in the
construction process in which cabinetry installation and painting is occurring. The new kitchen
and cafeteria mechanical is complete and the new office/entry addition is fully enclosed.
Exterior landscaping has started and parking/bus/entry road will commence in May. Project is
still scheduled to be completed by August 23.
High School Old District Office and Locker Room: Demolition is 100%
completed. Construction of new offices, secured entrance, visitor drop-off, and locker room
renovations has started. Mechanical and electrical rough-ins are 50% completed. Project is on
schedule to be completed by August 23.
Middle School Media Center/Link/Classroom Additions: Exterior Media Center and
Classroom Additions are scheduled to start on April 16. Installation of barricades/fencing has
commenced and pre-mechanical and electrical work is underway. When completed there will be
seven new classrooms, hallway link, media center addition, and a new learning space. Project is
scheduled to be completed on January 4, 2020.
High School Fitness Center: Bids for this project have been received and bid awards will be
submitted to the School Board on Monday April 22 for review and approval. The project is
scheduled to start on May 6 and with a projected completion date of January 4, 2020.
Aquila Elementary Classroom and Kitchen Upgrade: This project is out for bid. Bid awards
for the project are scheduled for early May. Project is scheduled to start on June 13 with an
expected completion date of August 23. The project includes upgrades to every classroom, new
furniture, lighting, and IT equipment. The kitchen will be upgraded and all new/existing
equipment will comply with state regulatory requirements.
Each project that is completed during this process will meet the new Minnesota State Energy
Codes. In order to meet these requirements, we are using sustainable products and energy saving
systems. We are in the process of developing an RFP for Solar Panels to be installed on
upgraded roofs.
Prepared for the April 16, 2019 Joint School Board/City Council Meeting
Prepared for the April 16, 2019 Joint School Board/City Council Meeting
Curriculum, Instruction and Student Program Review Process
Key points:
•All curricular areas will go through a three-step review process that will last
approximately three years. Student programs will also be reviewed in this manner.
•PreK-12 Math, World Languages, and Gifted/Talented Programming being their review
cycles this month.
•A wide representation of teachers from throughout the district will engage in a two-day
workshop to provide their consultation and guidance for next steps.
•A small group of teachers (approx. 3-5) will make recommendations on curriculum and
develop racial equity transformation plans with 3, 5, and 8 year benchmarks.
•Student voices and community input will be centered at various times throughout the
review process.
•The process will engage scholarship and expertise on racial equity, culturally relevant
pedagogy, technology enrichment, International Baccalaureate, and Immersion among
others.
•Teachers will examine their practices with the goal of developing racially conscious
student leaders in all of our content areas through a systemic approach.
•The tentative timeline for the review cycles are listed below – along with a visual
representing the review process.
The Three phase review cycle:
Prepared for the April 16, 2019 Joint School Board/City Council Meeting
Questions that will inform systemic transformation of teaching, learning, and leading:
Proposed timeline for curricular/instructional & program reviews: