4.g) Staff Report-Update on Safe Routes to School Grant Application � ` ��
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SCANDIA
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: February 12, 2013
To: City Council
From: Kristina Handt, Administrator
Re: Update on SRTS
Agenda Item#: 4.g)
Background:
At the December 18, 2012 meeting,the City Council approved having Cathy Mackiewicz,
Washington County Public Health and Environment facilitate a community meeting for
preparation of a Safe Routes to School grant application. A small group of individuals (Cathy,
Sue Rodjso, Alex Bildeaux, Julie Greiman and I) met on January 2, 2013 to begin planning the
meeting. We talked about holding a public meeting in March and planned to begin discussions
in preparation for an application for a planning grant in 2014 or later.
There may have been some confusion at the December 18, 2012 meeting in that Washington
County would help facilitate a meeting of key stakeholders but it is not their role to promote
specific proposals in communities. Also, following that meeting, I learned that the school's
resources are being utilized by their application to become an International Baccalaureate World
School. They are in the throes of that process this year and next and really need to focus their
attention on that journey now. Unfortunately, the vast majority of their students do live a number
of miles from school, so a "safe route" gant would be unique in its scope.
Issue:
Given that Washington County cannot help facilitate a community wide public meeting and the
school's resources are committed to other programs at this time, does the City Council still want
to pursue a Safe Routes to School grant?
Options:
1) Do not pursue a Safe Routes to School grant at this time.
2) Direct city staff to facilitate a community wide public meeting to gather more public
input on a possible Safe Routes to School grant.
Recommendation:
Option 1. Staff recommendation in December to pursue this was contingent upon assistance
from community partners.