City Council · 2017-09-20

OREM CITY COUNCIL/ALPINESCHOOLDISTRICT
SPECIALJOINTMEETING
56 North State, Orem, Utah
September 20, 2017
This meeting was for discussion purposes only. No official action was taken.
CONDUCTING Mayor Richard F. Brunst
OREM ELECTED OFFICIALS Councilmembers Debby Lauret, Sam Lentz, Tom
Macdonald, Mark Seastrand, David Spencer, and
Brent Sumner
OREM STAFF Jamie Davison, City Manager; Brenn Bybee,
Assistant City Manager; Steven Downs, Assistant to
the  City Manager;  Karl Hirst, Recreation
Department Head; Gary Giles, Police Chief; and
Donna Weaver, City Recorder
John Burton, Mark Clement, Sarah Hacken, Paula
ALPINE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Hill, and JoDee Sundberg
ALPINESCHOOLDISTRICTADMIN. Sam Jarman, Superintendent; Rob Smith, Assistant
Superintendent; and Jess Christen, Assistant
Superintendent;  Patten,
John Assistant
Superintendent
INVOCATION Councilmember Spencer
Mayor Brunst called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m.
Mayor Brunst welcomed the public, noting that this was public meeting but not a public hearing.
so no public comment would be accepted. He reviewed a number of public meetings the District
would be hosting to discuss the proposed school closures.
Items of Common Interest
DISCUSSION
Superintendent Jarman expressed appreciation to the City for working so hard to complete the
street construction around Orem Elementary before the start of school.
He then reviewed the history of the current discussion about the potential of consolidation/new
construction/new boundaries for some Orem schools. He noted that during a period of time
where the plan was being formulated for future discussion with the public some of the
information was released publicly, before it was ready, so there is now a perception that it was a
"done deal" and that public trust had been compromised, which was unfortunate.
Joint Orem City CounciVAlpineSchool District Minutes-September 20,2017(p.1)


Superintendent Jarman said they were at the point where they were ready to discuss the concept
at community input meetings. A survey had been posted online and the input would be taken into
consideration at the appropriate time. It would be open to the public until Thursday,
September 21, 2017, to give time for District staff to summarize the results before the next board
meeting. The survey opened on Monday.
Mr. Christen reviewed a handout that detail Orem's declining enrollment which had has
triggered a need to evaluate leaving all schools open. Some schools needed to be either upgraded
for seismic standards or tobuild new schools.
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some things to improve the buildings but the masonry would still be unreinforced. In the event of
a catastrophic earthquake, those buildings were the most likely to collapse.
Mr. Davidson noted that prior to the late 1970s there were no seismic standards.
Mrs. Hacken referenced the earthquake in Mexico and the images of dead children being pulled
from collapsed buildings. She said that was the kind of thing that gave her nightmares. She had
spoken recently with an earthquake specialist. The Wasatch Fault had five faults and any of them
could shift independent of the others.
Mr. Spencer noted that Hillcrest had already been remodeled. Mr. Christen reviewed the things
The Council, Board, and staff touched on the following issues:
· Losing federal funding as a Title 1 because of how student population.
Specialty programs, such as language immersion, included out-of-area students and
student participation was dependent on interest. Sometimes participation in such program
grew while other times they decreased.
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young families to move there.
The District had invested a lot of money in improving Orem schools, including
$4 million to replace Timpanogos High School's roof, redo the parking lot, redo the
sound system and phone system, etc.
Student population estimates were based upon a rolling five-year prediction, based upon
current enrollment, census, building permits, etc.
 In spite of Orem's increase in population, the birth rates in many areas in the district had
declined significantly.
Mayor Brunst noted that his children had attended Northridge Elementary, and they were moved
to Orchard Elementary. It was not an easy change, but they learned to love the new school.
Mr. Davidson said when they had talked last there had been some concern about Vineyard
Elementary School crossing. There was a signal crossing. His hope was that they were not
hearing from moms and dads worrying about pedestrian safety. Mr. Davidson said they were also
looking at other opportunities to calm traffic in the area.
Joint Orem City Council/Alpine School District Minutes - September 20, 2017 (p.2)


Mrs.Sundberg noted that the problem was not just at Vineyard Elementary but the entire way up
400SouthbecausethatwasthewastheoutletforVineyard.
Mr. Davidson said they were having a conversation with Vineyard about that. Much of their
development to thesouth congregated at 400South.Theyweretrying tocreatenewoutlets onto
GenevaRoad.Oneofthechallengeswastherailroad.Theydid notpermit at-gradecrossings.
SetDateandTimeforNext
The next meeting was scheduled for November 15, 2017,at noon in the Orem City Council
Chambers.
Adjournment
Mr. Spencer moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Lentz seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Themeetingadjourned at12:53p.m.
CORPORATE
SEAL
Dianer
smm D.
DonnaR.Weaver,CityRecorder
Approved:October17,2017
JointOremCityCouncil/AlpineSchoolDistrictMinutes-September20,2017（p.3)