City Commission Special Meeting (2024-05-07)

MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING DANIA BEACH CITY COMMISSION TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024-4:00 P.M.

1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL

Mayor Ryan called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

Present: Mayor: Vice-Mayor: Commissioners:

A. J. Ryan IV Lori Lewellen Joyce L. Davis Tamara James

Absent: Marco A. Salvino, Sr.

City Manager: City Attorney: City Clerk:

Ana M. Garcia, ICMA-CM Eve Boutsis Elora Riera, MMC

2. DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED CLOSING OF OLSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

2.1 RESOLUTION NO. 2024-\_\_\_\_

City Manager Garcia introduced the item. She commented that the City became aware of the possible closing of Olsen Middle School and touched on the achievements being made by the school. She explained that Vice Mayor Lewellen and Commissioner Davis attended the Town Hall and that she and Commissioner James attended virtually and represented the City.

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Commissioner James commented that she attended the Town Hall virtually and she is not in favor of any of the schools closing. She believes the school board has a responsibility to provide education to all students and where education is not determined by annual income. She met with the Superintendent and the City Manager where they expressed their concerns as well as possible solutions that can be taken such as a making the footprint smaller at Olsen, a parks program, and the City taking on some of the maintenance. She is ready to support the schoolboard in seeing how they can make it work together and she is willing to financially help the schoolboard in a way that will save their schools.

Commissioner Davis thanked everyone for attending the meeting and for their support. She visits Olsen Middle School every week and this school is not just a school but is a family. She said that she will fight and does not want to be on the wrong side of history. Taking these students away from this environment at this age is detrimental and repurposing the school as a district office is heartbreaking. She understands that the enrollment needs to be addressed but there should be discussions regarding the public private partnerships. She commented that the enrollment at Olsen Middle has increased over 99 students where Attucks increased only by 16 and McNicol decreased by 6. She is willing to assist financially and invest further in order to save their school.

Vice Mayor Lewellen first sent his condolences to Commissioner Salvino. She commented that she attended the town hall and explained what was discussed during the meeting. She stated that they discussed the different options for closing which were grade of the school, deterioration enrollment, etc. What they did not discuss was development and increased population. She commented that the City has an interlocal agreement with the school to utilize the property for a park. She expressed her concern of not having a high school in Dania Beach and now they are wanting to take the only Middle School. She suggested expanding the middle school to a $ 6^{th} $ through $ 12^{th} $ grade to assist with enrollment during the town hall meeting. There is $ 47 million in taxpayer funding and none of those funds have been used on Dania Beach schools that need upgrading and improvements.

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Mayor Ryan commented that the commission is here as a united front. From every angle that it's looked at, it is does not work with the projection of the City and the way it's heading. Mayor Ryan commented on the increased development occurring in Dania Beach and the $47 million that the City pays to the schoolboard. He appreciates the schoolboard for their hard work and understands that they have a difficult job. He commented that Principal Giancarli has done a tremendous job at Olsen Middle school. He touched on the interlocal agreement with the schoolboard for the new park at the school.

Discussion ensued on the different options.

- Luis Rimoli - 902 Natures Cove

Mayor Ryan opened the floor for public comment and the following spoke:

- Bob Adams - 330 SE $ 3^{\\mathrm{rd}} $ Ter.

- Jeff Bryan - 136 NW $ 5^{\\mathrm{th}} $ Ave.

- Mary Guerra - 245 SW $ 5^{\\mathrm{th}} $ St.

Minutes of Special Meeting

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- Shaquerius Levine - 709 Dania Beach Blvd.

- Shelly Toth - 370 SW $ 31^{\\mathrm{st}} $ Ave.

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- Sherry Pitts - 90 SW $ 8^{\\mathrm{th}} $ Ave.

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- Casey Johnson - 4430 SW $ 2 3^{\\mathrm{rd}} $ Ave.

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- Teondre Gonian - address not provided.

- Hugo Chilo - 261 SW $ 4^{\\mathrm{th}} $ St.

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- Laurie Capelo - address not provided.

Mayor Ryan thanked everyone for coming to the meeting and showing their support.

City Manager Garcia wanted to put on the record that the six months. If the school continues to grow, conservatively a year, by 2026 the school will have close to 900 students.

ool has grown by 100 students in peaking,by 100 students then each

Mayor Ryan read the title of the resolution into the record.