CITY COUNCIL AGENDA PACKET - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Nelson Fialho/Mr. David Haglund Page 25 Preliminary Issues Assessment of Potential Colocation of Maintenance Facilities • Waive development review fees for MCPS projects. • Provide Council Chambers for MCPS school board meetings. • Provide garbage collection at school sites. • Maintain school buses at established labor rates and parts costs. • Waive fees at Manassas Museum for MCPS field trips. The following services are provided by MCPS: • Waive fees for: o City meetings at schools, o Use of schools as voting precincts, o Use of school parking lot for Fourth of July event, o City use of school buses for city events (City to pay direct labor costs), o Use of schools as emergency shelters, o Use of schools and buses for Police Department training events, and o Children of city employees who live outside city and attend MCPS. • Remove snow from building sidewalks at MCPS facilities (other than schools). Interview with Manassas City Manager City Manager Pate more fully explained the use of the Public Works Compound. Providing space at the site for school buses has occurred since Manassas became a city. The city has never imposed a charge for space made available to MCPS. The City’s fleet operation is set up as an Internal Service Fund. City personnel service the school buses at an agreed upon rate, similar to the rate charged to city departments. Mr. Pate noted that although MCPS does not pay directly for space at the Public Works Compound, he would like to increase the hourly rates charged to reflect a modest cost for use of the space. Mr. Pate noted that city and school staffs work very well together. There is a great deal of synergy and shared purpose between agencies such that sharing services does not create conflict. He is, however, undertaking a comprehensive cost assessment of services provided, so policy makers and residents have an accurate picture of how city resources are allocated. The city and MCPS are just concluding a three-year funding agreement, so he feels the time is right to place a value on the services provided by the city and include that in the renewed funding agreement. Mr. Pate said the partnership between city and schools was very positive and an accurate reflection of the priorities of the community as a whole. He did caution however, that arrangements evolved over time, however informal, are nearly impossible to undo. So, care should be taken to be transparent about costs and benefits and to formalize agreements whenever possible.