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File #: RES 20-1263    Version:
Type: Resolution Status: Archived
In control: Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Final action: 3/10/2021
Title: Resolution approving a temporary policy regarding the issuance of conduit revenue bonds for the benefit of Charter School Projects, Citywide
Sponsors: Chris Tolbert
Attachments: 1. Board Report, 2. Scope of Conduit Bond Study
Title
Resolution approving a temporary policy regarding the issuance of conduit revenue bonds for the benefit of Charter School Projects, Citywide
Body
WHEREAS, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul, Minnesota (the “HRA”) is duly organized and existing under the Constitution and laws of the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, under the Minnesota Municipal Industrial Development Act, Minnesota Statutes, Sections 469.152-469.1655, as amended (the “Act”), each housing and redevelopment authority of the State of Minnesota, including the HRA, is authorized to issue conduit revenue bonds to finance, in whole or in part, the costs of the acquisition, construction, improvement, or extension of revenue producing enterprises, whether or not operated for profit; and

WHEREAS, IRS Code requires an applicable elected representative of the governmental unit in which a project is located to approve the issuance of an obligation following a public hearing; and

WHEREAS, on August 26, 2020, the Board of Commissioners of the HRA (the “HRA Board”) discussed a proposal from a charter school for the issuance of conduit revenue bonds. During this discussion, HRA Board members made various requests for information from City staff before another charter school proposal for the issuance of conduit revenue bonds can be brought forward; and

WHEREAS, details of the information requests are shown in the accompanying staff report; and

WHEREAS, HRA staff have received several inquiries from charter schools that may have been planning to request the issuance of conduit revenue bonds; and

WHEREAS, the amount of time necessary to compile and provide the requested information to the HRA Board is yet unknown; and

WHEREAS, Staff recommends that a temporary policy be enacted that halts the consideration of proposals for the issuance of conduit revenue bonds for charter schools either through direct issuance or through host approval; and

WHEREAS, this action w...

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Date NameDistrictOpinionCommentAction
3/9/2021 10:30 PMMichael Kurhajetz Against Please don't p*** this resolution. Charter schools are a critical element of the Twin Cities' education ecosystem, and p***ing a resolution of this nature would make it harder for charter schools to provide a high-quality education to all kids in St. Paul, especially in places where a high-quality district school is unavailable.
3/9/2021 8:36 PMMyisha Holley Against p***ing this resolution would harm the ability of my children's school to provide a quality learning environment and experience for your students, teachers, and community. Charter schools connect and give children the access and supports the they don't receive at traditional public schools. Our children are falling through the cracks with traditional public schools. Charter schools offer services and ***istance for families and students. My children are not and have not been bullied by their peers or educators since attending Charter school. They feel protected, safe and free to learn. To vote for this resolution would be detrimental to not just my family but to all the other children and families that trust and know their children are getting more than just a quality education. +1
3/9/2021 4:25 PMLaurie Mako Against I am asking you to not p*** this resolution regarding funding that is available to charter schools. Charter schools are an important part of the education system. We have been offering choice in learning for families for many years now and want to continue to meet the needs of these children. By doing this, you are really hurting our children and families and limiting the positive affects we can have in St. Paul. These children and families have put their trust in us and we are working hard to meet their needs. I am asking you to continue to allow us to receive the money we need to help reduce this learning gap. Every child learns differently, and we should be thinking about the fact that maybe not every school is for every child and that charter schools should be allowed to help to get rid of the achievement gap and to continue educating children in St. Paul. We have many, many success stories as a school and want to continue to provide the education that our students deserve
3/9/2021 1:54 PMNicole Crashell Against As a school employee enthusiastic about education, I am writing to ask you to not to adopt a blanket policy against issuing conduit revenue bonds to charter schools. Charter schools are an important and valuable option for families. We need to keep students at the center, and while St. Paul Public Schools work for most students, some are better served by charter schools with programming more tailored to their needs. Our city is home to some excellent charter schools designed specifically to meet the needs of student populations that have been traditionally underserved. A blanket policy blocking the issuance of conduit revenue bonds would stand in the way of progress for schools that are effectively serving our city’s youth. Nonprofits, including charter schools, are a huge benefit to our city, ensuring a strong system of services and supports, and should continue to qualify for the conduit revenue bonds. +2
3/9/2021 1:00 PMSarah Brunner Against Please retain the ability to guarantee bonds for various projects, including but not limited to charter schools. These bonds help our schools save tens of thousands of dollars AND save tax payer dollars. Our charter schools are an excellent option for those unable to pay private schools and unhappy with their neighborhood school performance. Please support our charter schools! +1
3/9/2021 6:20 AMChancey Anderson Tauer Against P***ing this resolution would harm the ability of our school to provide a quality learning environment and experience for our students, teachers, and community. Please do not p*** it!
3/8/2021 10:15 PMLisa Linnell Against I am disappointed to see this proposed moratorium on charter school's ability to use city-back bonds on the Council agenda again. Public charter schools that are excited to invest in St Paul would be punished by p***age of this resolution. My daughter attends a charter school that recently invested in a building project in the Como; it draws K-8 students to St Paul from across the Twin Cities and creates a pathway to send its graduates on to advanced language studies at St Paul Central High School (my daughter will be starting at St Paul Central 18 months from now). The conduit revenue bond moratorium being considered by the Council would have stymied this investment in kids, education, and St Paul. The Council should reject this short-sighted proposal and continue to support investment in education infrastructure across St Paul. +1
3/8/2021 9:25 PMNick Rice Against Both of my children attend charter schools because they provide a much better, and more individualized education. Frankly, I toured all of the St. Paul public schools near my house and would not want to send my children to any. Charter schools are already providing this education with less money than SPPS receives per pupil. P***ing this resolution would harm the ability of my children's schools to provide the high quality learning environment and experiences that they have been getting. The teachers already make less money that SPPS teachers...how are they supposed to live with their salaries, these teachers are dedicated to helping students and not concerned with the money....but they need a living wage. Inflation goes up and teacher salaries remain the stagnant. Charter Schools ARE public schools, why do you want to take money away from our children!!!
10/14/2020 1:38 AMGrace Schmitt   This is my second post-script, written because the Legistar System has now recorded the submission I just wrote on 10/13/20 at 8:35 p.m. as having been written on 10/14/2020 at 1:32 a.m. Help. Who is in charge of the validity of information?
10/14/2020 1:32 AMGrace Schmitt   This is a post-script to my earlier comment opposing RES 20-1263. I am mortified to see that my original comment was edited by Legistar's algorithm (or, is it the City of St. Paul?) to imply that I used a profane word in my comment in opposition to RES 20-1263. Obviously I do not spell with ***. Nor would I ever use profane language in speaking to the leadership of our City. For the system to presume such makes me really sad. And, now, I am hesitant to even submit this comment as I do not feel confident that this will appear in the authentic manner in which it is sent. I hope it does.
10/13/2020 7:07 PMGrace Schmitt Against A council member was quoted in the September 13th Pioneer Press as saying, "We've identified that charter schools are causing a financial issue within the city...". Singling out charter schools as the sole tax-exempt business for which conduit revenue bonds are halted is grossly unfair; and, it diverts attention from the broader issue and vital need of effective education for all our children. If charter schools are "rapidly expanding", why is that? If St. Paul Public School enrollment is "declining significantly", why is that? Parents are "voting with their feet." Why is that? What is at the root of this movement? Please do not obfuscate the real issue by p***ing Res 20-1263. If proposals for conduit revenue bonds need to be reduced, then apply the halting of consideration of proposals to ALL eligible entities. Thank you.