community members regarding the specific uses of the bond, the proposal’s short notice and whether it was too soon to ask for additional money only two years after asking voters to approve $160 million in college improvements.
“I think it’s critical if we’re looking for voter support that we clearly identify what it is we’re asking them to do,” said SMC trustee Graham Pope.
If approved, $75 million of the proposed bond would be used solely for SMC projects. Another $25 million would be spent on joint projects with the City of Malibu, and $75 million would be used in partnership projects with City Hall.
Although the final project list has not been released, SMC President Piedad Robertson said the community projects would create athletic fields, specifically for women’s soccer; a childcare center that would serve the city’s children while educating the college’s students; and other coastal construction projects. The cost of the educational improvements to the average homeowner would be $6.60 per month for the next 30 years, according to a presentation made at Wednesday’s meeting.
SMC’s administration will eliminate all site-specific language, and stick to only declaring the educational purpose and uses of the proposed projects.
“In our view this is a manageable, discussible set of projects,” said Don Girard, the director of marketing for the college. “It’s not open ended, it’s not unlimited, it’s not a wish list. It’s actually rather well defined.”
Aside from the actual project list, community members and officials were turned off by the rushed timing to put the measure on this year’s ballot.
“I’m also concerned about the short time frame,” said Ed Moosbrugger, co-chair for the Friends of Sunset Park neighborhood group. “I hope that you will feel comfortable that you will have the answers that you need by Aug. 2. If you don’t feel comfortable, I think you should consider deferring action on this bond issues.”
The proposal was brought to the attention of the SMC board on June 7 and to City Hall just a few weeks ago. Since that time, SMC’s administration has been meeting with neighborhoods in hopes of informing the community of the projects and winning their support for the measure.
Despite the apparent rush of the issue, SMC officials said the proposed coopera-tive bond has been in the works for many months, but talks were delayed because of a dispute between a group of school boosters who formed the “Community for Excellent Public Schools” and City Hall.
CEPS was formed to push a charter amendment onto the November ballot that would force City Hall to give the local school district at least $6 million a year. However, in May the campaign was abandoned after elected leaders agreed to give at least $6 million each year for the next five years to the local school district.
“A partnership involves a cooperative environment, and there was an issue out there that didn’t lend itself to that discussion,” Girard said. “Until the issue between the city and the school district was settled, it was clearly an inopportune time to talk about cooperation.”
Although more time would put the minds of some board members and many City Hall officials at ease, Girard said there was nothing that more time would change. Their assessment of 69 percent of the public’s support and the need for the facilities would not benefit or disappear with the passage of two years. Instead, it would only delay necessities that are important to both the community and the students at SMC, he added. “(City Hall, the SMC Board and the community) have asked the questions that should be asked to make sure that these dollars are needed, and that they are maximized and looked after and that they deliver what people thought they were voting on when they said ‘yes’ to it,” Girard said.
Even after discussing the exact projects and why the bond seemed rushed, board members were reluctant to ask for more money. They pointed to the $160 million Measure U they asked Malibu and Santa Monica voters to approve two years ago.
“We went out under Measure U, we had the potential to encumber the property owners for $160 million,” Pope said. “We told them at the time we were covering a whole myriad of projects that really needed to be done, and this was something that could go on for a substantial period of time.
“Then here we are coming back a few years later and trying to get another kick at the cat.”
However, SMC officials said the money for Measure U is being used for things like retrofitting current SMC buildings and maintaining the campus. Instead of using funds for construction, the new bond will provide the students and the community with facilities that serve an educational and recreational purpose.
Despite the expressed reservations, some community members and old SMC alumni vocalized their support of the project.
“This community has to maintain unity for this,” said Jerry Rubin, an SMC alum and Santa Monica resident. “That money is necessary. “You know it, and I know it, and my gosh, all we’re asking people to do is sacrifice a Coca-Cola and small popcorn once a month. Give me a break.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 9, 2004. Read the original PDF.