Voters may have bond fatigue
SMC Looking to remain competitive in the global marketplace, improve sustainability, and make needed safety improvements, the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday to place a $295 million bond measure on the November ballot.
The measure would fund capital projects designed to improve the teaching of science, nursing, math, technology, media, and emerging high tech fields.
The measure, which will be before Santa Monica and Malibu voters on Nov. 4, will need a 55 percent approval for passage.
The cost of the bond would be approximately $1.12 a month for renters and $7.34 a month for the average homeowner or condominium owner in Santa Monica and Malibu, SMC officials said.
“Community-based education is critically important for people to sustain and improve their lives,” said SMC Board of Trustees Chair Rob Rader. “With this safety and modernization measure, the college will have the infrastructure needed to fulfill its educational mission.”
Rader said there are still many buildings that have not fully been repaired following the Northridge earthquake. By creating a new bus drop off center and additional parking, there is hope of alleviating traffic and removing bus stops in residential areas, a long-held complaint of residents.
“The college has a strong record of responsible spending of bond funds,” said SMC President Chui Tsang. “The new support will allow us to provide important needed renovations to our facilities so that we can continue to be the No. 1 community college.”
The board’s action comes after the college conducted an extensive facility needs assessment and internal educational needs review. The review identified a number of building deficiencies and a critical need to meet new safety, energy, and technology standards.
A survey of Santa Monica and Malibu residents taken earlier this year shows that SMC is well utilized by the community and is highly regarded. Ninety-four percent of respondents consider the college an important part of the community; 85 percent say the college’s performance is excellent or good; and 58 percent report that they or someone in their immediate family have attended the college.
The survey also shows that 68 percent of respondents would likely vote yes on a $295 million bond measure to construct and equip math and science laboratories; improve student training in science, technology, media, communications, computers, and emerging high-tech fields; replace deteriorating buildings; upgrade fire safety; achieve energy savings; and complete earthquake repairs.
That said, there will surely be some opposition, particularly from residents living around the college, who have complained for years about the traffic created by SMC students, faculty and employees.
Others feel that they have been taxed enough in the last decade, approving several bond measures and parcel taxes to help fund public education and city efforts to keep the bay free of urban runoff and pollutants.
In 2002, voters approved Measure U, which was for $160 million. In 2004 it was Measure S at $135 million. For the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, voters in 1998 approved Measure X for $42 million, Measure BB in 2006 for $268 million, and Measure R in 2007, which combined two existing parcel taxes generating roughly $10 million a year for schools.
Voters may be experiencing bond financing fatigue and will surely be more cautious about picking up the tab, political pundits said.
A handful of residents have expressed interest in creating a political action committee in opposition to the bond measure.
Rader said the college has been careful in how it spends the money voters approved, setting up a citizens bond oversight committee that has helped keep SMC in check. When the college does spend, it spends wisely, approving projects that have the greatest benefit such as the new parking lot on Stewart Street that caters to students who come from outside the city and have trouble parking at the main campus.
“We now have a nursing program at the Bundy Campus and we hope to build an early childhood center at the Civic Center project,” Rader said. “We actually build buildings with the money … and with the public’s confidence we will continue to do good things.”
The major projects to be funded by the bond measure include: • A replacement math and new science wing on the main campus: The math department currently operates in a temporary facility that is nearing the end of its life cycle and lacks the infrastructure to support modern classroom technology, SMC officials said.
In addition, the earth, life and physical sciences programs are operating in spaces that are too small and scattered around the campus. Also, there are insufficient science lab classrooms to offer needed course sections for the allied health and nursing programs. • A new Career Opportunity and Job Training Building on SMC’s satellite Bundy Campus: The new facility would provide career training programs operated by SMC’s Office of Workforce & Economic Development — considered one of the most successful in California — and by city, county and other agency providers, SMC officials said. • Media and Technology-Driven Programs Complex: The college operates a variety of programs in media and the digital arts in 1950s-era buildings that cannot support the modern infrastructure necessary for digital and online programs. A new Media and Technology complex at the SMC Academy and Entertainment Technology satellite campus would have the necessary infrastructure for classes in broadcasting, television, video, electronic media, and related digital programs. College officials said they plan to move KCRW — SMC’s radio station and nationally recognized leader in new media and online delivery — to the site, which would provide a “dynamic asset to SMC’s current and future media and technology-driven instructional programs.” The academy is located in the heart of Santa Monica’s media and entertainment district. • Replacement of Corsair Stadium: The 1948 concrete structure is deteriorating and does not meet current seismic standards. • New Bus Pullout and Shelter on Pico Boulevard: This facility, in front of Drescher Hall, will help reduce traffic congestion. • Sustainability: The bond measure calls for putting aside 2.5 percent of the money for energy-efficient features. • Joint Use Library and Educational Improvements in Malibu: SMC, the city of Malibu and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District are working to develop a college-level library that could be used by SMC students who live in Malibu, as well as local high school students and residents.
Other projects include safety upgrades and improvements to the Health and Fitness and the Drescher Hall buildings on the main campus; seismic upgrades to the east wing of the Madison Campus; and infrastructure improvements for business and facilities, utilities, and technology.
In approving the bond measure, the board noted that SMC’s bond program was in line with the effort underway at 10 other area community colleges.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 9, 2008. Read the original PDF.