Citizens' Oversight Committee Minutes

LOS ANGELES HARBOR COLLEGE

CITIZEN’S OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

MINUTES

September 21 2009

4:30 PM

President’s Conference Room

 

Attending:       Co-chairs:  Dr. L. Spink, Dr. L. Nelms,

N. Carson, J. Naranjo, D. Ethington, J. Valle, J. Strum

 

Absent:            G. Mooney, T. Cordero, J. Schafer

 

• Resources:       M. Bishop

 

Meeting called to order at 4:50pm by Dr. L. Nelms, Chair

 

Agenda accepted after additions made by L. Spink.

 

I.          Public Comment Time

            No public comment.

 

II.        Review of Minutes of 5/18/09           

            Minutes were approved.

 

III.       Update on Construction

 

M. Bishop distributed and discussed the Project Schedule and Project Financial Report:   All lines were discussed and reviewed with questions answered. No concerns noted

The Student Services Admin Building (SSA) has just received an award for sustainability from State Chancellor’s office.

SSA has two outside doors that meet ADA standards, however for this building all four outside doors are needed to meet the federal requirement. DSA approved the building this way, meeting State ADA standards however federal standards are stricter and we are not in code.  Discussion ensured reviewing technical concerns that need to be corrected.

Child Development Center: The CDC ribbon cutting will be held during the fall term in December. .Construction on the building continues on time.

Technology Building: Discussion ensured regarding the adjustments that need to be made in the building.  The building entry display area needs improvement. There have been cracks in some north side windows. Investigation is underway to determine the cause. .Graffiti prevention coating will be put on the building it was also put on the SSA and NEA buildings with peeling occurring.  Contractor will remove it and recoat the building. There are changes that need to be made to several classrooms…some design flaws some faculty changes.

Lot 8 Parking Structure: The building is designed and in DSA now, the oversight committee has approved moving the structure forward. The garage will result in 500 additional spots to what already exists.  The Parking Structure consists of a Ground level plus 2 upper levels and will hold 926 cars, have a security system with cameras, and will have a car count enunciator at the gate.

The top floor canopies have photovoltaic cells which generate 400 kilowatts. DSA has been moving along more quickly lately.

Energy Project: The District still has not negotiated a Power purchase agreement with DWP.  Chevron will be producing the power but they cannot sell back the power to DWP because a for-profit agency cannot sell power to DWP.   L. Spink pointed out that since Chevron built the project for us, they get the state and federal incentives, and they sell power to us at reduced rate. We paid for the paving of the parking lot instead of having Chevron pay for it but we did not have the funds to also pay for the photovoltaics.

Science Complex: Plan is to build the buildings, move in, and then demolish the old buildings so as to save money by not building temporary buildings. The building is being planned.

Student Union: Bookstore and Seahawk Center will be included in the new student union.  There will be no demolition of the Seahawk Center until completion of the new building. 

Library: The building has been approved by DSA with the intent to go out to bid in mid-October. The library and the LRC are sharing space.  This building will be very high tech with self sign out of books and periodicals. Floor plans were showed to the group.

Physical Education/Fitness Center: Discussion ensured as to whether or not the Fitness Center could be opened to the community, L. Spink mentioned that she wasn’t sure if there were enough hours for community usage.  The original intention was to open up to the community. This will be studied more carefully over the fall semester. M. Bishop mentioned that they will coat this building with the titanium oxide.  While faculty like all of the glass on the exterior of the building they are worried that there may be too much light.  The treadmills will be turned the other way because of it.  We hope to get someone to paint a mural on the south facing outside wall of the building. M. Bishop mentioned that installation began on the lockers and tile.

Marquee Sign: will be redone.  It needs to have a digital screen.  The design that is going to DSA was showed to the group.

Potential Land Swap: L. Spink discussed the possible land swap with Recs & Parks including soccer and softball fields.  LAHC is considering swapping the land where the driving range is for the land directly across the street from the college.  The fields would have to be moved and LAHC will have to build them a new field, pool, and land area.  According to L. Spink, advantages of the land swap are that it’s better for ground parking and will give LAHC place to build. Also there is currently no more place to build on campus for the future and have the campus maintain a contiguous flow.  L. Spink commented that the Campus is divided about this.

Traffic Light at Figueroa Place/L Street: Sheriff’s office has reported that traffic has not eased up on campus and a traffic light is needed at Figueroa Place and L Street and they must be synced. Original EIR may have to do synchronize the light at Anaheim Street and Figueroa Place, but includes nothing at L Street.  Increase of students has contributed to traffic congestion. While we have 100 sections less offered each from a year ago we have over 1,000 more students now.

 

IV.       Budget/Financials Review

            M. Bishop discussed the Project Financial Report.

 

V.        College Priorities Meeting

Discussion ensured about the college priorities regarding Measure J.See attached list.        

VI.       District Oversight Committee Report

N. Carson discussed the last DOC meeting as well as an idea of putting textbooks online and the problems that LACC is having with their parking structure next to a driving range which include balls, etc.  L. Spink stated that textbooks cannot be put online because LAHC does not have standard textbooks. She mentioned that the LA Times was beginning an investigation of the bond activities.

 

VII.     Items from the floor

N. Carson asked for an update on amending the EIR.  M. Bishop is working on the last two amendments.  CEQA attorney only needs an amendment, not a new EIR because not much is changing except the Science Building is to have three stories instead of two.  The previous EIR only had two stories.

Tongva: Keepers of the Indigenous Ways want to build a village at Harbor Park with sweat lodges.

Access Road: Many interests want an access road across the lake

 

May minutes: What was taken out of the minutes was put back in the original minutes.

 

Next DOC meeting: The next DOC was tentatively set for December 7, 2009 at the same time.

New Board Members: L. Spink asked for suggestions for new board members and that categories needed were Business, HOA, and Student.

 

Meeting adjourned at 6:54pm.