SMC Board Takes Next Step for Bond Despite Concerns

By Susan Reines

July 8 -- Just two years after voters granted Santa Monica College $160 million in bonds, the College Board of Trustees Wednesday green-lighted the drafting of final ballot language for an even larger bond measure.

At least three board members, however, expressed reservations about the $175 million bond to expand open space and community facilities in Santa Monica and Malibu, with some wondering whether the two cities would benefit more than the college.

Unlike previous bonds, the measure earmarks 43 percent of the money for partnership projects with the City of Santa Monica, such as playing fields that both college students and residents could use and community daycare centers that would also serve as hands-on labs for child development students at the college.

Fourteen percent of the bond money would be used for partnership endeavors with the City of Malibu, and the remaining 43 percent would be exclusively for college projects.

"I think many of the projects will enhance the community,” said Board member Graham Pope. “We've heard that from a lot of people tonight. But I think that really begs the question -- should this be a city bond?"

Board Member Annette Shamey noted that the eager interest expressed by Malibu's legislators might indicate excessive benefit to the cities, which require a two-thirds voter approval to pass a bond, compared to 55 percent for education bonds.

"The primary impetus has to be an educational purpose. Period," Shamey said. The Malibu City Council is “just thrilled to death,” she added. “I would be too, if I were on the Malibu City Council. In all honesty, they deserve to have some educational facilities. But they're going to benefit a great deal."

The Santa Monica City Council has not been as eager to embrace the bond as their counterparts up the coast.

Contentious debate over the bond's size and rushed time frame -- the College Board will vote on August 2 whether to place the bond on the November ballot – worries some council members, and it remains unclear whether the City will enter into the partnership.

Board members also worried that, in their rush to get the measure on the ballot, community dissent could be overlooked.

"When four elected bodies agree on something, that is very powerful," said Vice Chair Carole Currey, referring to potential support from the college, two cities and the School District.

But Currey expressed concern that such a "steamroller" would crush the voices of those who oppose the bond measure. "And I may be one of them," she added.

College officials have taken some strides to assess residents' opinions. They commissioned a poll of 400 Santa Monica and Malibu voters, which found that between 65 and 70 percent of the respondents favor the measure. (The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.)

In addition, members of the college administration met with members of two of Santa Monica's neighborhood groups -- the Pico Neighborhood Association and the Friends of Sunset Park -- that represent the area around college. Officials met with the board of the Wilshire/Montana Neighborhood Coalition on the city’s north side.

In contrast to the poll results that found support clearly exceeding the critical 55 percent, residents said feelings were mixed at the neighborhood meetings, where concerns abounded. College officials acknowledged the concerns in a power-point presentation to the board.

Some of the neighborhood groups made recommendations the board could choose to incorporate into the final bond language, such as a provision that the money not be used to purchase residential property.

Zina Josephs, president of Friends of Sunset Park, quoted a neighbor's concern.

"The college seems like a child constantly asking a parent for money," the neighbor told Josephs. "Can we put a cap on growth at the main campus? Can't the college get money any other way?"

The Santa Monica City Council will resume discussion of the bond measure at its July 27 meeting and decide whether to support the ballot initiative. On August 2, the College Board will take its final vote on whether to submit the bond to the November ballot.