Council to Tentatively Explore $175 Million Bond Measure

By Susan Reines
Special to The Lookout

Jun. 24 -- With opinions ranging from wholehearted support to deep skepticism, the City Council Tuesday night debated partnering with Santa Monica College to place a $175 million bond on the November ballot that would boost limited park and recreational space and help build community facilities.

While council members did not reach a decision, they unanimously voted to further explore the possibility of working with the college to help pass the measure, which calls for $100 million in “cooperative partnership projects” with the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, as well as with the School District.

Fully endorsing the bond were Council members Herb Katz and Bob Holbrook, who argued that the measure -- which needs 55 percent support, compared to the two-thirds needed by a municipal bond -- would fund projects that would benefit both college students and the community at large.

Partnering with the college, Katz said, might be the only way the cash-strapped City could carry out the construction of new sports facilities and science centers.

"Each project should be scrutinized, but it's time to work together," Katz said.

But Mayor Richard Bloom expressed reservations about jumping into an agreement that would have to be struck by an August 4 deadline in order to make the November ballot.

The college, Bloom argued, would control the bond money and determine the list of projects funded by the measure. The City would only have the college officials’ word that they would pursue projects the City wanted, especially since the college, as a state entity, is exempt from municipal zoning ordinances.

"I frankly don't see the partnership aspects of it sitting here tonight," said Bloom.

Other council members, however, expressed cautious interest in the bond, which was unveiled by college officials three weeks ago.

McKeown’s reservations were backed by opinions gathered by Friends of Sunset Park, the neighborhood group representing the area around the college.

While the group has not taken a formal position, neighbors worry that the timeline is being rushed with little opportunity for input, said Ed Moosbrugger, who delivered the report.

Moosbrugger said he was personally concerned the college's plans to expand
have not been discussed. "They never seem to say that their over-expansion has caused this lack of field space," said Moosbrugger, who contributes a monthly business column to The Lookout.

Santa Monica voters may be wary of approving yet another bond, said Council member Pam O'Connor. While local voters have typically supported education, she said, they just gave the nod to an unprecedented State bond measure in March and will likely be asked to approve a County bond in November.

The council has also proposed a measure for the November ballot to hike the city’s bed tax, further straining voters' generosity, O’Connor said.

But the proposed $175 million bond won't put a big dent of voters' pocketbooks, college officials said.

To bankroll the college bond, Santa Monica and Malibu homeowners would have to pay about $6.40 per month, while renters would pay just over a dollar, said Don Girard, the college’s marketing director.

In the end, the idea of the partnership held enough promise and intrigue for the council to direct City staff to review the list of projects and study ways to legally protect the City's interests.

Meanwhile, liaisons from the council will meet with representatives of the college and school district to discuss ways to gather public input and determine the viability of a November ballot initiative.

The efforts, however, would be moot if the College Board of Trustees declines to pursue the bond measure, and initial reactions from the board indicate that support is far from assured.

When Santa Monica College President Dr. Piedad F. Robertson presented the
proposed bond to the trustees June 9, they expressed concern about the bond's size, hurried timeline and the idea of borrowing money for sports fields and learning centers when the college cut programs and faculty just last year.

The college board will meet July 7 to decide whether to pursue the bond, but will not have to make a final decision until its August 2 meeting.

Even if Santa Monica and Malibu choose not to pursue partnerships, Robertson said, the college may go ahead with a smaller bond measure on its own.

Meanwhile, the council will revisit the issue at its July 27 meeting, after the college has conducted a poll to gauge public support.

A joint meeting of City, college and school district officials will be held next Wednesday.