By Lookout Staff

May 8, 2024 -- Santa Monica College (SMC) is seeking applicants for the citizens committee that oversees implementation of bond measures funding capital improvement projects on its campuses.

Applicants to the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a college employee or official, or a vendor, contractor or consultant to the college. The deadline to apply is Friday May 30.

The 12-member committee oversees bond measures funding a wide range of projects -- including replacement buildings, seismic retrofitting, and safety and technology upgrades -- to ensure they comply with the purpose of the bonds.

Four bond measures are currently funding capital improvement projects at the college -- Measure S (2004), Measure AA (2008), Measure V (2016) and Measure SMC (2022).

The committee was established in spring 2002 as required by State law to oversee the implementation of Measure U, the $160 million bond approved by 70 percent of Santa Monica-Malibu voters.

The committee’s responsibility was expanded to include oversight of Measure S, a $135 million bond measure; Measure AA, a $295 million bond measure; Measure V, a $345 million bond measure, and Measure SMC, a $375 million bond measure.

Among the projects funded are new state-of-the-art math and science buildings on the main campus, a job training building on two of SMC’s satellite campuses and improvements to the main campus.

The bonds also are funding the replacement of 64-year-old Corsair Stadium, as well as ongoing efforts to make the college more sustainable, officials said.

In addition to funding improvements, the latest voter-approved bond measure -- Measure SMC -- will help build housing for homeless and low-income students.

The Committee reviews expenditure reports produced by the Santa Monica Community College District "to ensure bond proceeds are expended only for the purposes set forth in the Ballot Measure and the Project List," according to the bylaws.

The Committee also must ensure that "no Bond proceeds are used for any teacher or administrative salaries or other operating expenses of the District."

In addition, the Committee presents an annual, written report that includes a summary of its proceedings and activities.

The SMC Board of Trustees will review all applications and make the final appointments.

The application is available at smc.edu/CBOCApp and also at the committee’s webpage: smc.edu/CBOC (see under the “Oversight Committee Applicants” heading).

For more information on the application process, ontact Lisa Rose in the Office of the Board of Trustees at Rose_Lisa@smc.edu.