College to Reconsider Reduced ‘Partnership’ Bond
at Special Meeting Friday

By Cindy Frazier
Senior Writer

August 4 – Funding of collaborative projects for education and recreation between the college and city may be placed before local voters in November after all.

In a last-ditch effort to get the bond on the ballot before a Friday deadline, the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees has called a special meeting at 8:30 a.m. Friday, August 6, to reconsider its Monday decision not to move forward with the $175 million “partnership” bond ballot measure.

The board will consider a reduced bond amount of $135 million, which would need to be approved by 55 percent of voters.

Of this amount, $45 million would be earmarked for "collaborative" projects between the college and city within Santa Monica.

The revised measure deletes a arboretum and marine educational facility -- among other items -- which had been proposed for Santa Monica.

If approved, the City of Malibu would be the recipient of $25 million of bond proceeds earmarked for joint projects within its borders.

City officials have been working on a partnership agreement between the city and the college district to allow both jurisdictions to participate in projects funded by the bond measure.

The Santa Monica City Council tabled discussion of specific projects Tuesday night in the wake of the board's narrow vote Monday not to place the measure on the ballot.

Mayor Richard Bloom criticized the move to reconsider the bond measure.

"We were under the assumption it [the bond measure] had gone away," Bloom said. "This makes it difficult for the community to respond."

College officials say they need the funds to continue with earthquake repairs and to improve sports facilities, among other projects.

The seven-member college board needs a "super-majority" of five members to approve a bond measure, but on Monday two trustees voted against it and a third abstained.

The special meeting will be held in the trustee board room, Business Building, room 117 at the college, 1900 Pico Blvd.