HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 208-06City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL ~
CITY .MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER
MAY 8, 2006 CMR: 208:06
ENDORSEMENT OF A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF MEASURE C, THE
FOOTHILL/DE ANZA COLLEGE REPAIR/JOB TRAINING BOND MEASURE
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council adopt a resolution of support for Measure C, the Foothill/De
Anza College Repair!Job Training Bond Measure.
DISCUSSION
On April !0, 2006, Council directed staff to bring a resolution to the Council in support of
Measure C. This action was taken in response to the Co!league’s Memo that Mayor Judy
Kleinberg and Council Member John Barton submitted to City Council asking for Council
support of this measure.
The Foothill/De Anza College Bond Measure is scheduled for the June 6, 2006, ballot.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This resolution is consistent with existing City- policies.
ENWIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This staff report does not represent a project under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:Colleague’s Memo - April 10, 2006
Attachment B:Resolution in support of Measure C the Foothill/De Anza College
Repair/Job Training Bond Measure
CMR: 208:06 Page 1 of 2
PREPARED BY:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
CHRIS M O GE.’N_g EN
Assistant to the City Manager
EMIE. Y HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
CMR: 208:06 Page 2 of 2
Attachment A
Office of the City Council
MEMORANDUM
6
DATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
April 10, 2006
City Council Colleagues
Mayor Kleinberg and Council Member Barton
Endorsement of Measure C - Foothill/De Anza College Repair/Job Training
Bond Measure
Recommendation:
We are asking your support to direct staff to bring back a resolution to the Council in April 2006 in support
of Measure C, the Foothil!/De Anza College Bond Measure. This measure will be placed on the June 6,
2006 ballot.
Back.qround:
Foothill College and De Anza College rank among the top community colleges statewide in training
students for the workforce and transferring students to four-year colleges and universities. More Silicon
Valley healthcare professionals, including nurses and paramedics, are trained at Foothill College and De
Anza College than anywhere else. The Foothill-De Anza Community College District is the 20th largest
employer in Silicon Valley and is responsible for $800 million in direct and indirect spending in the local
economy. There is a triple return on each dollar invested in the district by local taxpayers.
The Board of Trustees of the Foothill/De Anza Community College District has determined that it is of
critical importance to begin to modernize and replace certain deteriorated properties and facilities at both
De Anza and Foothill Community Coileges in order to continue to provide the surrounding communities
with high quality college education and job training.
Measure C would allow the District to sell up to $490.8 million in general obligation bonds to assist in
improving the critical properties and facilities by:
¯Upgrading electrical, heating, ventilation systems, fire/seismic safety;
¯Repairing leaky roofs;
¯Improving disabled access;
¯Repairing/expanding classrooms for nurses/paramedics;
¯Upgrading technology;
¯Repairing, constructing, acquiring, equipping buildings, classrooms, libraries; sites,
science/computer labs.
On average, this measure would cost local taxpayers $24 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The
passage of Measure C would is of great importance to the City of Palo Alto and its surrounding
communities. We ask that you lend your support to this important ballot measure.
** NOT YET
Attachment B
APPROVED **
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO ENDORSING MEASURE C IN THE FOOTHILL-DE ANZA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
WHEREAS, many residents of Palo Alto receive their first
years of college education or vocational training at Foothill
College and De Anza College. More than one million students
have attended the Foothill-De Anza Community College District
since its founding; and
WHEREAS, despite ongoing maintenance and facility
improvements, aging college facilities are unable to accommodate
classes and training that students need and the job market
demands. The colleges were created in 1957 and 1967 for 8,000
students but now serve more than 44,000 students. The student
population wil! continue to grow in coming years; and
WHEREAS, many classrooms on the Foothill and De Anza
College campuses do not meet current earthquake safety standards
and many science !abs have not been modernized since they were
built almost a half-century ago; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the issuance of bonds by the
District is to repair and upgrade Foothil! and De Anza Colleges
and to improve job training and university transfer by: (I)
providing upgraded electrical, heating, ventilation systems,
fire/seismic safety; (2) repairing leaky roofs; (3) improving
disabled access; (4) repairing and expanding classrooms for
nurses and paramedics; (5) upgrading techno!ogy; and (6)
repairing, constructing, acquiring, and equipping buildings,
classrooms, libraries, sites, and science/computer labs; and
WHEREAS, Measure C contains provisions for strict fiscal
accountability and citizen oversight and provides that no funds
can be used for administrators salaries; and
WHEREAS, if approved by fifty-five percent of the
voters, Measure C would generate $490 million dollars of
improvement project funds to be spent in Santa Clara County; and
WHEREAS, this Council supports the students of Santa
Clara County and desires to enhance their opportunity to receive
an excellent education; and
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NOT YET APPROVED **
WHEREAS, this Council has determined to support Measure
C to provide funding to expand and improve loca! college
facilities to accommodate an increased student population,
provide improved access for persons with disabilities, provide
up to date technology and to provide safe and modern classroom
facilities at Foothill and De Anza Community Co!leges
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto
does RESOLVE as fol!ows:
SECTION i. That the City Council of the City of Palo
Alto supports the passage of Santa Clara County Measure C School
Bond Foothill-De Anza Community College District on the June 6,
2006 bal!ot to authorize issuance of bonds in the amount of
$490,800,000 for the repair and upgrade of Foothill and De Anza
Colleges.
SECTION 2. The Council finds that this is not a project
under the California Environmenta! Quality Act and, therefore,
no environmental impact assessment is necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mayor
APPROVED:
Sr. Asst. City Attorney City Manager
Director of Administrative
Services
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