Downey : College Expansion Put Off
The Downey City Council on Tuesday again delayed action on a controversial proposal to expand enrollment at the United College of Business on Firestone Boulevard.
After more than two hours of testimony, the council decided to postpone a decision until its Sept. 13 meeting to allow review of the college’s enrollment figures.
The college is permitted to have 250 students, and school officials have asked the city to allow them to increase enrollment by more than 100 students.
The city’s planning staff has recommended the expansion be denied because of parking problems in the Civic Center area where the college is located.
College President Alan D. Mentzer said the college has more than enough parking to accommodate the proposed expansion.
The council postponed action after Councilwoman Diane P. Boggs said she wanted to see college enrollment documents that would indicate the school’s parking needs at different times of the day. The college offers day and evening courses in bookkeeping, word processing, secretarial and other skills.
Last year, the council denied the college’s request to expand. UCB then sued, accusing Downey of discrimination for allegedly trying to limit the school’s largely minority student body. Tuesday night’s hearing was continued from last month.
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