Community Colleges Plan $1.2-Billion Bond Measure

Los Angeles Community College District trustees on Wednesday approved plans to put a $1.2-billion bond measure for construction and renovation projects on the April 10 ballot.

The sweeping initiative is the largest capital bond measure the district has proposed in its history, and signals a first attempt at large-scale renovations of Los Angeles’ nine community college campuses.

“Here we are in one of the world’s most vibrant cities, with the largest community college district in the world, and for 40 years, there has been no new investment in it,” Chancellor Marshall Drummond said after the vote.

The measure, he said, aims to bring the district, “up to snuff . . . and build the future of Los Angeles.”

Some of the district’s buildings are 75 years old and many others were built in the 1960s and 1970s, the period of greatest expansion of community colleges statewide. In recent years, falling ceiling tiles, lack of air-conditioning and insufficient parking have produced frequent complaints.

The measure “may be the most important thing we do as a board,” said trustee Kelly Candaele. “I think that anyone who walks around a number of our campuses realizes that its buildings and infrastructure are from another era.”

If passed, the measure could fund construction of some new buildings, such as a science and technology complex at Los Angeles City College. But mostly, proceeds would be used for health and safety improvements, such as fire alarm systems and outdoor lighting, and modernization rather than expansion.

One project on the list approved by trustees Wednesday is a parking garage at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. Currently students park their cars at a makeshift facility underneath Santa Monica Freeway ramps and walk two blocks through a desolate industrial area just south of downtown to get to class.

Students say they fear for their safety, and it is especially tough to persuade female students to brave the walk to attend night classes, said interim President Daniel Castro.

Among the other proposed projects are new media arts and health science buildings at Valley College; a new auto technology building at Harbor College; the replacement of old bungalows used for chemistry labs at West Los Angeles College and new computers and air-conditioning at Trade-Tech.

At City College in Hollywood, the bond would finance a new science and technology complex that would allow the college to restart its nursing program, eliminated years ago because of budget cuts. It would also allow the campus to add parking and include some money for cosmetic improvements to the college entry on Vermont Avenue.

The existing college front, “doesn’t make a statement,” said college President Mary Spangler. “It’s a big blank wall. There is no majesty to it.”

The projects embrace a three-pronged strategy of modernizing old campuses, completing of newer campuses, and encouraging new programs, Drummond said.

The Los Angeles colleges are sprinkled throughout the county, from Woodland Hills to Wilmington.

The two-year institutions enroll about 110,000 students. Forty percent of them speak a language other than English as their native tongue. Forty-four percent are Latino; 17% are black; 14% are Asian and 20% are white. Forty percent are from families with incomes below the federal poverty level.

The district’s bond measure will be among the first to hit ballots since California voters in November approved Proposition 39, which lowered the threshold for approval of bond measures from a two-thirds vote to a 55% vote.

“This is the beginning of the flood of new bond measures Californians are going to see from Proposition 39,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., which opposed Proposition 39. “It’s going to be a real wake-up call.”

Proposition 39 limits new property tax levies to $25 per each $100,000 valuation, and Los Angeles community college officials have planned their bond measure to eventually cost property owners an annual amount close to that ceiling, after being phased in over six to 10 years, officials said. Borrowings would be repaid over 40 years.

The district has hired consultant Darry Sragow to manage the campaign. Sragow said public support for the colleges is high, but the district must convince voters that the money won’t be misspent.

“People really do understand the role of community colleges,” trustee President Georgia Mercer said. “Our students are people trying to improve their lives and who, in most cases, don’t have other options. It’s still the best bargain in town.”

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

If the Los Angeles Community College District succeeds in winning passage of a $1.2-billion bond measure in April, the money would fund projects including:

* Los Angeles City College, Hollywood: $147 million

A new technology building and parking facilities, modernization of a science building and expansion of performing arts facilities.

* East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park: $172 million

A new health-care careers center, parking structures and language arts building, and library modernization.

* Los Angeles Harbor College, Wilmington: $124 million

Renovation of academic, drama and student-services buildings, construction of a parking structure and classrooms.

* Los Angeles Mission College, Sylmar: $111 million

Addition of classrooms, a parking structure, child-development center and food services facilities.

* Los Angeles Pierce College, Woodland Hills: $166 million

A new agriculture/science/nursing building, a new student services building and an exhibition/events center, and modernization of science facilities.

* Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles: $111 million

A new student services and activities center, parking structures, a community center, stadium and food services.

* Los Angeles Trade-Technical College: $138 million

A new technology building and parking structure, and modernization of apparel, drafting, auto, metal, art, and culinary arts facilities.

* Los Angeles Valley College, Valley Glen: $165 million

A new media arts center and health sciences facilities, and modernization of science, engineering and math facilities.

* West Los Angeles College, Culver City: $111 million

Renovation and expansion of science facilities, construction of a parking structure and media-entertainment arts complex.