MINUTES OF MEETING
March 15, 2004
The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Kenn Phillips at 5:40 PM.
Committee members present were Igor Kagan, represented by Ron Cabrera (ASU Commissioner of Ethnic Affairs) and Maggida Hasbun (ASU Commissioner of Fine Arts), Jerry Fagin, Asta Criss, Jim Leahy, Laurie Lavine, William Mosley, Co-Chair Diann Corral, and Co-Chair Kenn Phillips. Those absent were: Marshall Long, who had notified the recording secretary that he could not attend (no substitute attended in his stead); Igor Kagan (represented by Ms. Hasbun), who had notified the recording secretary that he would be attending the "March in March " in Sacramento; and Jennifer Brogin who had informed the recording secretary that she might not be able to attend due to the fact that final exams are in progress now at UCLA, where she is a student. Because Mr. Manning attends the District Citizens Oversight Committee on behalf of Los Angeles Valley College, Dr. Wieder has informed him that he is not required at each college Committee meeting. Periodic up-dates will be sought by and provided for Mr. Manning so that he can report to the DCOC.
Others present were Dr. Tyree Wieder, College President, and Jeanne Rubin, Executive Assistant to President Wieder, acting as recording secretary, taking the minutes of the meeting. No members of the public were in attendance.
Co-Chair Phillips called for public comments, and there were none.
Co-Chair Phillips then called for Agenda item 2. Mr. Fagin made a motion, duly seconded by Mr. Cabrera, to approve the draft minutes of the Committee's meeting on January 26, 2003, as submitted, which motion was unanimously approved.
Co-Chair Phillips then called for Agenda Item 3. Dr. Wieder distributed two handouts to the members: (1) "LAVC Prop - A/AA Revised Project Cost Priorities as of 2/26/2004" and (2) "Los Angeles Valley College Project Budget Establishment Comparison". A true and exact copy of each document is attached hereto.
Dr. Wieder, referring to the first handout, told the members that the list of priorities has changed slightly from the list on the handout, because the Environmental Impact Report has been completed, as has Master Planning. Also, item #4 (Relocation/Acquisition of Temp Facilities) has been completed. This refers to the modular buildings currently housing the URS office, Financial Aid, and CSIT. She then addressed certain other items on the list.
There being no further business to come before the committee, pursuant to a motion by Dr. Long, duly seconded by Mr. Fagin, and upon unanimous vote, the meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
- Priority #3 Site Survey/Infrastructure Studies. "We are on sandy soil, which is subject to liquefaction. Therefore, buildings require piles and concrete foundations. The Infrastructure Studies essentially address the Central Plant, and how much heating and air conditioning the new buildings will require.
- She pointed out the three items numbered "43" and item number 44 (Athletic Fields Facilities), and explained that these items appear in the manner and in the spot that they do because the college expects to receive $14 million from Propositions 47 and 55 to fund them, and our computer program will only recognize funds with their source being Proposition A or AA. Items 45 through 51 are items that the college does not have funding for as yet.
Mr. Fagin asked Dr. Wieder to explain the difference between "gross square feet" and "square feet" (referring to the "GSF" column on the second handout). She responded that "assignable square footage" is the actual useable space in the building. Co-Chair Phillips, referring to the Central Plant, said, "At the last meeting you said the budget was $38 million, but the handout shows $14 million. Dr. Wieder explained that it is broken down into components on the handout, and further stated that the budget is now at $28 million and is being reviewed once again. She also explained that the escalation factor in the budget for each item is added in according to when the building will actually be built. She explained that the Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FF&E) figure of $466,804 was the cost of furnishing the temporary (modular) buildings.
She then explained the District-wide "soft costs" that LAVC will have to absorb.
Next, Dr. Wieder addressed the second handout, "Project Budget Establishment Comparison". "This was first put together in November of 2002. URS used numbers from LAVC's first master planner. Since then, Proposition AA and Proposition 47 passed, meaning that additional funds were received. Mr. Eisenberg, LACCD Executive Director of Facilities Planning and Development, instructed all College Project Managers to "baseline" the budget."
Mr. Fagin pointed out that the cost of Master Planning went up; in fact it doubled. Dr. Wieder responded that this is true. She explained that the work essentially was doubled. "The first version of our master plan was a rather surface plan. Most of the variance that you see on the handout is money added from Proposition AA."
Co-Chair Phillips asked, "Did most of the $14 million from Proposition 47 go to Athletics?" Dr. Wieder confirmed that it did.
Mr. Fagin asked for an explanation of the increase in Theater Arts. Dr. Wieder responded, "At first, a minimal remodel was planned, but as investigation progressed, more was found to be needed - - some structural, sound board, lighting, showers, etc." Mr. Fagin then asked, "How did we double the Life Sciences Building?" Dr. Wieder explained that this resulted from expanding the number of academic programs to be housed in the building. She further elaborated on the hood and ventilation requirements necessitated by locating Chemistry on the third floor of the building, and pointed out the upper story location was chosen due to concerns that fumes not rise to floors above the laboratories.
Dr. Wieder then described to the Committee the detail and precision of the value engineering efforts, and how much money this has saved. She gave the example that the value engineering effort had led to suggestion that radiant heat be utilized. The Plant Facilities staff was adamantly opposed to the idea, claiming that it takes too long to heat a space. But, the architect took them to visit UCLA, where this is in use so that they could see how it worked.
Mr. Fagin then asked for an explanation of the Infrastructure increase. Dr. Wieder said that the number used for this item originally was "...always known to be a soft figure. It originally was $4 million, but that was before knowing exactly how big the new buildings will be and what will be in them."
The President's Report having concluded, Co-Chair Phillips announced to the committee members that Sally James has found it necessary to resign due to health problems. Dr. Wieder asked the members to suggest any representatives of seniors' organizations that they would like her to consider. Mr. Fagin suggested that she contact the Senior Center in Valley Village. She told the members that she hopes to have a report on scheduling for them at their next meeting, and, if the members would like, she can ask URS to give a presentation on the Central Plant. She told the Committee that URS will be doing exterior painting, and Mr. Fagin asked if the college has chosen a color scheme yet. In response, Dr. Wieder showed the members the "color palette" chosen. She also offered to circulate the Arborists Report. "We have 1,798 trees. There are 400 in need of major nutrition and or cutting. The recommendation is to replace 200. We should have senior, adult, adolescent, and children trees. We have all adults. The Biology Department is concerned, because the trees on campus are used for class instruction. The college will have a full-blown Town Hall meeting on this subject. The Arborist has proposed a five-year pruning and maintenance plan, and has provided some instruction for the college landscape maintenance crew." Mr. Cabrera asked if there was a date yet for this Town Hall meeting, and Dr. Wieder said there was not, although she would like to do it before the Spring Break if at all possible.
Co-Chair Phillips noted that Pierce and Mission have listed local vendors who have worked on their bond projects. Dr. Wieder explained that this is a District-wide project. "We have listed by ZIP code all small businesses and they are being invited to bid. DMJM and URS are working with local small businesses, and handholding and helping them complete the paperwork. Most small businessmen do not operate with all the bureaucratic processes. The Board of Trustees has mandated that local businesses be included. Each contractor must ask at least three small vendors with whom they have not worked previously to bid." Mr. Leahy stated that his business does that for any expenditure over $1,000. "We have to get three bids, and we usually can get two, but it can be hard to get the third.
Ms. Criss wanted to know if any work will be done on the cafeteria. Dr. Wieder reminded the members that the cafeteria will be demolished. "We have a food consultant. The consultant will help the campus spread food services out over the campus, and determine what type we should have. Our cafeteria loses a lot of money. We can subsidize it to a certain extent, but not if it is major. We do make money on the vending machines." Ms. Lavine wanted to know when the cafeteria will be demolished. Dr. Wieder told her that this will not happen until after the library design is complete. Ms. Criss wondered if there would be a latte stand on campus. Mr. Cabrera agreed, saying that coffee is important.
The members asked that the arborist report be given at the May meeting. Ms. Criss inquired whether replacement trees will be planted when trees are removed, and Dr. Wieder said that they will, and the replacements will be fairly good-sized specimens.
She invited the members to attend the Design Review Committee meetings, held every other Thursday at 3:00 p.m. in the President's Conference Room. The next meeting will be held March 25th, and no meetings will be held during Spring Break. Anyone interested in attending should call the President's Office to check the meeting schedule. Mr. Fagin, referencing the Tilman Grey Water Line, inquired whether a line can be run to Valley. Co-Chair Phillips told him that he has submitted a request for this to be considered. Ms. Corral wondered if there are plans to capture rainwater, and Dr. Wieder said that there are. Mr. Cabrera asked if the Design Review Committee meetings are open meetings, and Dr. Wieder stated that they are. Mr. Fagin asked about the possibility of getting rid of the "Crossroads" restaurant. Dr. Wieder said that the college has talked to the owner, but would have to pay for his move and building. This would require too much money for this to be feasible.
Co-Chair Phillips then called for Agenda Item #4, and there being no items from the floor, proceeded to Agenda Item #5.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
By: _______________________________________
Jeanne C. Rubin
Acting as Recording Secretary
