AUSD               Alameda Unified School District

                                                            Alameda, California

 

 

 

                        MEASURE C CITIZENS’ BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

November 17, 2004

 

 

Members present:                                                                                               Members Absent:

Daniel Aljoe                                            - Community At-Large                        None

Chairman Judge Richard Bartalini             - Business Organization         

David Kirwin                                           - Parent Member

Vice Chair Michael Lane                         - Community At-Large

John McCormick                                     - Parent Member

Dick Rudloff                                            - Senior Citizen Group

Basil Shiber                                            - Taxpayer Organization

 

District Staff present:  Lorenzo Legaspi, Bob Deluca

 

 

Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was called to order by Judge Richard Bartalini, Chairman at 5:30 PM at the Alameda Unified School District Office.  The members introduced themselves.

 

Adoption of Agenda

The members adopted the agenda.

 

Distribution of Information

Bob DeLuca distributed various handouts for discussion:  1) Project Hard Costs to Date by School, 2), Modernization Expenditures 3) Phase II Timeline, 4) Phase II Project Costs to Date, 5) Account Summary Report to Date.  Bob referred to the 10-26-04 Board report that had been mailed to the committee members:  1) a summary of budget versus actual expense of Phase I Projects and 2) the two worksheets for each of the five schools of Phase II listed by the prioritized categories approved by the Board of Education.  The Phase II projects consist of the five schools that were not eligible for modernization funding in 1998.  Phases III through V will include the schools which received some State funding in 1998 when the District was eligible for State financial hardship funding for modernization of schools that were at least 25 years old.  State funds are received when the District has a signed contract.

 

In regard to questions from committee members about how the timeline for projects at various schools was determined, Bob explained that the District decided it could begin projects designated as Phase I in June 2004 because they did not require approval from the State Architect and would allow the community, students, and staff to see immediate progress in the bond projects rather than delay all projects until June 2005.  The Phase II project construction will begin in June 2005.  Thereafter, each summer the next phase will consist of another group of schools in order to proceed in an orderly fashion and not attempt to work on 18 schools at once.  In addition, scheduling of internal moving within each school must be done before the actual work can begin.  The same contractor may work on the same type of project at more than one of the schools and can be paid in what is called a trade package, e.g. mechanical.  A construction manager is assigned.  The construction manager for Measure C projects is Roebbelen Construction Management Services, Inc.

 

Measure C Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee       November 17, 2004                                        Page 1 of 2

 

 

Committee members requested copies of tentative budgets for Phases 3-5. 

 

With regard to maintenance projects vs. modernization projects Bob explained that there are different aspects to a specific project, e.g. bathroom access may involve new stalls, new plumbing, etc. and thus require architectural plans which translates from what appears to be a maintenance project into a modernization project.  Bob stated that there are several stages in the architectural drawings of the various projects and that they are available for the committee members to review.  There is also a set at each school.  Lorenzo offered that committee members can schedule a time to review these drawings in his office.

 

Member Lane asked how project priorities were set because of concern that bond funds will run out before all projects are finished; what assurance does the committee have that a particular site will have its projects done and that funding will not have run out?  Bob explained that there is a budget for each of the school’s projects.  If a school’s project is over budget, that budget will be adjusted so that the total budget of that school will not run over.  The Board of Education approves projects before they go out to bid.  If a project bid comes in over budget, the District can make cuts to that budget.  The project then comes to the Board again for approval after the bid before a contract is issued. This is one way the public is kept informed.  Part of the decision process as to what projects to fund involved teacher as well as maintenance staff input in a survey asking what projects they felt were needed at their schools. 

 

Committee members asked for clarification again regarding the various funding sources for the projects.  Bob explained that the State funds can only be used for certain things whereas the District has other sources besides the Measure C bond money and State funds that can be used for projects other than modernization.  These other sources are the Deferred Maintenance Fund and Developer Fees.  The District will be able to use Deferred Maintenance monies for some of the projects.  Only Measure C funding oversight is the responsibility of this Committee. 

Committee members requested a report detailing expenditures by funding source.

 

Election of Officer

Chairman Bartalini asked for nominations for the Vice-Chair of the Committee.  He then nominated Michael Lane.  Dave Kirwin seconded.  The members approved the appointment of Michael Lane for the office of Vice-Chair of the Committee for a two-year term.

 

Chairman Bartalini questioned members regarding the upcoming February meeting.  The February 16 date was agreed upon with a request to receive handouts ahead of the meeting. 

Further, it was requested that between now and February 16 that a report showing projects by school in a format lay people can understand be sent to the members which would better enable them to communicate with the community.    Chairman Bartalini stated the District will provide members with information they can share with the public plus develop a Committee report for the Board.  Chairman Bartalini also added that all requests by the committee members be sent to the Chairman who will then forward them to District staff.  Lorenzo added that there is current bond information on the District’s Website.

 

Lorenzo stated the next meeting will include a report regarding projects involving the Technology Department, acknowledging that $5 million is budgeted for this expense and that the Account Summary Report handout does not reflect this cost.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.

 

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