Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Open Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Carole Beswick, Tom Brickley, Ann Bryan, Mike Burrows, Ken Coate, Kevin Dyerly, Louis Goodwin, Scott Hofferber, Mark Kaenel, Al Karnig, Lowell King, Bill Lemann, John Mirau, Lou Monville, Tomas Morales, Jan Remm, Kristine Scott, Steve von Rajcs and Ray Wolfe.
Guests: Ted Alejandre and Josh Candelaria
Announcements: 1) Senator Leyva will host Cap & Trade and Climate Investments: A Roundtable on Health, Transportation and Energy Efficiency in the Inland Empire on September 19, 2016 at the Intech Training Center in Fontana from 1:00p.m. to 4:00p.m. 2) Dr. Tomas Morales will be honored on September 15, 2016 with an Ohtli Award during a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day at CSUSB. The award is Mexico’s highest honor presented to a civilian outside the country. 3) Gresham Savage Law firm has been proposed as a member. The firm has a long history of involvement with Inland Action and would like to rejoin. Michael Rivera would represent the firm. For more information about them click on the link http://greshamsavage.com/ Today was a first reading for this membership.
M/S/P: Minutes from July 26, 2016.
Mark Kaenel introduced Dr. Barbara Sirotnik, Professor of Statistics and Supply Chain Management at California State University, San Bernardino.
Dr. Barbara Sirotnik is one of the founding Directors of the University’s Institute of Applied Research and Policy Analysis, an organization that has conducted survey research projects for public and private organizations in the Inland Empire, statewide and nationwide since 1985. She has conducted quality of life surveys for Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and cities such as Hemet, Riverside, San Bernardino and Rancho Cucamonga.
The 2016 Inland Empire Annual Survey was conducted from April 8 through April 29th. The survey goal is to help with decision-making for both public and private sectors. The survey measures perception and is able to track trends overtime. Dr. Sirotnick discussed methods of gathering information, such as mailers, door to door contact and on-line questionnaires. She and her team have found that the most reliable method is by telephone. The most complete responses from the 12 minute survey came from calls at dinner time and on the weekends. Over 100,000 phone calls were made this year and the trained personnel had successful responses from 1,187 San Bernardino County residents. In addition to their standard questions, sponsors of the annual survey are allowed proprietary questions.
They now have 19 years of comparative data in the following categories:
- Transportation & commuting
- San Bernardino County ratings
- Economic trends
- Quality of life
Although San Bernardino County gets more than its fair share of bad/negative press, the survey found that 65% rate SB County as a “fairly good or very good” place to live. The data indicated there was no difference in the perceptions based on ethnicity. The City-specific perceptions of a very good or fairly good place to live showed that Redlands and Highland had dropped significantly from last year. The drop in ratings for some areas may be due to the Dec. 2nd attack and the hostage shooting at the Redlands Office Depot in April.
CRIME
33% are most concerned about crime and gangs compared to 22% in 2011. The statistics on crime and gang activity have increased so there was no surprise in this perception. It is equally important for residents to be safe as it is to feel safe. In SB County’s largest cities violent crime has increased (2014-2015) in every city except Rancho Cucamonga. Fontana+ 4.9% / Ontario +13.9% / Rancho Cucamonga -25.4% / Rialto +27.8% / San Bernardino +15.6% / Victorville +21.2%. Residents were most fearful (50% or higher) in Rialto, Highland and San Bernardino. Residents felt safest (70% or more) in Chino, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland and Chino Hills.
TRAFFIC
6% were most concerned with traffic. Approximately 55% of the residents have short round trip commutes of under 1 hour, trending down from 61% in 2010. Traffic has increased in the IE and the median commute time is now 45 minutes, the highest since inception of the survey. Concerns about smog have changed, from 20% in 1997 down to 3% this year. The perception of air quality has tracked well with the actual ozone reductions.
SERVICES
Street/road maintenance continues to rate very low with only 30-40% rating. Library services were, and remain, the highest rated in the 80% range. Police and sheriff services ranked in the 65%, as did shopping.
When asked about confidence in elected officials, a high majority like their own representatives but the number drops dramatically when asked about Congress overall. Confidence in local elected officials has been stable over time and remains at 60%.
The survey, which is used by California State University, San Bernardino and the survey sponsors is available to the public by request.
A Q & A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 a.m.