Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Open Board of Directors Meeting
San Bernardino Community College District
114 S. Del Rosa Drive
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Minutes
Present: Dimitrios Alexiou, Don Averill, Deborah Barmack, Erin Brinker, Ann Bryan, Ken Coate, Bill Easley, Ron Griffin, Scott Hofferber, Matthew Issac, Tim Johnson, Mark Kaenel, Al Karnig, Lowell King, Pam Langford, Sue McKee, Tom Nightingale, John Prentice, Susan Rice, Kristine Scott, Larry Sharp, Paul Shimoff, Phil Waller, A.J. Wilson and Ray Wolfe.
Guests: Al Garrett, Jim Morris, Mayor Pat Morris and Todd Warden
Announcements: 1) The University of California, Riverside will host Erik Stegman of the Center for American Progress who will talk about Poverty in America on January 31, 2014 from 12:30-2 p.m. as part of their Public Policy Lecture Series. 2) Inland Action will co-host a reception for the new owner of the Press Enterprise on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at the Mission Inn from 5:30p.m.-7:30p.m. Invitations were sent by e-mail. 3) The Water Education Foundation will present a Sea to Sierra Water Tour by train April 10-11, 2014. Described as a rolling seminar on California water issues, the tour will begin in San Francisco by privately reserved rail car and will travel from the edge of the San Francisco Bay through the channels of the Delta, past Central Valley farmland, growing cities, historic mining areas and into the snowy Sierra Mountain range. Registration is $545.00 per person, single occupancy room; $475.00 each for two people sharing a room. Registration includes round trip train travel from Emeryville, CA to Reno, NV, overnight accommodations in Reno, and all meals on the tour. For more information please go to their web site: http://www.watereducation.org/toursdetail.asp?id=2990 . 4) Los Angeles County representatives plan to attend the February 5 SANBAG Board meeting to promote designation of the Gold Line extension in San Bernardino County as the top rail priority rather than Rail to Redlands. Inland Action staff will contact IA members individually to request their attendance at this meeting to testify on behalf of Rail to Redlands.
M/S/P: Minutes from January 21, 2014.
Larry Sharp introduced Allen Parker, San Bernardino City Manager.
Mr. Parker summarized his experience prior to accepting the City Manager position in San Bernardino almost a year ago. His experience includes work with many minority communities like Compton & South El Monte that contain multiple difficulties and challenges. The City of San Bernardino has a 60% Hispanic population and the residents are diverse and divided. Mr. Parker indicated that the City needs to assess the varied community groups and neighborhoods and provide connectivity to all through the city’s infrastructure. He referenced the success of projects like Plaza Mexico in Lynwood that have brought the whole community together and established a positive neighborhood identity.
He described and discussed moving the city to SmartCode, a unified land development ordinance template for planning and urban design. This open source program is a model-based unified land development designed to create walkable neighborhoods that have a mix of land uses (residential, office, and retail). The SmartCode is not a building code; building codes address life/safety issues such as fire and storm protection. It folds subdivision regulations, urban design, and basic architectural standards into one compact document. Well known examples such as Petaluma, CA and Miami, FL were sited. Creativity and a change in the thought process is needed in San Bernardino.
Economic development is a critical component for San Bernardino. There is much that the area has to offer: easy highway access, numerous universities both public and private and world class medical facilities. He would like to see workshops with developers and will encourage projects like the Oak Park Development Corporation (OPDC) that was successful in Oak Park, Illinois. Established by banks & businesses this private, not-for-profit corporation acts as a catalyst between developers, property & business owners, and village staff & officials. The Corporation’s primary functions include:
- Developing & administering financial incentives to attract & support business
- Helping companies find commercial locations through a data base of available properties
- Encouraging new or expanded business development and tourism
- Working to broaden the projects tax base and increase revenue
Mr. Parker recognizes the intense political climate of the City and stated that ultimately the City Council will have the final say.
He was unable to discuss the City’s bankruptcy in detail as they are in mediation and under a court issued gag order. He did, however, comment that the City has clearly been spending more than its revenues and had been for a good deal of time. The expenditures for fire service in San Bernardino are extremely high when compared to comparable areas and contracting services should be thoroughly review and assessed.
The process for the 2014-2015 budget is now beginning. He will work toward a modified program/performance based budget.
A Q and A period followed.
Meeting adjourned at 8:32a.m.