Victor Valley Community College District
Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee Meeting Minutes
Date: June 17, 2015
Place: Victor Valley Community College
Board Room
18422 Bear Valley Road
Victorville, CA 92395-5850
1.0
WELCOME, ROLL CALL AND CALL TO ORDER
The Victor Valley Community College District Measure JJ Citizens’ Bond Oversight
Committee met on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, in the Board Room of Victor Valley
Community College. Mr. Edward Rodarte, Vice-Chair, called the meeting to order at
1:35 PM.
Roll Call: Edward Rodarte (CBOC), Larry Hoover (CBOC), Don Nelson (CBOC), and
Diane Uli (CBOC) were in attendance.
Absent: Marshall Kagan (CBOC), Dawn Serbus (CBOC), and Cassandra Walters
(CBOC).
Present: Steve Garcia (VVC Director, Facilities/Construction); and Shirley SnellGonzalez (VVC Administrative Assistant).
Four (4) committee members were present. Quorum established.
2.0
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The pledge of allegiance to the American flag was led by Larry Hoover.
3.0
INTRODUCTIONS
None were needed.
4.0
AGENDA REVIEW
There were no changes made to the agenda.
5.0
PUBLIC COMMENTS
No public comments were expressed.
6.0
ACTION ITEMS
6.1
Election of Chair – Mr. Rodarte yielded the floor to Mr. Garcia who stated that
Mr. Greenwood termed out of office in April, leaving the chair position vacant.
He then called for nominations for the position of chairperson. Mr. Rodarte
nominated himself with Mr. Hoover seconding the nomination. Additional
nominations were requested. A vote was called and Mr. Rodarte won the
election by consensus.
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CBOC Meeting Minutes
Measure JJ Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
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ACTION: Mr. Rodarte moved to nominate himself as chairperson of the CBOC
with a second from Mr. Hoover. Motion passed.
Due to Mr. Rodarte being appointed chairperson, his position as ViceChairperson became vacant. Mr. Garcia entertained a motion for nominations
for the Vice-Chairperson position. Ms. Uli readily volunteered to serve as the
Vice-Chair.
ACTION: Ms. Uli moved to nominate herself as Vice-chairperson of the CBOC
with a second from Mr. Rodarte. Motion passed.
The floor was yielded to Mr. Rodarte.
6.2
Approval of Meeting Minutes – March 11, 2015 – the minutes were
presented for review and approval.
ACTION: Mr. Nelson moved to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2015
meeting with a second from Ms. Uli. The minutes were approved as presented.
7.0
REPORTS/DISCUSSION
7.1
Bond Project Updates and Expenditures – Steve Garcia presented the 2015
Facilities Workshop power point presentation. He stated that the state requires
an annual report be submitted by June 30th. The presentation included the
Master Plan update, the campus-wide 5-Year Capital Construction Plan, as
well as a stadium and conference center proposal.
Please reference
http://www.vvc.edu/offices/facilities/ for more detail. Mr. Garcia presented this
information at the June Board of Trustees meeting and is awaiting their
response. Mr. Garcia also distributed the quarterly Measure JJ Bond Program
Budget Summary Report as of March 31, 2015.
(Mr. Rodarte left the meeting at 2:10 PM.)
meeting.
Ms. Uli assumed presiding over the
8.0
COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ COMMENTS – None were expressed.
9.0
OTHER
9.1
Review of CBOC Constitutional and Legal Basis – Mr. Hoover provided a
handout regarding the basis for the Citizens’ Bond Oversight committee
establishment. He became interested in serving on the community due to an
understanding that the college was experiencing a structural deficit. He was
appointed to this committee approximately one year ago. Another member
asserted that VVC was misspending the bond funds. Mr. Hoover met with a
former VVC Vice President as well as heard conversation from an attorney
regarding this topic and ultimately felt stronger about the misspending. Four
topics were listed in the handout. First: California Proposition 39 was approved
in 2000 to make it easier to raise funds for capital improvements by reducing
the threshold required to pass local school district bond issues from two-thirds
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Measure JJ Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
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to 55%. Mr. Hoover proposed that there are two provisions that check against
abuse of wrongful spending, i.e., a mandatory bond oversight committee (to
assure compliance with the law), and the permitting of suing a district if there is
a law violation, described in the Bond Waste Prevention Act. Second: the
California Education Code, 15278 (c) provides that the CBOC ensures that
“…bond revenues are expended only for the purposes described in paragraph
(3) of subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution.”
Also, ensuring that funds are not used for teacher or administrative salaries or
other school operating expenses. Mr. Hoover stated that the California
Education Code is the basis of, and authority for, the CBOC. That section of
the Code charges CBOC members to oversee spending of all bond proceeds
to assure compliance with the law and protection of taxpayers’ interests.
Third: a Mission Statement and Statement of Purpose for the California League
of Bond Oversight Committees was provided. Mr. Hoover explained that the
League was formed by CBOC members in California attempting to find ways to
better prepare/train CBOC members to perform their duties according to the
law. The last item was a copy of an article entitled, “Could Waste and Fraud be
Happening in your School District?” Mr. Hoover stated that the article hints that
fraud could be happening in our school. He then asked for comments from
other members. Ms. Uli stated that she understood that a lawsuit had been
filed, therefore there was no need for debate. Mr. Nelson had no comment.
9.2
Discussion of Committee Meeting Dates - Mr. Hoover explained that Mr.
Kagan would like to have more meetings for discussion purposes of the bond
fund spending. As there was no longer quorum, action could not be taken on
this topic. This item will be placed on the next meeting agenda.
9.3
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Dr. Reddy Health/Science Building – this
event is scheduled for Friday, August 28th at 10:00 AM in Building 22.
Invitations will be sent to the CBOC members via the Public Information Office.
10.0
NEXT CITIZENS’ OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2015.
11.0
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:40 PM.
12.0
Tour - Following the meeting, Mr. Garcia invited the members to tour the Dr. Prem
Reddy Health/Science Building.
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Measure JJ Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
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Documents referenced in these minutes are available on the Victor Valley College web site, www.vvc.edu, Bond
Measure JJ - Bond Oversight Committee.
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Measure JJ Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee
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