San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2010-2011
Bond Measure A and the San Mateo County Community College District Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions |
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 10 findings
F1
A 2001 pre-election research study commissioned by the College District determined that the shared use of sports fields and recreation facilities by students and the community would be well received.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Market research commissioned by the College District in 2007 to determine the viability of opening a campus fitness center to the public indicated it would be well received. 3
No recommendations for this finding
F3
College District administrators stated to the Grand Jury that they intended to design/construct a multi-use “wellness/fitness” center before the Board of Trustees placed Measure A on the ballot.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Bond Measure A does not list a “wellness/fitness” center in its project list, nor does it refer to using the College District facilities for public/private partnership or enterprise activities. It does refer to a "Workforce Development Center".
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Communicate clearly to the public and to the BOC the intended uses of bond funds prior to and during the course of expenditures, particularly when major projects are not identified specifically in the bond project list contained in the ballot measure.
R2
Ensure that all bond funds are spent in compliance with the project list in Measure A.
R5
Create and publish on the College District website a detailed and specific list of the remaining projects to be funded by Measure A bond funds and update it on a regular basis. 5
F5
Deteriorating economic conditions between the passage of Measure A in 2005 and the commencement of construction of the Health and Wellness Center created an emphasis on programs and activities that could generate revenue for the College District.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The minutes of the BOC do not document any objections by the BOC to any of the expenditures by the College District from Bond Measure A funds.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Several members of the BOC exceeded their statutory limit of two consecutive two-year terms (4-year maximum). On October 13, 2010, this was corrected by the appointment of eight new members.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The BOC has no representative of a bona fide taxpayer group as required by State Law, [California Education Code 15282(a)], despite a reasonable effort by the College District to identify and appoint such a member.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Regularly, Identify members of the Bond Oversight Committee in the official meeting minutes by their term and affiliation specified in California Education Code 15282(a).
F9
The BOC membership remained substantially the same for both Bond Measure A (2005) and Measure C (2001). The BOC was chaired for seven years by a former senior administrator of the College District. The members of the BOC are selected by the College District.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The BOC did not issue an annual report for the year 2009 but did submit a report for 2010. Conclusions
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Require that the Bond Oversight Committee publish timely reports to inform the public regarding the use of bond funds on the District web site and issue a press release as new reports become available.
Conclusions 4
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CL1 Page 4The private use of public facilities on a fee basis is a common and generally accepted practice in San Mateo County, and is similar to other public school facilities (e.g. athletic fields, gymnasiums, classrooms, meeting space, planetarium, etc.) that are made available to the public on a fee basis. However, selling membership to a facility appears to be unique within the College District.
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CL2 Page 4The San Mateo Community College District Board of Trustees used Bond Measure A funds to continue the transformation of San Mateo County’s three community colleges into state- of-the-art institutions through safety and seismic upgrades, new and renovated facilities, and enhanced campus environments.
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CL3 Page 4The Board of Trustees, the authors of Measure A, did not include on the ballot its proposed use of bond funds to construct an athletic facility that would be operated as an athletic club as well as a teaching facility. The project list for Measure A is so broad it permitted generous interpretation in the purpose of the funds. For example, College District officials stated that the bond language "workforce development center" was the basis for the construction of the wellness/fitness center.
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CL4 Page 4The role of the BOC has been limited to review expenditures after the fact, to conduct and/or review performance and financial audits, and to report to the public on their findings. 4
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
San Mateo County Community College District
School District