What if they gave a democracy and nobody came? Board meeting notes, part 2

Re Tuesday’s board meeting:

[Continued...] Eventually, the board arrived at items 6.1-3, which concerned our district’s benighted ATEP campus out there in Tustin where the Marines (et al.) used to dump carcinogens onto the ground every five minutes for forty years. As things stand, ATEP is an acre of cool looking Art Tin-canno buildings right along Redhill, where kids/adults learn how to work various kinds of technical whizbangery.

Yeah, but what about the other 67 acres?

ATEP 2.0 was once supposed to be a center for “Homeland Security” training. Then, I think, it was supposed to be a center for the study of gizmology (well no) and Young Republican Hoofers 'n' Crooners (yes, sorta). Anyway, in recent years, efforts have been made to work with Money Men (and Money Women I guess, though I never seem to spot any of those) to create a film and TV pre- and post-production complex and underwater basket-weaving appreciation module.

For a while, the “Camelot” people seemed likely to put this thing together, but they turned out to be Money Men sans Money. Nowadays, there are two bigtime developers in the running (they seem to be avec money), and they’re still talking about that Film and TV studio, which, I'm told, is desperately needed in OC. One wonders why these Money People need us, cuz leasing property has got to be cheap in OC by now—I mean, what with the country hitting the skids and all.

In the meantime, the City of Tustin is essentially a crew of hayseeds who keep falling off of a turnip wagon (see Albert Camus' “Myth of Turnipus”)—and those people are pissed because, way back in the 60s or 70s, they were slated to get their very own community college right there where the Tustin Marketplace now stands, but then that wily old Irvine Company arranged one of its slick deals to avoid paying taxes by giving away that orange grove upon which IVC now sits.

So there you are: Irvine got the community college, and Tustin got IKEA. Ever since, Tustinistas have resented IVC and Irvine and their high-handed ways. The hayseeds who run that town (they’ve got names like “Lou Bone”) have been pounding their little fists and stamping their little feet to turn ATEP into “Tustin Community College.” But that just ain’t gonna happen.

I’m told, though, that the Tustin people have decided at long last to make nice. Don’t know what that’s about.

So, on Tuesday, the legal eagles of the bigtime legal firm that is advising us re ATEP (think of the money they're making!) showed up to explain a series of “resolutions” having to do with environmental impact reports and "conveying" the property and defanging the toxins. Something like that.

PUBLIC HEARING:

The way this went down was interesting. Board Prez Don Wagner recessed the regular board meeting to go into a “public hearing” regarding this complicated ATEP stuff. (A meeting within a meeting! How cool is that?) Then he asked if any members of the public wanted to speak to these “resolution”/ATEP issues.

Anyone?

At that moment, the spiffy and spacious Ronald McDonald Room was as quiet as the Gipper's tomb. Not only did no one want to speak, nofreakinbody showed up!

I enjoyed it immensely.

So Don looked out at the sea of nothingness and went forward with the damned resolutions.

He made a big deal of asking for public comments twice. I could tell that he was awfully proud of himself for this supererogatory CYA.

If any Tustinistas were there, I sure don't know about it.

Later, the board got to item 7.1, “ATEP Developer Selection.” The “principles” of Hudson Capital, LLC and Cyburt Hall Partners were there to “discuss their credentials” to complete ATEP 2.0.

That’s when Tom Fuentes manifested his fear of ATEP turning into a production facility for porno most foul (PMF). It was kinda like that scene in Dr. Strangelove when Herr Doktor Peter von Sellers explained the need for a rigorous repopulation program, post apocalypse.

Creepy, man.

What about “violence and vulgarity?” asked the violent and vulgar Mr. Fuentes. We don’t want a “fox in the chicken coop,” he said.

But the foxes explained that their vision of ATEP involves pre- and post-production, not big fancy soundstages and partings of the Red Sea. As things stand, businesses in the OC have no place to go for commercials and reality shows and Tony Robbins' chin and whatnot, and this facility would be just the thing.

Fuentes yammered for a while about our securing the 68 acres of the old helicopter station as a fine “peace dividend garnered for us by this man over here.” Fuentes turned around and gestured at the name “Ronald McDonald” on the wall. (Well, no. “Ronald Reagan.”)

I’m not making this shit up.

“Every six months,” continued Tom, there’s s strike in Hollywood, and, hey, in the SOCCCD we’ve got union teachers (he grimaced and snarled à la Tasmanian Devil). He wondered if the latter dastardly crew would “cross the union line.”

Well, the Money Men essentially explained that Fuentes doesn’t know what the f*ck he’s talking about. Market-related work doesn’t stop just because of strikes, they said. “The entertainment/marketing business goes on,” they said, no matter freakin’ what.

OK, whatever. No decision was made.

That was about it, I guess.

He hoied my polloi: notes on Tuesday's board meeting, part 1

hoi polloi: the masses; the common people. Hoi polloi is sometimes used incorrectly to mean ‘upper class’—that is, the exact opposite of its normal meaning.

I showed up to the March 24 board meeting about ten minutes late. Before I even sat down someone whispered to me that something was up with the board and its devotion to religious invocations, for, just then, Board President Don Wagner had shared a “Hopi prayer” instead of the usual “Dear Heavenly Father” stuff. I’m told that the room grew particularly solemn and quiet during Don’s brief detour through the multicultural spiritual universe.

Were they waiting for a bolt of lightning?

During her report, trustee Marcia Milchiker expressed her enthusiasm for some campus event that included a “Flamingo dance.” This no doubt pissed off the Andalusians in the audience. (It's flamenco, not flamingo!)

For his part, Chancellor Raghu Mathur blathered about a letter from former bigwig Dianne Woodruff. Evidently, she had gone out of her way to praise the work of IVC’s Bill Hewitt as a “valuable member of the consultation council,” whatever that is. (Something in Sacramento, I think.) He also noted the new signs at Saddleback College, which are “easy to read.”

Just then, someone grumbled to me that some of this new signage is misspelt. (For years, the A300 building at IVC sported the label “Humanites.”)

During Don Taylor, David Gatewood, and Randy Peebles’ presentation concerning “Career Technical Education Programs” at the three campuses, Taylor and Wagner exchanged delightful banter regarding St. Ronald Reagan (aka "he who must be invoked every 15 minutes"). I didn’t quite catch it, but I assure you that it was amusing beyond words, judging by the uproar.


Taylor provided a brief account of the history of community colleges, starting with the Smith-Hughes Act, I think. Yeah, schools were recognized as necessary to produce good workers for the factories, yadda yadda yadda. A turning point for cc's occurred just after WWII—because of the GI Bill—he said, and we seem to be at another crossroads today.

"You probably don't want to go into print journalism," he said.

Some students showed up with a PowerPoint presentation describing a proposed IVC Recycling Complex. It was one of those student things that is supposed to bowl over the adults in the room, but, in truth, the trustees were only mildly impressed, and Tom Fuentes seemed unpleasantly scoffular about this proposed intrusion by government into the private sphere (as they love to say in Right-Wing World).

Student trustee Hannah Lee once again enlivened the discussion with a daffy remark seemingly provided by writers for Fox television: “Thank you for an AWESOME presentation!” she said.

Apparently, the packet of info re the Recycling Complex made mention of international students, and, natch, this was detected by the ever-alert Mr. Fuentes and his sophisticated xenophobic radar. It turns out that international students are very restricted in the kinds of work they can do on campus, and this center would provide jobs that fit the bill perfectly.

That seemed to assuage the Fuentster.


Tom pulled an item from the consent calendar: renewal of a contract to print and email class schedules.

This, said Fuentes, is unnecessary. After all, didn’t his neighbors tell him that they get this schedule and immediately toss it in the trash? Well, QED!

Tom seemed to suggest that members of the community can simply go online, register, and find the classes they want without all of this mailing of schedules. Plus, he said, we just got through agreeing to a generous faculty contract (aka "an obscene waste of taxpayer money"), and so we ought to find ways to save money somewhere.

Harrumph!

As I reported on Tuesday, trustee John Williams judged this proposal to be a “great idea.” Maybe, he said, we could mail little postcards instead! But Nancy Padberg rolled her eyes as per usual and then demurred. I think she mentioned her neighbors, too. Anyway, sending these schedules increases enrollments and is great marketing, she said. Tom's idea sucks.

Dave Lang seemed to side with Fuentes and Williams, though he seemed unprepared to support an immediate decision. He favored further study. I mean, maybe we can determine the potential effects of this approach, he said.

Don Wagner naturally “echoed” what his pals had been saying. But Bill Jay suddenly (well, no) looked both discomfited and elderly. He mentioned his neighbors and family members and their love of mailed schedules. Plus “Emeritus” students are “forgetful,” said he, "as I am."

He declared Mr. Fuentes’ proposal to be “penny wise and pound foolish.”

Hannah Lee expressed a “student’s perspective”: “I just go online,” she announced perkily. Everyone stared at her absurdly young and perfect face.

Fuentes noted that some other districts had made the change. But he seemed to see the wisdom of “further study.”

Now, during much of this, Saddleback College’s Academic Senate President, Bob C, had his hand in the air—to no avail. At one point, sensing that the discussion was winding down, I raised my own hand and pointed at Bob, at which point Mr. Wagner spun around and roared that, yes, “I see you, Professor Bauer” and goddamit I don’t need the likes of you telling me what to do!

Well, that was the gist of it. Evidently, even before I dared to raise my hand, he had been whipped into a state of abject peevitude because several persons had signaled to him that, um, what about Bob?

He now bellowed that he would get to Bob later—maybe—after the board was finished discussing the matter!

Tsk, tsk. How very undemocratic. He had hoied my polloi.

Eventually, Chancellor Mathur, his nose a stinky deep brown, effused about Fuentes’ proposal and commenced talking about ways to “implement it.” But Bill Jay then reminded everybody that older folks “are not computer literate at all.”

A truer thing had never been said.

Eventually, Bob C was permitted to speak. He noted that there is a survey done every other year and it has indicated that 63% of our students are brought to us via the mailed class schedule.

In the end, the matter was tabled.

To be continued....

Some news

On Marla Jo Fisher’s College Life blog: [Coast CCD] Chancellor leaving: No fraud or crimes found, agreement says. Hmmm. Very mysterious.

UPDATE: Beleagered chancellor retires under fire

Rebel Girl rebels elsewhere: Silverado group continues fight to keep school open (OC Register)

Tonight's board meeting in pics

Tonight's meeting of the SOCCCD board of trustees was largely uneventful, although Board Prez Don Wagner did shock the socks off of everyone when he offered a "Hopi prayer" during his invocation!

Well, that's gotta be a step in the right direction. Too bad he didn't demonstrate the mystical benefits of peyote too.

I'll provide a proper report some time late tomorrow. For now, I'll mostly just show some pics.

Some kids from IVC showed up with their proposal for some kind of recycling complex on campus. Their PowerPoint presentation was surprisingly polished.

Tom Fuentes seemed skeptical. Why not just have private firms do this stuff? He then genuflected to the name "Ronald Reagan" on the wall behind him. Shockingly, the "g" suddenly fell off the wall and shattered into a million tiny pieces. Some audience members gasped and shrieked, losing control of their bodies, with arms and legs akimbo, flag pins askew.

But these kids maintained their enthusiasm and doe-eyed innocence. Someone in the audience whispered to me: "Aren't they cute?"

"Yup," I said.

Trustee Tom gave me the stink-eye, natch.

When prospective Money Men for ATEP 2.0 made their presentation (see below), Tom offered a classic Fuentesesque query: what about the specter of a studio at ATEP producing "R- or X-rated films"!? OMG!

Later, Tom, looking out for the taxpayer again, urged the board to cease the printing and mailing of class schedules (which costs more than $400K a pop).

Trustee John Williams liked the idea. His eyes twinkled and his homunculus stirred. John suggested that we send cheap "post cards" instead! The post cards could say, "check us out online. FU." Something like that.

Aside from Trustees Bill Jay and Nancy Padberg, the board seemed to think that Tom's idea was the cat's meow. But Bill worried that the folks in Leisure World wouldn't be able to find us, cuz they're not "computer literate."

Dave Lang suggested that the Chancellor return next time with a report regarding the likely consequences of this kind of measure. By the time the proposal got to Mr. Goo, the little fellow seemed to think his task was not to determine the viability of Fuentes' idea, but to make it work. Good grief. I think that Tom and Co. are determined to have their way on this thing.

No action yet though. That matter was tabled.

A very sharp lawyer showed up to explain the latest resolutions concerning ATEP.

Gatewood, Taylor, and Peebles made a fine presentation concerning technical and vocational instruction at the three district campuses.

As you can see, the board had someone blast a big hole in the west wall so that TV viewers can watch speakers with Saddleback Mountain in the background. Nice touch.

The Money Men. Big shots. Nice suits. Evasive answers. Tom looked skeptical.

The faculty contract

Some of you have contacted us, asking us to report on the status of the faculty contract. We know only what faculty have been told in a series of emails:

Last Friday (March 20), faculty union Prez Lee H emailed the faculty, offering a cryptic remark: “The contract went to the Board of Trustees on March 19, 2009 and was approved by them....”

That communication produced considerable confusion.

Three days later (i.e., yesterday), faculty received an email from union negotiator Lewis L, who clarified the situation:

On Thursday, … the Board held a special meeting … to discuss the contact. As a result of that meeting, [the District] has contacted the Faculty Association Negotiating Team to inform us that the District will accept the Association's most recent salary proposal.

Lewis then explained the recent history of negotiations:

[I]in December, the two teams reached tentative agreement on a proposed contract…. However, because of the deteriorating economic condition of the state, the contract as proposed and ratified lost District and Board support….

Said Lewis, union officers were faced with a choice between three options, each of them unattractive. But a decision was made:

Reluctantly, the faculty team agreed to return to the table to make a new contract proposal, believing this to be in the best interests of the faculty.

This does seem to be the best option for faculty. (Well, that's my opinion.)

Lewis then explained the terms of the union’s new salary proposal (agreed to by the district). I won’t go into the details except to say that it includes COLA for full- and part-time faculty (2007-08) and a 1% increase for 2008-09 and then 2009-10.

Lewis noted that the faculty must vote to ratify this new contract prior to ultimate approval by the district/board.

A few hours later, Lewis provided an update in which he reported that, since the last communication, the union signed a new tentative agreement with the district (as per above). He then explained that the revised proposed contract would be available online for review by faculty for the next two weeks. Then, on Friday, April 3rd, the contract will be presented to faculty at a meeting at Saddleback College.

Finally, that evening, on-line ratification voting will start and continue for a week. If faculty approve this new proposed contract, the board will vote on it at the April board meeting (that's on the 27th).

Good!

NEWS:

• Marla Jo Fisher of the OC Register reports (on her College Life blog) that Colin Powell [is] coming to Chapman [University] Saturday. Check it out!

• Check out Gustavo Arellano's interesting historical piece on OC Weekly’s “Navel Gazing”: John Schmitz, the Institute for Historical Review, and Old World Village.

The IHR was that loony Holocaust denial outfit that Trustee Frogue liked so much. Remember?

Schmitz was the zany right-winger (and community college instructor) who ran for President in the early 70s. He was expelled from the John Birch society for "extremism."

Wow.

Annie's weird-assed Asian lacquer screens

Annie came home yesterday all excited. "What's up?" I asked.

"I went to that consignment shop and bought something really cool for the living room." She showed me the pile of I-know-not-what stuffed into the back of her Toyota.

"Um, yeah, looks good," I said. I didn't know what the hell I was looking at. "Yeah, wow, that's great."

So, tonight, we put the thing together—it's old and heavy and unwieldy—and it turns out to be crazy cool, just like Annie said.

"Paid just $100 for it!" says Annie, beaming.

The damned thing is hand-painted. If it falls on TigerAnn, she's done for. And I still don't know really what kind of thing it is.

But I like it.

TigerAnn says "hey."

Tuesday's board meeting: a big night for ATEP

The March meeting of the South Orange County Community College District board of trustees will be held this Tuesday, the 24th. If you go to the district website, you’ll find a link to the agenda and to a Notice of Public Hearing for ATEP Phase 3A—Concept Plan Project And Notice of Intent to Adopt an Addendum to FEIS/EIR Elsewhere, the district explains that “the concept plan provides details on the location, size and use of the first major building phase, including up to 305,000 square feet of classrooms, labs and educational support.” As you know, discussions between the district and the City of Tustin regarding the fate of ATEP have been tense and troubled. But I’m told that things have definitely taken a turn for the better in recent months, and, as things now stand, the city isn’t likely to veto SOCCCD’s plan. We’ll see, I guess. According to the agenda, Tuesday’s closed session begins at 5:00 p.m. (There’ll be the usual opportunity for public comments. Nobody'll take that opportunity, cuz this is America.) The agenda for the closed session includes discussion of union issues: contract negotiations. No mention here of the reported recent agreement that dare not speak its name. The open session is scheduled to commence at 6:30. A “certificate” will be presented concerning “display of President Reagan Memorabilia.”

I do hope it’s a poster of Reagan’s Bedtime for Bonzo or a videotape of the Gipper saying, "I don't recall." Or maybe a picture of Reagan signing the Garn-St. Germain Depository Institutions Act of 1982. You know. Deregulation of the S&Ls?

I'd totally get behind that. The memorabilia, I mean. Dean Taylor, Interim Dean Gatewood, and Park Ranger Peebles will “present info on career technical education programs offered throughout the district. A gaggle of students will present a proposal concerning an IVC “Recycling Complex.” Among “consent calendar” items: 5.4: Looks like parking tickets at IVC will go up to $35 a pop. 5.22: Evidently, we’re gonna pay some printing place $405K for the printing and mailing of class schedules. That’s one juicy contract, boy. General action items: 6.1 – 6.3: There’ll be a recess to a public hearing re the ATEP study, concept plan, etc. 6.2 is a “resolution” to adopt the addendum to the final environmental impact report re ATEP, etc. It’s 46 pages long and includes 44 Whereas’s. I counted 'em. 6.3 (adopting the concept plan) has 33 Whereas’s. You really should peruse this stuff. I do hope the public (and the district community) is paying attention. I hope for world peace too. Reports: 7.1: Hudson Capital and Cyburt Hall Partners [aka "money men"] will make their pitch to be chosen for the next phase of ATEP. That sort of thing is always interesting—in the way that Mad Men is interesting. 7.2: Professors of the year. That’s about it. But you never really know what will flare up. I should point out that there exists at least one possible world in which, during Tuesday's board meeting, someone commandeers the Ronald Reagan Room projector and plays a video of Chancellor Mathur rockin' and rollin' with farm animals.

Neil Young - Keep On Rockin' In The Free World by Killer_Tomato

Much better sound/video: The famous SNL performance