Noelle Arias / Roundup
The continuing issue of the Pierce College “farm” was brought in front of the Los Angeles Community College Disttict Board of Trustees yesterday during their meeting at the district office.
When it came time for the Public Agenda Requests, Christine Rowe was the first to speak about the Pierce Master Plan and the Farm Center lease.
Rowe is a member of the West Hills Neighborhood Council and is the wife of Bruce Rowe, an anthropology professor at Pierce.
Reading from a prepared speech, Rowe asked the Board of Trustees to approve and support a lease to sustain the Farm Center as farmland. According to Rowe, the farm recently lost acreage due to a drain that was built going down the middle of one of the farm’s fields.
“We need to preserve the Farm Center for our children and grandchildren,” said Rowe.
She stressed the need to protect the Farm Center that has taken about $25 million to build and develop over the years.
Rowe noted that it also serves as a shelter for evacuated animals during floods and fires. The Pierce College Council (PCC) has yet to approve the 2010 Master Plan, putting the farm in jeopardy of losing even more acres of land.
Only allowed five minutes to make her presentation, Rowe ended her speech urging the Board of Trustees again to maintain the Farm Center.
“I’m in full support of keeping the land as farmland,” said Trustee Nancy Pearlman, after the meeting had adjourned.
During the course of the meeting, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved resolutions such as “Child Abuse Prevention Month”, “Labor History Week” and “California Community College Month” which will be implemented throughout the Los Angeles Community College District.
One issue that caused quite a stir among the trustees was that of the establishment of the Office of an Inspector General. This resolution states that the Inspector General will oversee and monitor the management of bond-funded projects.
The LACCD has passed three bond measures totaling in more than $6.5 billion for the construction of new buildings and the modernization of existing buildings throughout the LACCD.
The Office of Inspector General will be funded from these three bonds and be responsible for the financial integrity and legal compliance of the bond construction program.
Trustee Sylvia Scott-Hayes expressed her concern for the lack of clarity in the job description for the Inspector General. According to the Board of Trustees, a new Chancellor will be appointed in July of this year.
“My only concern is that the new, permanent Chancellor should have a say in this,” said Scott-Hayes, after stating that she supports the concept of the Inspector General, but feels that there is no need to immediately go out and fill the position.
Vice President Georgia Mercer, explained that this office will help protect the tax-payer dollars that fund the bonds.
“We’ve got to get this ball rolling… it’s something we owe to the public,” said Trustee Miguel Santiago.
After all members of the Board of Trustees made their opinions on the subject clear, the establishment of an Office of Inspector General was unanimously approved.
The next board meeting will be at L.A. Technical College on March 24 at 3:30 p.m.
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