The Peralta Community College District (PCCD) Board of Trustees’ regular meeting on Nov. 12 flagged facilities issues and projected repair costs amongst usual board business.
Facilities analysis: ‘We buy it, we put in, we let it completely die, and then we just replace the whole thing.’
Deputy Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer Greg Nelson gave a presentation about the district’s “Total Cost of Ownership.”
Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson defined the term as “a data driven process to assure adequate, well-maintained facility assets and meet the educational mission of the district.”
The report weighs the district’s assets based on items like initial cost or total life cycle costs of facilities maintenance, repairs, or divestments to predict the economic needs of each investment.
Nelson explained that the last total cost of ownership analysis from Peralta was completed in 2016, based on data collected between 2012 and 2015. He specified that the board never formally adopted those guidelines.
The latest facilities condition index was completed in late 2023. That report put most of Peralta’s facilities “in the red zone,” Nelson said, meaning Peralta, districtwide, received critical condition rankings. He explained this is due to lack of preventative maintenance, which can help buildings stay in good condition for a longer period of time.
“What we’ve done in this district, we buy it, we put in, we let it completely die, and then we just replace the whole thing,” Nelson said.
The most urgent repairs alone are projected to cost the district $226 million.
Nelson suggested using data analytics to track work orders, maintenance, and manage inventory. He reminded the board and the public that Peralta currently does not have the capability to track or assess ongoing projects.
Trustee Cindi Napoli-Abella Reiss spoke to the magnitude of the work ahead.
“We need a new system, we need a new process, we need a new plan, and all of that is so daunting,” Reiss said. “What do you need from us?”
Nelson responded, “an open mind,” as he referred to the updates and changes moving forward into the spring.
“Sometimes, it is better to tear down and rebuild a new facility,” he said.
Districtwide changes in new facilities master plans, conditions assessments, and more organizational adjustments are set to begin in Jan. 2025 to align with Peralta’s investment management goals.
The proposed system will utilize data such as student demographics, enrollment projections, and staff needs. The data will inform which projects are the highest priority for the district to function.
From the Consent Calendar
The consent calendar contains agenda items that the board of trustees approves en masse, instead of approving each item individually.
The board unanimously approved a second amendment to Berkeley City College (BCC)’s grant for the Mathematics, Engineering, Science, Achievements (MESA) Project for an additional $139,393 dollars. This increases the award amount from $280,000 to $419,393 for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year.
A $979,393 MESA grant was ratified for Merritt College, which now introduces the program to all four Peralta colleges.
An apprenticeship initiative at BCC that will register 90 apprentices with the Community Health Workers Apprenticeship Implementation was also approved in the amount of $1.35 million. A $90,000 agreement with Innova Management Services was also approved to manage Laney College’s Career Technical Education outreach events.
Facilities
BCC entered a $392,689.04 agreement with Signet Testing for inspection of the 2118 Milvia Street building.
College of Alameda agreed to a change order for $392,619.42 with Alten Construction for unforeseen conditions during construction of the Auto/Diesel complex project.
Laney entered several agreements for campuswide services:
- $146,100 with Noll & Tam architects for a new Library and Learning Resource Center building and to extend the project completion date by 549 days
- $53,250 to King Construction Inspection, Inc. for inspection services with the Fabrication Workshop (FabLab) Relocation project
- $97,001.59 agreement with W.E. Lyons for the FabLab Relocation
- $200,000 towards Bhogal Brothers Construction Inc. for services and an amendment to extend the project term for both Electrical Lighting and Blue Phone Installation by 230 days
Approved for Merritt was a $86,500 agreement with Knowland Construction Services, Inc. for inspection services of a secondary power substation replacement, and a $941,403 agreement with AE3 Partners, Inc. for architectural services for the Child Development Center modernization project.
The district entered a $54,685 agreement for maintenance services with Got Power, Inc. for generator maintenance services.
A resignation and a retirement
Patricia Otero, Admissions and Records Clerk at Laney, had her resignation approved retroactively, effective Oct. 1, 2024.
Evelyn Lord, Head Librarian at Laney, was approved for retirement effective Dec. 15, 2024.
Districtwide employees get one percent raises
Cost of Living Adjustment, or COLA, wage increases of 1.07% were approved for employees including classified employees, faculty, administrators, and stationary engineers.
The adjustment was made retroactive to July 1.
Action Items: Education Protection Account Funding, Fire Alarm Project, change of insurance
Unlike the consent calendar, each action item is voted on independently.
The following action items were unanimously approved:
- An item to apply for state funding that can only be used for instructional costs.
- An item to designate a single fire alarm system for Laney College, which allows the district “sole source” products.
- An item to change the district’s property and liability insurance from The Alliance of Schools Cooperative Insurance Program to The Statewide Association of Community Colleges.
Memorial for Imogene Brewer
The meeting was adjourned with a moment of silence for Imogene Brewer, who died in October of this year. Brewer was a Laney counselor in the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services from 1997-2014.
