PSTI Board of Directors Vote

The PSTI Board of Directors met on February 11, 2010, to discuss and vote on a proposal to move forward with the EVOC Project at NTC Camp Nimitz.  The Board, consisting of Chancellor Constance Carroll, PhD, San Diego Community College District; Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Ray Fernandez, County of San Diego; and Chief Operating Officer Jay Goldstone, City of San Diego attended the meeting along with executive staff from each of their respective JPA entities.

The Action Items were:

1. Authorize staff to begin negotiations of an operating agreement whereby the SDCCD funds capital costs of the project offset by parking lease revenue in Phase I in exchange for the City and County of San Diego providing EVOC staffing, operations and maintenance funding for the term of the agreement.
2. Authorize staff to proceed with issuing a RFP and negotiate a potential lease with a parking concessionaire on a month to month basis until EVOC is completed.

In discussion, the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD) agreed in concept to provide bond funding to support the capital outlay needed for the EVOC Project, a major investment. SDCCD funding will also support moving the college's Fire Science and EMT Program from NTC to a new, off site facility to make room for Phase II of EVOC.  In addition, the college district intends to upgrade facility support and operations at the Miramar College campus.  This multi-prong approach will ultimately improve three facilities and offer modern, comfortable training venues for hundreds of students every semester.

The County and City of San Diego discussed and agreed in concept to provide funding for operations and maintenance (O&M) of the new EVOC Facility as well as continue to provide training personnel to support ongoing basic and advanced law enforcement training at this site.  All entities were concerned that the projected O&M costs of up to $72,000 per year might accelerate to an unreasonable expense in time.  It was pointed out that EVOC will house a smaller administrative support building with most of the site consisting of open asphalt and concrete roadway.  Staff believes actual O&M costs should be less, offset by revenue income generated via the operation of the EVOC Facility.

Votes were cast for Action Items 1 and 2 and both passed unanimously! In addition, a vote was cast to reinstate annual Board Meetings during October of each year with the caveat that additional meetings may be called on an "as needed" basis.  This passed unanimously as well.

Now, the JPA Workgroup must meet to discuss and prepare the necessary documents and agreements to satisfy the needs of all parties.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention the key members of this workgroup who have come together to help push this project forward:

SAN DIEGO COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
Dave Umstot, Vice Chancellor
George Beitey, Dean of Public Safety
Richard Burkhardt, Construction Manager, Facilities Management
Scott Ellis, Campus Project Manager

SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
Marta Williams, Program Manager, Facilities Management
John Leas, Lieutenant, Training Division
John Trent, Sergeant, Volunteer Services
Paul Becotte, Sergeant, Training Division

SAN DIEGO FIRE RESCUE DEPARTMENT
Ken Barnes, Battalion Chief, Training Division

SAN DIEGO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Brian Sampson, Director, Support Services
Mark Elvin, Captain
Dave Moss, Lieutenant

INTERACT BUSINESS GROUP
Bill Booth, President and CEO

PLAN WEST INC.
Bill Howard, President

Now the hard work begins...