THE DESERT’S BUSINESS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS WEEKLY
TUESday, ocTobEr 13, 2009
VOLUME 33 — EDITION #41
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
$1.50 — PER SINGLE ISSUE
S E r v I n g a l l o f T H E d E S E rT c I T I E S a n d U n I n c o r p o r aT E d a r E a S o f r I v E r S I d E c o U n T y I n T H E c o a c H E l l a va l l E y
Great beginning
for the USGBC
College of the Desert climbs the
branch in the
ladder of tough economic times
Coachella Valley
BYCAROLYNS. HOFFMAN
BYKATHYGOTTBERG
P
icture this scenario. College of the
Desert (COD) is experiencing rising
enrollment, an average of 10 percent
The launch of the Coachella Valley over the last 2 years. Academic departments
Branch of the United States Green Building are flourishing and developing courses
Council (USGBC) was held on October 8 at for the 21st century student. Innovative
the UCR-Palm Desert Campus. A crowd of programs are popping up to challenge the
more than 120 people gathered to learn diversified student population in the
more about the USGBC Chapter, meet the greater Coachella Valley. Teachers are
local Chapter Steering Committee and be eager to teach and students are poised to
inspired to live and build more green. By all learn. State of the art facilities are being
appearances, it was a very successful launch erected. Sound like a perfect picture?
of what promises to be an active and vital There is one important ingredient sorely
addition to the Coachella Valley building missing; that of enough money to hire
and green communities. teachers to meet the enrollment growth
Following a time to meet and mingle, and and keep all of the classes alive for its
a reception with food provided by Scott exuberant students.
Robertson of New Leaf Catering in The California legislature cut $1 billion
The Peggy and Donald Cravens Student Services Center is under construction at COD and should be
Cathedral City, the program began with CV from the state’s community colleges, ready for occupancy late next spring. It will serve as a “one-stop shop” for students where they can
Branch Chairperson Vincent Battaglia. including $4 million from College of the
apply for admission, register for classes, buy textbooks, and receive counseling. The facility was paid
for by Measure B, a $346.5 million bond issue approved by voters in 2004.
Battaglia introduced Bonnie Montoya-May Desert. “It is fully expected that mid-year Photo courtesy of College of the Desert
who is the outgoing Chairperson for the cuts in 2010, will continue to impact
USGBC-Inland Empire (IE) Chapter, of COD’s financial challenges,” said COD though enrollment continues to increase, present fee is $26 per credit. Full-time
which the Coachella Valley Branch is a part. Public Relations Director Tom Wixon. a dramatic cut in funding has compelled us students may take at least 15 credits at a
Montoya-May, in turn, introduced the Analysts are predicting that the state’s to leave a smaller footprint,” said Wixon. cost of $390. Nearly three quarters of the
incoming Chapter Chairperson, Rick current fiscal year could end with a $14.8 College of the Desert services 12,213 community college’s funding comes from
Fochtman. Each expressed congratulations billion deficit, which could rise to more students who enroll at the main campus, the state General Fund and local property
for a great turnout and explained that the than $40 billion by the end of 2009-2010 Eastern Valley Center in Indio and at their taxes. Other revenues include student
USGBC-IE is one of the fastest growing if state leaders do not revise expenditure East Valley campus. The campuses fees, federal funds, state lottery funds and
chapters in the country with over 250 and revenue plans. The financial woes will encompass more than 160 acres on the main miscellaneous other funds.
members and 106 LEED projects. LEED continue for another three to five years. campus in Palm Desert and an additional Most of the revenues that community
(Leadership in Energy & Environmental “Education used to be the golden child of 96 acres at the East Valley Campus located colleges receive from the state General
Design) and is a rating system developed the state of California,” Wixon explained. on Buchanan Street at the Mecca-Thermal Fund and local property taxes are counted
by USGBC. In Riverside County alone, “The State of California set the gold border. Additional satellite campuses toward the Proposition 98 minimum
there are approximately 90 LEED projects standard for education across the country. conduct classes at Palm Springs High funding guarantee which was established
currently in the works, and more than 30 of This financial blow is the biggest that School and at the Eastern Valley Center in the state constitution by voters in 1988.
those are in our desert community. COD has experienced in quite some located in Indio. It is important to note that growth in
Battaglia then introduced the local time.” He points out that 50 classes were “Community Colleges are no strangers community college attendance does not
USGBC Steering Committee and their cut this fall semester and plans call for to doing more with less,” said Wixon. affect the state’s funding obligation, a
respective areas of focus. Committee cuting an additional 150 classes in the There are no tuition costs for California double-edged sword to the growing COD.
members are: Heidi Holmes, Co-Chair of spring. It is expected that most summer residents to attend community colleges. When community college districts have
classes also will be cancelled. “Even Fees are set by the state legislature. The
Continued on page 20… Continued on page 18…
In THIS ISSUE
DEPARTMENTS FEATURES/NEWS
Business News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 The Wealth Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Business Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Fox & Hounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Public Sector News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Buy Solar in a Group & Save . . . . . . . . .11
CV People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
TPR MarketPlace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
PUBLIC NOTICES . . . . . .20 Private Equity Fund Myths . . . . . . . . . . .15
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