FEBRUARY 25, 2010
Minutes
Attendees: Titus Butcher, Chair ASGRCC Finance Committee
Frank Niu, Senator ASGRCC Finance Committee
Anteii Brim, Senator ASGRCC Finance Committee (Ex-officio)
Aera Shin, Senator ASGRCC Finance Committee
Titus called the meeting to order at 6:15 with introductions.
Titus asked if anyone had any requests or ideas to get started with. Fred said he has heard that they are hoping to build a smoking shelter. Titus said the Finance Committee has discussed this with Sam Ball because there is about $48,000 remaining in the budget. He said they have talked about the possibility of helping purchase a new bus and/or a smoking shelter. Fred said that he is on the Safety Committee and has some concerns about building a smoking shelter. The Master Plan is one of those concerns as well as enforcement of smoking policies and there is discussion on becoming a non-smoking campus. Titus said Sam Ball said it could be possible to get a shelter built next year. Fred said that because it would be part of the 10 year master plan it will have to be approved by administration. He added that other campuses have changed to non-smoking and it is being considered here. Titus asked how it is enforced. Fred said he does not have enough funding for enforcement and said that it could become a student conduct issue. He said we currently follow the RCW's and there are no sanctions for people in violation. Titus asked Fred about the shuttle buses. Fred said that campus parking is inadequate and with the numbers of students that are using the shuttles they cannot keep up with the demand during peak hours. He would like to purchase two larger shuttles that will be able to carry more students to help the situation. He does not know firm amounts yet but the shuttles have an impact on all students because even if they don't ride it there is still less traffic congestion around the college and it frees up parking that would otherwise be full. Titus asked how much the new shuttles will cost. Fred said it will be about $230,000 – 250,000 for two shuttles. Titus asked where he will get the money. Fred said they do have a fund balance and will try to find other sources. Titus asked if the transportation budget comes from the general fund. Fred said it comes from the facilities fee that students pay. Titus said he will need firm figures before March 2 because that is when the budget will be set. Fred said he had been considering asking for the Blue Book value of the shuttle to cover what he could get from a trade in. Titus asked if Fred would be the one to set the policy for use of the shuttle. Fred said he would not set it, he would ask for input from the groups using it and students.
Deb asked if the committee would consider a request to fund the One Book program for about $5,000. April will not fund the program next year. The books that are purchased go to students. She added that one of the suggestions for the situation with The Current was to have a One Book selection that would address the issue. Titus asked where the money has been coming from. Deb said the first year was a onetime grant and last year April paid for it. Titus asked if she would like a yearly budget or supplemental. Deb said a yearly budget would be great but with the knowledge that budgets will likely decrease it might be better to keep it in the supplemental budget for now. Titus asked what the One Book program is. Deb explained that a book is selected and is widely used across campus in classes and for staff as well and it is a topic of discussion campus wide. This year the book was Three Cups of Tea and there was also an A&S event with the author of the book. Aera asked if students can keep the books. Deb said some return them and most keep them. Dani said everyone can participate even if they aren't in a class that is reading it. Anteii asked how students get the book. Dani said she thinks it is through the Library and students learn about it from posters, the web and just the buzz around campus. Frank asked when this started. Deb said we have done this for two years, many campuses participate in this and have all incoming freshmen read the book. Anton said that he had to buy the book as part of one class. Deb said that the President's Commission on Diversity read the book, last year she purchased books for her staff to read. Frank asked if there has been any feedback from students. Dani said she hasn't heard a lot except through the A&S program this year. Anteii asked if she thinks most students are getting it through classes. Dani said she can't answer that. Nicole Swapp said she heard about it in an anthropology class as recommended reading but there was no mention of it for an English class. Brandon asked what would happen to the money if it isn't used. Titus said they will decide what to do with the money on Tuesday and will balance the budget then. Unspent money goes into a reserve fund which will eventually be used for the new building. Debbie asked when the money rolls over. Susan said June 30th. Brandon suggested using left over money for A&S to bring in bigger name speakers/performers. Aera asked about giving it to clubs. Brandon replied that of course clubs would love it but he thinks the better use would be for A&S. Nicole asked if they can make suggestions at the next meeting. Titus said that at the next meeting they will discuss the budget and then set it at the end of the meeting. Deb asked that the supplemental request for Student Services be changed to Student Services and Retention to make sure it goes to current students. Fred said that the shuttles can also be used for marketing, he would like to install DVD players that could play promotional pieces and other campus advertisements. He suggested that it could be a class gift.
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