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Fee Transparency Project
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November 28th, 2023

Kerr Hall 212

AgendaMinutes

Zoom: https://ucsc.zoom.us/j/91277495102?pwd=QnFmczBTOGlMeXV3akZZcEpzY0h4Zz09

Attendees: Andy, Marshall, Trey, Gabrielle, Lisa, Lucy, Lydia, Mel, Lauren, Tanisha, Diana, Manel, Jhertau

Guests: Angela Cline and Jose Sanchez

  1. Welcome and Introductions
    1. Members introductions: Name, Pronouns, Year, Major, and Space.
      1. Order: Cowell, Crown, Kresge, Merrill, Porter, RCC, C9, JRL, Stevenson, GSA, GSC, SAB, Provost, Jade, Lisa, Lydia, Lucy, Angela, Jose
  2. Approval of Agenda and Minutes (11/14/23)
    1. Gabrielle makes a motion to approve the agenda and minutes. Mel seconds the motion. No objections. Motion carries.
  3. Announcements & Updates
    1. Member announcements
      1. Oakes seat continues to be open. Lucy suggests tabling in early winter quarter.
  4. Bay Tree building renovation by Lucy Rojas, Angela Cline, and Jose Sanchez
    1. Slides
    2. Discussion and Questions
      1. Lucy says the ask of the committee is to approve funding this project out of the Seismic Life Safety Fee and SSF reserves.
      2. This project has been ongoing for several years, including a (failed) referenda measure and seismic analysis of KZSC and Cantu Center.
      3. Bay Tree building was originally completed in 2002, a feasibility study was conducted to determine costs of renovation.
      4. Akirah’s vision to create “living room” of campus.
        1. One stop shop for student services, exciting place to go with accessible points.
        2. Co-location of units.
        3. Integrated model of serving students, hub to come and see many services in proximity.
        4. Want to create central public lounge spaces, space to stop and hang out.
      5. Jensen architects was chosen after a public RFP process. Brightspot was brought in to conduct focus groups, visioning workshops, visit buildings and stakeholders, etc.
      6. Angela shares the budget/finances: architects came up with a total project cost.
        1. In order for a project to be approved, funding needs to be secured before the start.
        2. SFAC had previously approved up to $10 million for improving the Cantu building, by putting Cantu in the Bay Tree costs are reduced.
      7. Asking SFAC to approve the use of two fee reserves: Seismic Life Safety and SSF Reserves.
        1. Students pay $40/quarter into the seismic fee, currently has $3.8 million.
        2. SSF reserves have ~11 million. This pool is replenished based on needs.
      8. Andy asks if using the SSF reserves affects SFAC’s amounts? No, that money comes from the operational side for needs that are permanently budgeted. After this process, funds are set aside just for buildings/capital reserves.
      9. Marshall asks if any other projects are upcoming that would use this reserve? For seismic, the rest would likely be used for KZSC. For SSF, there are no known student building projects that this would be used for.
        1. Other facilities, such as athletics and recreation, have their own referenda to use.
        2. UCSC is engaged in a campus-wide space study.
      10. Manel asks how this impacts the radio station? We are still determining whether an alternate location can be found for KZSC, or to pursue a renovation. Jose’s last report was to look for a new location or make a new building, the renovation would be very expensive. Division-wide and campus-wide space study, hope to find new location in a “shuffle”.
        1. Jose says that KZSC building was built in the early 70s as temporary construction, anticipation of permanent building that never happened. Accessibility on campus is a challenge, location and age is a challenge. Trying to avoid building small buildings.
      11. Jhertau asks what the plan is for the Cantu building? Lucy, Angela, and Lisa say that not much would be done with the SSF or Seismic Life fees.
      12. Andy asks if there’s a buffer amount in these numbers? Angela says that these numbers include the costs provided by Jensen, and there has been a bit of increase based on predicted labor increases, etc. The $25 million does have a buffer, hoping to finalize and not have to come back. Jose says that this $25 million doesn’t cover absolutely everything, but does help the services that need to be there.
      13. Andy says he enjoys the prospect of this kind of a space and interact with others. Tours come through there, and this kind of space shows care and intentionality with services for students.
      14. Lucy says that if SFAC can provide feedback by next week’s meeting it would be great, but early winter quarter also works.
      15. Marshall motions to table this discussion to next week, Jhertau seconds. Motion passes.
      16. Andy motions to extend the meeting to 4:40 pm, Marshall seconds. No objections.
  5. Summer Fee levels by Lisa Bishop
    1. Slides
    2. Discussion and Questions
      1. Every other year, SFAC votes on the rates for summer campus based fees. The slide shows what was charged last year and what the expected 2024 numbers would be. It’s based on percentage (ie. 25, 50%, etc)
      2. Every summer student gets charged the same amount.
      3. Andy asks how many students enroll in summer programs? ~8,000, but tuition is charged based on units.
      4. The only graduate students charged the summer fee are in education programs with mandatory summer courses.
      5. Lisa needs the SFAC’s statement by early Winter quarter.
  6. Fee Audition
    1. Auditing units/fees with large carry-forwards
      1. SFAC Budget Presentation
      2. Student Media Voice Fee (368.5%, $384.3)
      3. Cultural Arts and Diversity Fee (349.9%, $382.8)
      4. Student Media Council Fee (337.7%, $488.0)
      5. Student Governed Spaces Fee (265.2%, $804.2)
      6. College Student Government Fee (155.8%, $976.4)
        1. Porter, 622% carryforward balance
        2. Merrill, 201% carryforward balance
      7. Student Fitness Center Facility Fee (-2.2%, -$15.9)
        1. Lisa’s note: Spend fund without committee review and reserve transfer (outlined in Referendum Measure 65)
        2. Andy’s suggestion: To have SFAC function as the OPERS Student Advisory Committee to provide oversight of the fee and future projects supported by this fee.
  7. Other Business
    1. Meeting Timeline (captures our goals for each meeting and prospective topics for meetings)
    2. Member Notes (any members who will be absent from a meeting may add topics for discussion, questions, feedback for items on the agenda, etc. in this running document).
    3. Starting in March, Lisa would like at least one SFAC member for the Miscellaneous and Course Fee Advisory Committee.
  8. Adjournment
    1. Jhertau motions to adjourn, Gabrielle seconds. No objections, motion passes.

Upcoming Guests/Topics:

  1. SFAC committee photos for the website.