Spring 10 | Fall 09 | Spring 09 | Fall 08 | Spring 08 | Fall 07 | Spring 07 | Fall 06 | Spring 06 | Fall 05 | Spring 05 | Fall 04 Title A Bill in Support of Rochdale Village Number 110 Week Bill Entered Committee November 4, 2009 Author BSC Affairs Officer Allie Taylor Sponsor Senators Ms. Oatfield, Ms. Nava, Mr. Gaurano, Mr. Franco, Mr. Shami, Mr. Stern, Ms. Kwon, Ms. Tang, Ms. Boone, Ms. Saephan, Ms. Carlton, Ms. Kim, Mr. Bhatt, Ms. Cohen, Mr. Lee, Mr. Patel, and Mr. Deleon: Semester Fall 09 Committee University and External Affairs Status in Committee Passed with Amendments Status in Senate Passed with Amendments Original Text WHEREAS, the mission of the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC) is to provide high quality, low-cost cooperative housing, thus ensuring educational opportunities for students who otherwise may not be able to afford a university education. The BSC is an association of 17 houses and 3 apartment complexes that all operate democratically and foster student leadership. WHEREAS, Rochdale Village is in-line with the mission of the BSC with rent as low as $1,788 per member per semester. Rochdale Village is home to 259 UC Berkeley students, 200 of which are members of the Educational Opportunity Program for students from low-income families and students who are the first in their family to go to college. Furthermore, Rochdale Village is the most affordable housing option near UC Berkeley for disabled students on Supplemental Security Income (SSI). WHEREAS, Rochdale fosters leadership in students by allowing them to participate in the management of their own apartment and the board of directors of the BSC through democratic elections. WHEREAS, Rochdale enhances the student experience by providing a space for student organizations to meet and hold events. WHEREAS, In 2007, The BSC borrowed $20 million to seismically retrofit its student housing properties as the University had provided the BSC with a statement of intent to renew the ground lease on its current terms of one dollar/year if the organization did so. WHEREAS, upon paying off the $2 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) loan, which was used to fund the construction of Rochdale Village, the ground lease between the UC regents and the BSC will end (Spring 2010). The land and all of its improvements will then revert to the University unless the ground lease is extended. WHEREAS, The BSC cannot afford more than $1/year for the ground lease without passing along the cost to its members. WHEREAS, affordable student housing is especially crucial at a time when University of California students are facing a possible rise in tuition of 32%. Now more than ever an affordable living environment is crucial to students from low-income families, who make up most of the membership of Rochdale Village. WHEREAS, safe, sustainable, democratically run, affordable housing should not be sacrificed because of short-term financial needs. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the ASUC endorse the Save Rochdale; Save our Home campaign and calls for the extension of the $1/year ground lease to be upheld after the HUD loan has been paid, in-line with the University's statement of intent provided in 2007. LET IT BE FINALLY RESOLVED, that the ASUC President write letters to: • Bob Hatheway, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Real Estate Services • Cathy Koshland, Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching, Learning, Academic Planning and Facilities • Nathan Brostrom, Vice Chancellor of Administration • Harry Le Grande, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs • Robert Birgeneau, Chancellor to announce the passage of this bill and request that they support renewing the ground lease for Rochdale Village on its current terms, at $1/year, until 2040 or later. Committee Text WHEREAS, the mission of the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC) is to provide high quality, low-cost cooperative housing, thus ensuring educational opportunities for students who otherwise may not be able to afford a University education. The BSC is an association of 17 houses and 3 apartment complexes that all operate democratically and foster student leadership; and WHEREAS, Rochdale Village is in-line with the mission of the BSC with rent as low as $1,788 per member per semester. Rochdale Village is home to 259 UC Berkeley students, 200 of which are members of the Educational Opportunity Program for students from low-income families and students who are the first in their family to go to college. Furthermore, Rochdale Village is the most affordable housing option near UC Berkeley for disabled students on Supple¬mental Security Income (SSI); and WHEREAS, Rochdale fosters leadership in students by allowing them to participate in the management of their own apartments and the Board of Directors of the BSC through democratic elections; and WHEREAS, Rochdale enhances the student experience by providing a space for student organizations to meet and hold events; and WHEREAS, in 2007, the BSC borrowed $20 million to seismically retrofit its student housing properties as the University had provided the BSC with a statement of intent to renew the ground lease on its current terms of one dollar/year if the organization did so. WHEREAS, upon paying off the $2 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) loan, which was used to fund the construction of Rochdale Village, the ground lease between the UC regents and the BSC will end (spring 2010). The land and all of its improvements will then revert to the University unless the ground lease is extended; and WHEREAS, the BSC cannot afford more than $1/year for the ground lease without passing along the cost to its members; and WHEREAS, affordable student housing is especially crucial at a time when University of California stu¬dents are facing a possible rise in tuition of 32%. Now more than ever an affordable living environment is crucial to students from low-income families, who make up most of the membership of Rochdale Village; and WHEREAS, safe, sustainable, democratically run, affordable housing should not be sacrificed because of short-term financial needs; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the ASUC endorse the Save Rochdale; Save Our Home cam¬paign, and calls for the extension of the $1/year ground lease to be upheld after the HUD loan has been paid, in-line with the University's statement of intent provided in 2007. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ASUC President writes letters to: Bob Hatheway, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Real Estate Services Cathy Koshland, Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching, Learning, Academic Planning and Facilities Nathan Brostrom, Vice Chancellor of Administration Harry Le Grande, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Robert Birgeneau, Chancellor Kevin Hufford, Contractor for UC Real Estate Walter Robinson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions LeNorman Strong, Associate Vice Chancellor for RSSP to announce the passage of this bill and request that they support renewing the ground lease for Rochdale Village on its current terms, at $1/year, until 2040 or later. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the ASUC President copy these letters to: Jan Stokley, Executive Director for the Berkeley Student Cooperative Final Text WHEREAS, the mission of the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC) is to provide high quality, low-cost cooperative housing, thus ensuring educational opportunities for students who otherwise may not be able to afford a University education. The BSC is an association of 17 houses and 3 apartment complexes that all operate democratically and foster student leadership; and WHEREAS, Rochdale Village is in-line with the mission of the BSC with rent as low as $1,788 per member per semester. Rochdale Village is home to 259 UC Berkeley students, 200 of which are members of the Educational Opportunity Program for students from low-income families and students who are the first in their family to go to college. Furthermore, Rochdale Village is the most affordable housing option near UC Berkeley for disabled students on Supple¬mental Security Income (SSI); and WHEREAS, Rochdale fosters leadership in students by allowing them to participate in the management of their own apartments and the Board of Directors of the BSC through democratic elections; and WHEREAS, Rochdale enhances the student experience by providing a space for student organizations to meet and hold events; and WHEREAS, in 2007, the BSC borrowed $20 million to seismically retrofit its student housing properties as the University had provided the BSC with a statement of intent to renew the ground lease on its current terms of one dollar/year if the organization did so. WHEREAS, upon paying off the $2 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) loan, which was used to fund the construction of Rochdale Village, the ground lease between the UC regents and the BSC will end (spring 2010). The land and all of its improvements will then revert to the University unless the ground lease is extended; and WHEREAS, the BSC cannot afford more than $1/year for the ground lease without passing along the cost to its members; and WHEREAS, affordable student housing is especially crucial at a time when University of California stu¬dents are facing a possible rise in tuition of 32%. Now more than ever an affordable living environment is crucial to students from low-income families, who make up most of the membership of Rochdale Village; and WHEREAS, safe, sustainable, democratically run, affordable housing should not be sacrificed because of short-term financial needs; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the ASUC endorse the Save Rochdale; Save Our Home cam¬paign, and calls for the extension of the $1/year ground lease to be upheld after the HUD loan has been paid, in-line with the University's statement of intent provided in 2007. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the ASUC President writes letters to: Bob Hatheway, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Real Estate Services Cathy Koshland, Associate Vice Chancellor of Teaching, Learning, Academic Planning and Facilities Nathan Brostrom, Vice Chancellor of Administration Harry Le Grande, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Robert Birgeneau, Chancellor Kevin Hufford, Contractor for UC Real Estate Walter Robinson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions LeNorman Strong, Associate Vice Chancellor for RSSP to announce the passage of this bill and request that they support renewing the ground lease for Rochdale Village on its current terms, at $1/year, until 2040 or later. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the ASUC President copy these letters to: Jan Stokley, Executive Director for the Berkeley Student Cooperative