71730: Lake County Center

Scope of Project: To own and develop a permanent site and plan and implement the construction of a new Lake County Center.

Location: Site to be determined in Lake County

Budget: $15,000,000 ($7,400,000 from state matching funds)

Target Completion Date: 2011-12

Point Persons: Superintendent/President Kathy Lehner, Dean of Instruction-Centers Mark Rawitsch, Director of Facilities Planning Mike Adams.

Updates

April 2008 - A large percentage of the required testing, survey, and inspection reports are either completed or in process on the Parallel Drive site in Lakeport. The property owner has indicated that he will respond to Districts' offer once he has received an additional appraisal from the appraiser of his choice. 

February 2008 - The District has been working with legal counsel and a consultant to prepare an offer on the Lakeport property. A contract agreement for environmental testing on the property site has been signed by the property owner.

December 2007 - An updated appraisal has been requested for the Parallel Drive property in Lakeport (not the current leased facility). Discussions with the current owner are continuing.

September 2007 - An appraisal has been received for the Parallel Drive property (not current leased facility) in Lakeport and is currently being reviewed. The Board of Trustees was advised on plans to begin discussions with the property owner of the Parallel Drive site. It is anticipated that the final site will be identified and acquired by year-end.

August 2007 - Placed advertisements in Lake County Record-Bee and Santa Rosa Press Democrat soliciting land.

From www.lakeconews.com
Written by Elizabeth Larson
Sunday, 22 July 2007

LAKEPORT – Mendocino College officials say they're looking at a site in Lakeport as a possible future location of their Lake County center.Mike Adams, Mendocino College's facilities services director, said that the college is very interested in a 31-acre parcel located along Parallel Drive in Lakeport.

The property is part of the 157-acre Parallel Drive annexation that the City of Lakeport proposed to add to its boundaries.

That annexation, however, was turned down last Wednesday by the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO), which ruled that the city's current sewer issues prevented it from being able to provide services to the annexation area.

Richard Knoll, Lakeport's Community Development director, said the city thinks the site would be an “appropriate location” for the college's Lake Center, which has for many years been based in Lakeport.

“We think the campus ought to be located here,” said Knoll, adding that it's a central location for the college and there aren't many good sites available for the facility.

Knoll added that the city is concerned that the LAFCO decision may impact the college site project.

Supervisor and LAFCO Commissioner Ed Robey, however, said he didn't think it was an issue that the property remains in county jurisdiction. He said the college could work with the county on the project just as it would have worked with the city.

The site that the college is considering is owned by Thomas Adamson, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based developer who is proposing to build a 130-lot subdivision on the site, according to LAFCO documents.

County assessor records show that Adamson acquired the property in May 2005. No purchase amount was listed, but the property assessment valued the land at $1.5 million.

In a July 9 letter obtained by Lake County News, Mendocino College Superintendent/President Kathryn Lehner wrote to Adamson to express the college's interest in purchasing the property.

“Our meetings with you and your representatives have helped us understand your development interests and the potential mutual benefits that may arise if the District is able to acquire the parcel in order to construct the new college center on the site,” Lehner wrote.

“We anticipate presenting a formal offer for the property in the near future,” she added.

Adamson did not return calls placed by Lake County News to his Arizona office.

Adams said the college is now securing an appraisal on the property, which they must do because the property would be purchased with public money.

The funds to purchase the property would come from Measure W, the $67.5 million construction bond measure voters approved last November to help the college build new facilities and renovate existing ones.

One of the stated intents of Measure W is to provide funding to purchase property and develop a new college Lake Center, which for many years has been located in rented facilities along Parallel Drive.

Measure W's project budget allocates a total of $15 million for property, design and construction of the site, but doesn't specify how much would be used just for land acquisition.

Adams said he has no idea how much the college might offer for the property.

The college is at a “very early stage” when it comes to discussions for the property, Adams cautioned, adding that no decision about the land had yet been made.

“It's not the only parcel we're looking at, but it's a prime spot,” he said.

A main concern is infrastructure, said Adams, which includes sewer and water service. Adams, who attended the July 18 LAFCO meeting, said annexation isn't the only way to get those services.

Staying at a Lakeport location would put the center in the middle of the Mendocino's Lake County service area, which extends down past Kelseyville to Jago Bay on one side of the lake, and as far south as Lucerne on the other, according to Adams.

The location along Parallel Drive also would give the college good visibility, Adams said. Its flat terrain and access off the highway also are pluses, he added.

“This would be great if we could figure it out,” Adams said.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at elarson@lakeconews.com.

Created: July 20, 2007 @ 07:30 PM
Last Modified: April 28, 2008 @ 12:06 PM