External Affairs Commission Agenda

External Affairs Commission

Garrison Room, UC Davis Memorial Union

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Associated Students, University of California, Davis

Page 1 of 9

External Affairs Commission

Call to Order
Time: 5:10 p.m.
Quorum Roll Call
Arce – Present
Hayflich- Present
Kirshner- Present
Lee – Late- 5:21
Lo- Absent
Ozedirne - Present
Percoco - Present
Repicky- Present
Meimin- Absent
Stein- Present
Pascaul- Present
Ex-officio/public
Kelsey McQuaid
Jack Zwald
Chris Dietrich
Approval of Past Meeting Minutes
Motion: Pascaul
Second: Arce
No objections
Seating of New Members
Reports
Ozedirne: Submit
Arce: I’ve been trying to bet in contact with Sodexho but its not happening. The second issue is that there’s already this list of campus and off campus places that take aggie cash. So my question is what direction do you guys want to take this?
Pascaul: I have been looking through some city ordinances.
Repicky: I told lot of people about DNNO, but I wasn’t able to attend.
Stein: Pannehlinc was receptive about bottle and can donation thing but we just have to tell them which event or contact the houses.
Lee: I got in contact with measure p campaign. Kelsey was on EAC. She offered to come to discuss the measure.
Hayflich: I started to get in contact with 3 main organizations for SHAWC. I stayed away from HEP because Andre said you’d already talked to them. I went to one DNNO. I went to the one on Russell. The vice chancellor to the students was there.
Kirshner: I went to a couple DNNO things. I went to a couple on Russell. I went through safe boats binder and I made a list of contact for funds and donations. Kind of some crude list of all the things that we’d need and suggestions and new ideas. I’m just waiting to hear more about if we’re actually doing it.
Percoco: I talked to EPPC chair about measure p. I went to city council meeting. I found the banner. I want to DNNO at the Colleges. Everyone got the e-mail about the tabling times right? Dominique dropped the commission for those of you who don’t know. Tomorrow at tabling we’re going to pass out resource manuals that ASUCD made. I’ll make sing up sheets.
Public Announcements.
Dietrich: there’s an ASUCD event tomorrow. It’s an ASUCD parliamentary procedure workshop. It’s from 5-6:30 in Me Room. I’m a guest speaker to explain how it works.
Kirshner: motion to move back into orders of the day
Hayflich: second
Lee: I’m going to be running with lead in fall elections. These are my platform issues. I’ve been working with Shawdee and Erin Lebe.
Percoco: Camp Kessem information night.
Public Discussion
Appointments
Consideration of Legislation
Repicky: Motion to see senate res #3
Pascaul: Second
Authors Comments:
Dietrich: Opposing proposed 32% fee increase. Part of this fee increase is a mid-year fee increase. Students are being blind sided by it. This will be the first time UCD fees are above $10,000. Also talks about executive compensations over the years. We see this as a disturbing trend and want to confront that.
Zwald: Students are paying more, receiving fewer services while higher administrators are getting paid more. We need to stand for quality education for a low price with reasonably paid administration.
Questions in text
Public Discussion
Zwald: I think this resolution is a good idea. I recommend a speedy passage.
Stein: I’m just kind of confused as to why it came to EAC.
Dietrich: We see it as an external issue.
Percoco: Do you have other plans?
Dietrich: we will be sending this out. We’ll be sending this out to newspapers to get more coverage. We’re going to send people to the regents meeting. Talk with university affairs. Do some letter writing.
Zwald: I’m planning a campaign for this. We’ve been discussing a souped-up Lobby Month for the state budget.
Arce: What I heard is that there going to increase half of it next quarter and the other half next fall for a total of 32%.
Dietrich: That’s on line 32.
Arce: When is the Regent's meeting in November?
Dietrich: The regents meeting I believe is November 15-17. It’s the eight-week of our quarter. There are some campus activities or protests that are being planned system wide.
Kirshner: I had a question on how you chose the specific senators and assembly people to send it to.
Dietrich: We are mainly sending it out to our local reps and supporters.
Repicky: You were saying there were some other papers you wanted to send out.
Dietrich: those were added last night. It’s not in yet. Basically every major newspaper
Arce: I have a suggestion for an amendment. Line 29, “strongly urges” instead of “urges.” I think this is a good idea if it goes beyond just the res. Motion to amend line 29 from “urges” to “strongly urges,”
Haylfich: Second.
Percoco: Any objections. Seeing none, its amended.
Arce: Motion to move to commission discussion.
Lee: Second.
Lee: I might have missed this, but has ACUD tried to make a concerted message with other UCs.
Zwald: We’re not part of Cal Student Association.
Dietrich: But we do talk to other schools. We def do partner with them and on this issue. We’re going to work any way we can. We’re still waiting to see what their plan is.
Repicky: this is a good first step, but I would want it to do something past that. Have action after that.
Stein: so what’s the ultimate goal on this?
Dietrich: It’s hard to say where things will go with this. I think its something we’ll have to see. I think we just have to be out there and try for what we can get.
Zwald: Personally I would like to see no new fees but as close as we can get to that is a victory.
Stein: Is there an alternative. Like if they see we’ll do 32% this year and a decrease in later years.
Dietrich: It's hard to say. These fees are sort of looked at as temporary…but I think that’s not the plan we’re going to be in for a long time.
Arce: I guess kind of going off of that. Do you guys think it would be a good idea to say we don’t like the idea of student fees rising because of this? You touched on the administration and say let alone a 32% increase. What if it just goes down to 31%?
Dietrich: I think maybe it’s not a good idea to tie it down to concrete terms. I think we should keep it as we’re opposed to the 32% fee increase. We do touch on it… there are a multitude of issues that...with fee increase.
Zwald: I think they can tell we don’t support fee increases. Especially line 13 and 14 hit home.
Repicky: what about adding something in terms of “we won’t accept this…” I sort of see it, but
Zwald: I don’t see how we cannot accept it. We can fight it but at the end of the day we don’t have the power.
Repicky: Can we say that in a way…we’ll continue to do this?
Dietrich: Our advocacy doesn’t die with this. This is the framework.
Stein: Do you know the percent of fee increase for Cal states? Do you know if its similar.
Zwald: It’s pretty hefty.
D: In terms of cuts they’ve faired worse than UC. They’re in a worst situation than we are, but we’re all in a bad state…but our education can’t keep happening like this.
Stein: can we send it to them (CSU)?
Dietrich: we can look it up by Thursday.
Arce: Motion to call senate res #3 to question.
Lee: Second.
Percoco: Are there any objections to passing senate res #3. Seeing no objections, it passes.
Other Business
Public Discussion
Percoco: I talked to EPPC about Measure P and I think they’re down with it. But here’s my personal deal with Measure P. last year. A lot of people feel its an individual choice and ASUCD shouldn’t’ have an opinion. I kind of agree with hat personally. I like Measure P and I like what it says but I don’t know if it’s our jurisdiction. If a couple of you want to write it you can get a senator to introduce it or commission as a whole to introduce it.
Arce: What the problem with approving it through EAC?
Percoco: It’s just putting your view on to the community.
Arce: I think that’s the point of a resolution, so I would say go for it as being external affairs.
Lee: I see what you’re saying. I till think that it’s a community issue and I think it does relate to students in the sense that it’s a housing development in the city. Some of the students might even be living in the housing development. Shawdee said she’d tentatively introduce it. I think he best course of action is to hear Kelsey and hear what she has to say. It’s projected to be a rough vote.
Kirshner: I really see what you’re getting with that and I want to make sure we’re not compelled by our personal opinions. It is true that there is a line and we don’t want to get into politics. And I know that senators are elected to represent student body but I think we should put more thought into it.
Repicky: I agree. I think we should put a lot of though to it. Its politics but its also a good thing other than just politically.
Lee: Did you talk to Pria about the issue that we’re talking about right now? Is she aware of the arguments that it’s not our jurisdiction?
Repicky: Do you have the number
McQuaid: I know that Andre handed out a little bit of the literature last week. This is some of our new stuff. Basically the project is a development of 191 units. It will be under city rent control. 78 town homes and 73 single family homes. The project has been deemed deficit neutral so it won’t affect either way in terms of money. It’s a really green project. The develop company wants it to be the token of green building in state. They’re not making much profit. All the units will have solar on them. I can go on but I think it would be better if you ask questions. We also received endorsement form sierra club. I’ve talked with campaign and if you guys want to write this bill they will love it. They want to make sure its student run. If you guys are cool with this we’d really appreciate it. In terms of being able to speak on ballot issues. This is actually a city of Davis election and the opposition likes to say that students don’t live in Davis. They’re really challenging the validity of the student vote. If you have questions that would be a better time spent.
Arce: Ownerships and rental?
McQuaid: Apartments are rental. Town homes are ownership. So that’s to Davis teachers.
Arce: Because my question is who are they targeting.
McQuaid: they’re trying to target people who work downtown and at Davis. They’re aim is to get people who currently live in Dixon, woodland, and west sac to live in Davis where they work. It’s aimed at a larger crowd the students can qualify for rent=controlled apartment.
Arce: My second question. Is this west village?
McQuaid: west village is through university. It’s only available to students and faculty.
Arce: Wouldn’t you argue that this is more for Davis population?
McQuaid: west village will not be annexed by city yet. It’s kind of a different audience and it’s within city of Davis.
Arce: Then why would you want EAC to continue?
McQuaid: They really want students involved in this. They really want students involvement on this. Currently all the students that are working on the campaign are taking flack for working on it.
Arce: I’m all for develop. What do you way to people that say it’s too much?
McQuaid: 2,0000 homes are just geared toward the university (in west village). I also tell people this is 191 units. It would bring 300-400 people into city. It will be built by 2012 and will be able to assimilate into town w/o too much impact.
Pascaul: I have reservation about making resolution. A resolution is there to represent the entire student body…
Lee: I think the senators are going to vote the way they see fit. I don’t’ think that having the whole student body registered to vote in city of Davis is necessary qualification.
Repicky: As a member of the student body I would still be ok with hypothetical resolution.
McQuaid: Tercero and Segundo are annexed by city of Davis. Cuarto is annexed by city so they can’t vote in city.
Kirshner: What I would want clarified is you were mentioning they really want student involvement. It seems more like a city issue...they want student involvement for votes.
McQuaid: I graduate in 21012 and I’d like to live in Davis. It’s applicable to students because if they’re in grad school or want to stay in cit, they can. This is an opportunity for us down the line...they just want to make sure that if students have an opinion it gets heard.
Lee: Do you know that the median price range for house in Davis 600,00-700,000?
McQuaid: The town homes tart at 35,000 but majority will be about 400,000.
Lee: you said it was going to be deficit neutral, but a lot of stuff says its not.
McQuaid: City says it was deficit free.
Lee: In addition to what Kelsey was saying, also a few years ago our own chair pushed through principles of community. What that says is that you cant’s separate city from the university and I think it’s totally valid if we make this statement. It seems like a smart develop. A lot of the arguments don’t seem to hold too well. The campaign also feels this jurisdiction issue that’s whey we’re trying to make it our own initiative. Having said that, can I just get a sense of how you guys feel? Informally.
Ozedirne: How much is the rent going to be for the apartments?
McQuaid: Apartments under city of Davis rent control. It’s up to the city what they cost. But at least 90%.
Repicky: I feel like this is a smart development plan and its good for environ. But I think its something we can do to help in the future. So I would be leaning toward saying that we as the commission support this and I don’t think it would be a bad idea. Is there a no campaign?
McQuaid: Sue Greenwald, Phil king, basically it’s a lot of people who have been big on past housing projects.
Reo: Why are they opposed?
McQuaid: They’re no growthers. All of those people I guarantee you voted against the Target and past projects. It doesn’t matter for them.
Percoco: Have you talked to the Grad School Association because I feel like they’re age group is more likely to live hear.
McQuaid: We...didn’t seek out student groups. I don’t know if the campaign formally wants to ask them.
Percoco: I personally don’t see how it affects the students.
Arce: kind of going off of that, I agree if this is an issue about students I don’t know how you could go about doing that…development is going to happen but the question is whether EAC is in that political pool to make the statement. Andre brought up the Principles of Community. Honestly I think we can make a res but it has to be very well thought out. It’s got to be in a way that we leave it open for everyone to be happy.
Percoco: another thing is that senate has been seeing a lot of res…if you don’t make how its going to effect student…I don’t really see them going for it.
McQuaid: if you guys want to endorse the project as a commission we can help you with that. Whatever you guys want to do its up to you, but myself and the campaign can help you with the facts.
Lee: what I want to see is an ASUCD measure saying we support the res. I think we can do that. I think that the fact that we’re not separate form the community…when deciding whether or not ASUCD supports a resolution, this stands for things that ASUCD supports. I think not only is it relevant and within our jurisdiction...I would strongly recommend that we push for a res. I think the best thing to do right now is to see if we want to push for it or if we want to drop it.
Repicky: Motion to take a vote.
Percoco: Any objections. I object.
Hayflich: object
Kirshner: object
Ozedirne: object
Arce: Yes
Hayflich: No
Krishner: No
Lee: Yes
Ozedirne: No
Repicky: Yes
Pascaul: No
Repicky: I’m voting yes for resolution but not to vote for resolution.
Percoco: I’m going to say yes and we should write it.
Lee: My intent for this whole thing was just to se if we had enthusiasm to support it. I think our vote can be used as a measure of if it’s our jurisdiction or not. What this is saying to me is that it’s on the line of whether it’s in our jurisdiction. I want to see where epic stands on this. I just really wanted to take the temp with you guys.
Percpco: Of you put Principles of Community. In there you’d automatically get a couple senators.
Lee: I want to talk to senators so we don’t waste our time.
Per: I think it would be a struggle if we took it to senate.
Safe Boats
Percoco: I brought it up during senate meeting. They’re thinking of a committee for next year, but it would be us finding people to put on it. Are you guys more in favor of finding people doing it or just doing it we.
Lee: I think it’s unnecessary. You’re adding another layer in delegating the work.
Repicky: I would rather have a diff comm. Do it.
Kirshner: I feel like since we’ve broken up tasks I would totally be willing to do a lot of work on this. Erin did the whole thing with a couple interns. I think it could be kept within the commission just cause I don’t know who you would find for the committee.
Percoco: I do think we should do it. It gives us an opportunity to say, “ Hey we did this.” I think its something that we can really have our name stamped on.
Hayflich: I think it’s a really good thing to have and its really imp. I think that it would look really good for our commission.
Lee: I’m down to work on it. I think there’s enough enthusiasm to do it within the committee.
Repicky: I would say maybe get together with a senator or some other org.
Aggie cash
Percoco: I think it might be a good idea to go with the map idea.
Arce: I think it would be nice to know where those are.
Percoco: BY NOV 3rd if there’s no progress, then I thing we should drop the business thing and drop the map thing.
Arce: I would say next week.
Percoco: by next week if you haven’t talked to Sodexho people we’re going to make a map.
Blood drive
Lee: Shawdee says she has the blood drive thing down between her and Justin Gold. She’s going to let us in on it soon.
Percoco: I can talk to Shawdee.
Lee: I think it’s better if you talk to her.
Repicky: I’m interning for Shawdee so I can talk to her too.
Feed the homeless
Percoco: The spots are filled and next is till April.

Any Other Business