[SJAAboard] My take on Houge

[Rob Hawley]

This soap opera has been running for at least three years.  Consequently,
this is a potential future problem not a today problem. I do not expect any
changes until at least CY 2009 and possibly not until the end of FY 2009
(June 09). We will be looking at the 2009 calendar at the May meeting.  I
want to get the city to commit to our use until June 09.



My comments are based on my interpretation of the material I have read from
the city and what I heard at the meeting I attended last year.  

The original 2006 proposal was to preserve all of the buildings built by the
Measure P and abandon many of the buildings that existed at the time of the
measure.  The council recognized that such a decision would affect enough
groups to assure the defeat of any future facilities bond of any kind.

The 2008 proposal affects many fewer sites. Houge >is< on list of affected
sites (Attachment II was missing from the on line PDF, but they sent me a
paper copy).  The 2008 proposal (and the council discussion on the 2006
proposal) has a large amount of wishful thinking associated with it.  What
the council wants is for an existing user entity (such as ourselves) to
assume the operation of the facilities. Failing that some third party could
take over. At Houge that could mean, for example, the child care center now
in the school next door expanding into the Houge building.  Left unstated is
how the entity would afford to perform this service.

On the surface we would qualify to continue to use the facility, but there
are some inconsistencies.  Page 1 says this policy is to support "Santa
Clara County-based nonprofits", which would clearly include us. Page 4
states the service provider will be evaluated on "activities that primarily
benefit San Jose residents", which we may not.

We also have a problem due to our key access. If, for example, the child
care center took over the Houge building we could lose access to the light
switch unless we specifically negotiated with them.

At this point there is still much information lacking on what the city is
specifically going to do. For example, what happens if no one wants to lease
Houge Building 1? 

If we wanted to get into the land management business we could submit a
proposal ourselves.  I do not believe the club really wants to assume that
risk, costs, etc.  On the other hand we could then store stuff at Houge and
meet any time we wanted to.

Houge only makes sense as a site only if we continue to control the lights.
We can do that only as long as we have key access. Given the uncertainties
discussed above looking at other sites including Vasona is prudent.  I would
like some other people to look also at Parma Park near me.  

We will discuss this further at the board meeting.

Rob Hawley