City College trustees took another step toward funding a complete facelift for campus buildings but still haven’t decided how much to seek in a proposed bond measure.

The college has until June 26 to place a bond measure on the November 2014 ballot. Officials have polled the public on whether they would support a $198 million bond or a $310 million one.

In a meeting on Thursday, April 10, the trustees discussed at  length the pros and cons of the proposed bond, called Proposition 39. Although still seeking consensus on the amount of the bond, the board majority agreed that the campus is due for renovation and modernization.

“It’s a safety issue,” said Board President Lisa Macker. “I am uncomfortable with the standard of some of our buildings.”

“I don’t think it’s ethical for me, as a board member to say, ‘well, let’s just wait a few more years,’ because it’s a safety issue that the state recognizes for some of these buildings.”

The only trustee opposed to the measure was Veronica Gallardo. She said she doesn’t think the public will support the bond measure—or that the timing is right.

The college has prepared a list of major remodeling projects, which is still being debated. Topping the list, though, is the Campus Center because of safety concerns about the condition of the structural concrete and rebar.

Also, the state recently approved $20 million  to be used for the Campus Center renovation. The overall cost of the project is estimated at $29 million. The remaining $9 million would come from the college district, and the college needs the bond to raise that $9 million.

“It’s frustrating to walk around and see the rust and the 1930s bathrooms,” Trustee Marty Blum said. “I just think we owe it to the public to put something out there and to the students, too.”

The board took an unofficial poll with six in favor and one (Gallardo) opposed to moving forward with the bond measure. The board will take up the issue again at 4 p.m., Thursday, May 8, in Administration Room 218C.