HBCSD Corruption

Proof of the Lie:

Both the Community Center and the grandfathered-in North School are safe for students as is:

(1) Both the Community Center and North School were built to Field Act seismically safe specification in 1934. 

(2) The Field Act are seismically safe earthquake specifications based on the Hoover Dam construction. 

(3) On December 9, 1975, Pier Avenue School (aka the Community Center) appraised at $1,100,000.  Pier Avenue School was eventually sold to the City of Hermosa Beach at 40% BELOW fair market value.  The appraisal states that Pier Avenue school is a “physically sound” building. 

(4) According to CDE code Section #1728.05(e):

"Not withstanding any law, a leased or purchased building that

is determined to have the equivalent pupil safety performance

standard as a building constructed according to the Field Act and

implementing regulations is hereby deemed to be in full compliance

with the safety requirements of a school building as set forth in

Section 17280, and is hereby deemed to be in full compliance with the

Field Act."

(5) The Community Center was evaluated by Civil Source in 2015 for potential school and student use. See City of Hermosa Beach Award Professional Service Agreement for CIP 13-664 City-Wide Building & Facilities Assessments. )

(6) The Community Center passed a building conditions assessment by Civil Source and was reported to be in good condition in 2015.  Only $270,558 capital improvements were recommended over the next 10 years. 

(7) The Community Center had a seismic safety evaluation done by John A. Martin & Associates in 2015.  The seismic safety evaluation stated that the gymnasium and classrooms were designed remarkably well.  No seismic upgrades or retrofit are required for classrooms at the Community Center.

1. The gymnasium at the Community Center was identified as only

needing $300k to $500k of seismic retrofits.

2. Compare this to building a brand-new gymnasium, changing rooms,

library and two classrooms at Valley School for $11M (JM-2) and/or

students and staff experiencing egregious overcrowding from 2010 to

2019.

3. Compare the cost of $300k to $500k to retrofit the Community Center

to the district spending approximately $1.4M on short-term

classrooms solutions that did NOTHING to relieve overcrowding at

district schools. The $1.4M spent on temporary classrooms did not

add lasting value to a community asset. The $1.4M spent on temporary overcrowding "solutions" were essentially wasted funds.

(8) The July 2015 Civil Source Facilities Condition Assessment for the Hermosa Beach Community Center states that "The gymnasium and cafeteria building leases space to the Hermosa Beach Museum and provides a space for the community emergency Command Center."

If the City of Hermosa Beach is using the Community Center for it's "emergency Command Center" how can the Community Center be unsafe? The Community Center has been deemed the safest building in Hermosa Beach according to the Hermosa Beach Emergency Response Team.