BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Isadore Hall, III
Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: AB 2247 Hearing Date: 6/14/2016
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|Author: |Williams |
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|Version: |4/14/2016 Amended |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Felipe Lopez |
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SUBJECT: Armories
DIGEST: This bill requires the Director of the Department of
General Services (DGS) to grant the City of Santa Barbara or the
Santa Barbara Unified School District an option to purchase the
Santa Barbara Armory, as specified.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Authorizes DGS, with the approval of the Adjutant General, to
lease and sell real property held for armory purposes, subject
to legislative approval.
2)Authorizes DGS with the approval of the Adjutant General to
sell, for fair market value, the Santa Barbara Armory.
3)Establishes the Armory Fund and requires that the net proceeds
from the sale or lease of armories be deposited into the fund,
for use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for specified
purposes related to armories.
This bill:
1)Requires DGS, with approval of the Adjutant General, to grant
the City of Santa Barbara or the Santa Barbara Unified School
District an option to purchase the Santa Barbara Armory.
AB 2247 (Williams) Page 2 of ?
2)Provides that the option expires on July, 2017, at which time
the Director of DGS shall offer the armory for sale on the
open market.
3)Specifies that any purchase agreement shall include terms and
conditions determined by DGS to be in the best interest of the
state based on the fair market value of the armory, based on
the zoning as it existed on March 1, 2016, as determined by an
appraisal undertaken and approved by DGS.
4)Defines "Santa Barbara Armory" to mean the approximately 4.7
acres of real property with approximately 27,000 square foot
armory building and ancillary improvements made thereon,
located at 700 E. Canon Perdido Street, Santa Barbara,
California.
Background
Purpose of the bill. According to the author, "local
acquisition of the National Guard Armory has long been sought by
the Santa Barbara Unified School District. Its location on
Santa Barbara's east side makes it an ideal site for school,
educational, and recreational programs. As an educational
facility, the National Guard Armory would add much to the Santa
Barbara Community. The possibilities are endless as to the
programs that could be created and the greater interaction
between the two schools. Many other community and civic
facilities are immediately adjacent to or near the Armory,
including Boys and Girls Club, Ortega Park, and Girls Inc."
Santa Barbara Armory. The Santa Barbara National Guard Armory
is located immediately between, and adjacent to, Santa Barbara
High School and Santa Barbara Junior High School, in Downtown
Santa Barbara. In 1945, the Santa Barbara Armory was acquired
by the National Guard from the community of Santa Barbara.
The author states that, "long time Santa Barbara residents often
speak about the Armory's use for community dances, concerts, and
movie screenings in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s." Since the
mid-1960s, the Armory has not been used by the National Guard or
community. As a result, the Armory's maintenance has fallen
behind.
California's Armories. According to the Military Department,
AB 2247 (Williams) Page 3 of ?
California has approximately 100 active armory sites throughout
the state. Armories are the primary place for unit training and
are integral to the readiness and responsiveness of National
Guard personnel.
The use of armories for emergency operations is common.
Armories are routinely used to mobilize and house soldiers when
the Guard responds to wildfires, while also serving as emergency
operations centers for other first-responder agencies. Armories
are also commonly used as shelters for displaced civilians who
have been evacuated from their homes due to fires, floods or
other state emergencies. Several armories throughout the state
routinely serve as homeless shelters during the winter months.
Under the traditional model, the federal government (through the
U.S. National Guard Bureau) pays for 75% of an armory's
construction costs and the state pays the remaining 25% and
contributes the land. After construction, the state manages the
armory and pays for all operational and maintenance repairs.
After 25 years, the federal government fully transfers all
ownership rights to the state.
Prior/Related Legislation
SB 536 (Roth, Chapter 355, Statutes of 2015) authorized, among
other thing, the sale of seven specific armories, including the
Santa Barbara Armory.
SB 1580 (Governmental Organization, Chapter 798, Statutes of
2012) authorized DGS to sell specified armories.
SB 1167 (Cogdill, Chapter 324, Statutes of 2010) authorized DGS
to dispose of all or any portion of two specified properties.
SB 1481 (Governmental Organization, Chapter 528, Statutes of
2010) required that the proceeds from the sale of armories must
be deposited in the Armory Fund and are not required to be used
to retire bond debt resulting from the 2004 Economic Recovery
Bond Act.
SB 136 (Huff, Chapter 166, Statutes of 2009) authorized DGS to
dispose of all or any portion of three parcels of real property.
AB 600 (Hall, 2009) would have authorized DGS to lease the
AB 2247 (Williams) Page 4 of ?
Compton Armory to the City of Compton at fair market value for a
period not to exceed five years, with an option to extend the
lease to 25 years. (Vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger)
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT:
City of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Unified School District
OPPOSITION:
None received
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: According to the City of Santa Barbara,
"the purchase of the Armory property by the City of Santa
Barbara and the Santa Barbara Unified School District will allow
the city and the school district to achieve a number of
community priorities given the size of the property and
proximity to the adjacent senior and junior high schools."