NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino College Board of Trustees held a special meeting Wednesday afternoon to discuss the findings of the board’s Ad Hoc Committee on Point Arena. 

The ad hoc committee was appointed by Joel Clark, president of the Mendocino College Board of Trustees, at the August board meeting to provide all constituency groups ample opportunity to share their ideas, concerns and preferences.

This committee worked diligently, meeting with multiple college constituents, community members, and representatives from numerous public agencies including the Trust for Public Land and the Bureau of Land Management to deliberate on the best possible direction for the Point Arena Field Station.

Yesterday, the Ad Hoc Committee for the Point Arena Field Station brought forth a potential compromise.

The proposal includes selling the land to the Bureau of Land Management via the Trust for Public Lands while reserving buildings on site to allow for continued use of the property for the current educational activities, continue current research partnerships with other educational institutions and form alliances with other institutions and agencies.

In a presentation led by Trustee Ed Haynes, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, committee members spoke affirmatively about the process and the recommendation to sell the property.

Committee members expressed their satisfaction in coming to a practical agreement that benefits the students, the college and the community while protecting the property through affiliation and incorporation in the national monument.

The board chair thanked the ad hoc committee, which held multiple meetings and spent countless hours to develop and contemplate six updated options for the Point Arena Field Station. 

At the Oct. 9 meeting of the board’s ad hoc committee, the group reached consensus on the option presented to the board of trustees.

If accepted by the board at the November meeting, this option will guarantee Mendocino College students the opportunity to continue to engage in educational activities on the property and actively participate in research at the Point Arena Field Station without interruption.

If approved, this option will allow the college to use the proceeds from the sale to improve the buildings and continue current research partnerships with other educational institutions while working collaboratively with community groups and other public agencies to acquire additional funding for major improvements.

Jessica Silva is Mendocino College's director of community relations and communication.