Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us). Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Romero		DATE TYPED	02/09/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		UNM School of Architecture Community Service				SB	481
					ANALYST		Baca

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained		Estimated Additional Impact		Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05	FY04	FY05
	$100.0			Recurring	General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act

Duplicates HB 386

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

House Bill 386 appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of New Mexico (UNM) for the School of Architecture and Planning (SAP) to expand and enhance its community service mission through the design and planning assistance center to work on community-based projects in architecture, planning and landscape architecture with low-income communities, groups, municipalities and nonprofit organizations.

Significant Issues

The School of Architecture and Planning currently performs this type of community service on a limited basis. Similar bill twice were approved by both House and Senate, but were vetoed by the Governor. An explanation of the proposal, its budget and services to be expanded are in the following Attachment.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY05 shall revert to the general fund.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

This request was not among the priorities for FY05 funding submitted by the UNM Board of Regents to the CHE. Consequently, the Commission did not review it.

LB/dm

Request for Support for The Design & Planning Assistance Center

An Educational and Community Service Center of the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico

Purpose of the Request

The Design and Planning Assistance Center (DPAC) of the School of Architecture and Planning at UNM is seeking financial support to expand and enhance its community service mission to work on community based projects in architecture, planning and landscape architecture with low income communities groups and non profit organizations

The Design & Planning Assistance Center

Revitalizing the physical fabric of New Mexico’s towns, public

spaces and community facilities is key to economic development, citizens’ quality of life, conservation of natural and cultural resources, and civic engagement.

DPAC is a university based community design center, applying the skills and commitment of faculty and students to community based projects, serving qualified non-profits, and low income groups who are committed to grass roots efforts to improve the physical fabric of their communities.

Over the past 34 years, DPAC has worked on more than 1000 projects throughout New Mexico for low-income families, disadvantaged groups, neighborhood associations, Native American communities, social service organizations and many others. The work has engaged over 1000 architecture and planning students, 90 VISTA volunteers, and many design professional providing pro bono advice. Many DPAC alumni now hold positions of prominence in their communities and professions.

The goals of the Design and Planning Assistance Center are:

· To provide technical assistance in architecture, town design and planning to low-income groups, and communities who wish to solve physical planning and design problems but do not have access to essential professional services;

· to offer students an opportunity for a clinical education that will develop their awareness of issues and points of view in the community, provide a setting in which to apply their technical skills to relevant problems, and expose them to some of the ethical and moral dimensions of their chosen professions;

· To improve the planning and design process by providing environmental design students, practitioners and low-income groups the opportunity to work with and learn from one another.

The mission of DPAC has endured for over 34 years despite shifts in public policy, political climate, educational philosophy and architectural fashion. The need continues. A steady stream of socially concerned students find educational value and social relevance working with clients on community-based projects. Community clients continue to benefit from the services that students provide within a supervised setting. Professionals have the opportunity to work with clients on projects that normally lack support.

DPAC received an Award of Distinction from the Western Mountain Region of the AIA in 2000 and many of the individual projects have received AIA, APA and other awards.

Recent projects completed by DPAC have included:

· Design of a plaza and community buildings for the Village of Doña Ana

· Revitalization of Clovis’s Main Street

· Design guidelines, site and design studies for affordable housing in low income neighborhoods in Albuquerque, working with the impacted neighborhoods and non profit housing organizations;

· Design studies and cost estimates for the remodel of a child care organization in Albuquerque’s “pocket of poverty” to bring their facilities up to licensing standards;

· Design and feasibility studies for an addition to the Jemez Pueblo community library;

· Architecture programming and design studies for a non profit business incubator in Albuquerque’s south valley;

· Design of a Head Start Center for Laguna Pueblo

· Design of a library and community center for Dixon.

The Need

The Design and Planning Assistance Center operates as a design course in the School of Architecture and Planning. Community based projects provide both educational experience experiences for students and services to the community. DPAC has no funding to cover project expenses beyond the limited reimbursement available from community clients. Initially DPAC had a staff of VISTA Volunteers who worked full time and were not tied to an academic schedule. VISTAs provided continuity on project work and allowed DPAC to work in remote communities. Since the VISTA program was terminated in the early 80’s, DPAC has had to rely on students for all of the work of the center, which has limited the scope, and distribution of project work.

DPAC needs additional support to fulfill its service mission effectively. Supplemental financial resources would free faculty and students to concentrate their time and talent to the project work requested by the community. Funding for student and professional interns would enable committed students to continue working on projects after the end of the semester, providing a more responsive and comprehensive work product to community clients. Funding would also offer more opportunity to work in remote locations. Support would cover:

1) Administrative staff to manage and administer the DPAC operation;

2) Internships to support students to continue work on projects after the

end of the semester;

3) Funding to cover projects expenses for reproduction, materials and

supplies, and travel costs, that are beyond the financial capacity of

community groups;

4) Organization and hosting of an annual forum on design issues critical to New Mexico.

The Funding Request

Annual funding is sought to enable DPAC and the School of Architecture and Planning to increase its already substantial services to the state. Requested funds will supplement the ongoing commitment of the School of Architecture and Planning to provide space, utilities, equipment and furniture, supplies, and the time of faculty, students and staff.

Administrative staff

Office Manager/Administrative Assistant

The Office Manager/Administrative Assistant will assist the DPAC Director and participating faculty to conduct the business of the Center, coordinating project work, bookkeeping and accounting, client contact and follow up, and other activities required to operate the Center effectively.

Clerical support

Clerical support will be provided by work/study students and part time student employees.

Faculty

Funding for faculty would be either to hire a professional part-time to teach a DPAC course or to provide partial release time to a regular faculty member to engage in DPAC projects

Internships

Student interns

Funding for student interns will provide critical resources to develop and enhance project work conducted during the academic semester. Qualified students will be retained to produce the quality of work required for community clients, which is sometimes difficult to achieve within the time constraints of the academic calendar. Many clients need a compelling and persuasive publication to effectively compete for resources. Experience shows that funded post-semester work can effectively address this need.

Professional internship

Professional interns are graduate planners, architects and landscape architects who must complete a structured apprenticeship before they can qualify for professional registration. An internship for DPAC will provide professional continuity and technical skills needed to complement student work.

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Project support

Provide funding to support publication of project reports, student travel and lodging expenses, and materials to produce designs, drawings and models left with the community or non-profit.

Forums

Provide funding to organize, host, invite an outside speaker and document an annual forum on a design and planning issue critical to New Mexico.

Annual Budget

Staff $48,000

Office Manager $35,000

Clerical (student) $5,000

Faculty $8,000

Internships $35,000

Student Interns $10,000

Professional Intern $25,000

Project Support $10,000

Forum Support $7,000

Speakers, facilities, and report

Total Annual $100,000