The unanimous Jan. 16 vote by the West Valley­Mission Community College District (WVMCCD) Board of Trustees removed "improve stadium with bleachers, lights and scoreboard" from the West Valley College educational and facilities master plan, creating an end—albeit a temporary one—to the hotly debated issue of expanding the stadium.

Due to years of contention between the college and city, an ad hoc committee of college, city and West Valley homeowner representatives was created to deal with the situation.

Although WVMCCD Chancellor and task force member Stan Arterberry said the group did not reach "a full agreement" on the issue, he did state that the Jan. 16 board vote was "a byproduct" of those meetings.

The item voted on was a resolution added to the district master plan in 1989. The resolution created tension between the city and college, as it exempted the district from city building codes and thus its former agreement to never build a full-size stadium at the West Valley site.

"This issue has gone on too long," said board Vice President Jack Lucas. "My colleagues on the board agree with me that it has gone on too long, and we are glad to have it behind us. I think this was an easy vote."

One of the driving forces in the decision was the realization that future budgets hardly allow for the upkeep of facilities, let alone expansion and building projects.

"During these fiscal times, stadium improvement would be a waste of money," said board member Kevin Moore. "With the financial crisis, we can't extend any money toward building a stadium at this time." However, Moore did say the potential to build at Mission College, and also look at private funding, could be a possibility in the future.

Lucas was also hopeful that the future might afford the chance for a stadium. "With the financial crisis that West Valley and Mission are undergoing, like every other community college, you just don't talk about building anything," he said. "But maybe if good times come around, improvements could be made on the field. Improvements are definitely needed, and they would be beneficial to students."

The city of Saratoga is agreeable to the resolution but still cautious of future judgments.

"Anytime two agencies inside the same city can come together in agreement for the betterment of the community, it's a win-win situation," said Nick Streit, mayor of Saratoga. "Unfortunately, it is not over yet because this decision is not permanent. Just because the board rescinded does not mean the issue can't be taken up again in the future by a new board. There is no permanence in this decision; it is more of a goodwill gesture."

Arterberry said the district is "going crazy" with the budget and is inclined to seek help in the future with funding, presumably with bond measures. In light of this no-stadium resolution, the district likely has a better chance of avoiding the failed fate of Measure E, which stipulated substantial improvements to the stadium in addition to academic facility repair and renovation.

"If any renovation to the college is passed, it will not apply to the stadium," Arterberry said. "We have no plans to do any construction at that site."