Chapter 2.73
THE CITY OF BELL GARDENS ACADEMIC PURSUIT PROGRAM*

Sections:

2.73.010    Amendments restricted.

2.73.020    Administration of program.

*    Code reviser’s note: Ord. 672 originally added this chapter as Chapter 2.70 BGMC. It has been editorially renumbered to avoid duplication of numbering.

2.73.010 Amendments restricted.

The key provisions of the academic pursuit program (hereinafter “program”) established by the Bell Gardens city council on February 28, 1994, and delineated in this section shall not be amended or repealed except as provided for in this chapter without voter approval by the city’s electors by a majority vote. The following elements of the program shall not be amended or repealed without voter approval:

A. The existing fund (the “fund”) of $3,000,000 shall be maintained by the city in a separate and segregated account from the city’s general fund. The fund may be invested only in those instruments authorized pursuant to California Government Code Section 53601 and selected by the city’s finance director with the concurrence of the city manager. Interest earned by the fund shall be utilized to finance the program. No diminution or adjustments to the fund except for the disbursement of the interest earned and disbursed as part of the loans made to qualified recipients shall take place without prior vote approval.

B. The purpose of the program shall be to assure that qualified high school and college/university candidates who are residents of Bell Gardens are not obstructed in their pursuit of higher education. A resident shall qualify for assistance under the program if he or she meets the criteria established by the education commission of the city.

C. The program shall consists of a zero interest loan program to qualified applicants to defray the costs of education, including but not limited to tuition fees, room and board, books and supplies, and transportation for the applicants’ attendance at state-approved vocational schools, community colleges, and four-year college and university level institutions of higher learning.

D. Recipients of loans from the program may apply for forgiveness of all or a portion of their loan subject to the following criteria: the amount of loan forgiveness shall be limited to the lesser of 20 percent of the outstanding loan obligation or $5,000 for each year the recipient devotes to public service in the city of Bell Gardens. As used herein, “public service in the city of Bell Gardens” shall mean full-time employment for any public agency or not for profit corporation whose principal mission is servicing the residents of the city. Under no circumstances shall more than 60 percent of the recipient’s total loan obligation be forgiven.

E. A Program Board. The city of Bell Gardens academic pursuit program board is hereby established. The board shall consist of the city manager, the finance director and the mayor. It shall be the responsibility of the program board to establish such policies as are necessary to ensure the financial soundness and fiscal security of the fund. All determinations concerning loan forgiveness shall be made only by the program board which may suspend the loan forgiveness aspects of the program only in the event that it makes a finding that the solvency of the fund necessitates suspension of loan forgiveness. The program board may delegate the loan forgiveness program responsibilities to the education commission on an annual basis. Except as otherwise reserved unto the program board, all remaining responsibilities for administration of the program shall be assigned to the city’s education commission or its successor. (Ord. 672 § 1, 1997).

2.73.020 Administration of program.

Any rule, regulation, policy, or aspect of the program, except for those specifically set forth at BGMC 2.70.010, may be modified by the city council or city manager acting through the education commission, including but not limited to eligibility criteria and procedure for selection of recipients. (Ord. 672 § 1, 1997).