Documents revealed that University Transportation and Parking Services spent $325,000, in addition to other costs, when it broke its lease with a moving solutions company. The company would have provided a temporary on-campus office.

In addition to relocation costs, UTAPS also reviewed and signed a quote from Cross Telecom for $38,280 and another from Alpha Omega Wireless for $18,498 to connect the office with the campus’ wireless via a microwave network, which is a circuit-based network that uses point-to-point satellites to connect two separate locations with broadband.

In the beginning of October, the State Hornet repeatedly requested in-person interviews with UTAPS Director Nancy Fox in order to obtain this information. After requests were denied, official documents outlining the budget and moving plans were requested on Oct. 31 under the California Public Records Act Request.

The documents, provided on Dec. 10, show that the school entered into a lease agreement on March 20 with Resun Leasing Inc., a company that provides temporary and permanent portable space for rent.

The modular-style complex was to be built near Parking Structure III.

The lease term was set to begin on July 1 and end on June 30, 2013.

Associate Vice President of Business Operations Ronald Grant said the lease was terminated before construction of the modular building was complete, because UTAPS decided to move to its current location in the CalSTRS building at 7667 Folsom Blvd., instead.

The fee for breaking the lease prior to completion of the modular was $325,000. Grant said this fee is representative of the amount of time and materials Resun put into building the structure before the school terminated the lease. This number is more than one-third of the total cost for having the property built and leasing it for the projected 72-month period.

The documents outline the plans for the modular building, which would have been 8,064 square feet and included individual offices for employees, parking enforcement, the shuttle, office supplies and citation processing.

Additionally, it included men’s and women’s locker rooms and space for a break room. The building would have been placed on the west side of Parking Structure III, according to Resun’s plans.

Although it’s not certain why UTAPS made the decision to forego leasing the modular in place of its current location, students questioned throughout the semester why the office was moved off campus when it would more conveniently accessible on campus.

Gabby McGrath, senior recreation, parks and tourism administration major, said having UTAPS off-campus has been inconvenient. She suggested the old bookstore’s space be used for UTAPS, in order to make it more accessible for students.

“It needs to be on campus,” she said. “It’s ridiculous.”

She also questioned the motivation behind the move.

“Who was doing their research?” she asked. “Was it really worth it to pay that much?

Costs associated with the move from Foley Hall to the new location totaled $18,146, including contract work and moving expenses. The CalSTRS building was purchased earlier this year by University Enterprises Inc. for $35.3 million.

UEI did not return calls to confirm whether or not they are renting the space to UTAPS, and if so, for how much.

UTAPS plans on staying in its current space indefinitely, Grant said. This information conflicts with what Fox told the Hornet in a July 24 article in which she said she believes UTAPS will remain at its current off-campus location for at least two years, but never mentioned any permanent plans to stay.

Multiple calls made to UTAPS to clarify these documents were not returned.

Mandy Weaver, senior dietetics major, said UTAPS needs to be held accountable just like any other department.

“They need to explain why they moved off campus,” she said.

Although parking permits are available for purchase online, Weaver said students still had to go out of their way to pick up their permits in-person at the new location, or risk long lines at Lassen Hall.

UTAPS can send permits via mail.

“The inconvenience was the line and the confusion of not knowing where to go,” she said.

Thomas Raffy, graduating senior public relations major, said the excess money used to relocate could have been used more conservatively in ways which benefit students.

“(They) need more lights, more walkways,” he said. “UTAPS should provide more security at night.”

He also suggested the price of parking permits should be changed to be more affordable for students. With parking permits costing $108 each semester for students and $5 a day, Raffy said he would almost rather chance getting a ticket than spending that much on parking. On Jan. 29, the price of a daily parking permit increased from $2.75 to $5.

According to its 2007-08 budget, UTAPS total revenue is about $5.6 million so far. Nearly $3.9 million comes from student permits and about $1 million from daily passes.

Its total expenses for the budget years was about $4.7 million.

Natalye Childress Smith can be reached at [email protected].