But the bill, AB 3046, never moved out of the assembly's local government committee and died with the end of the two-year legislative session Aug. 31, according to Sal Alvarez, district coordinator for Democratic state Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist, who chaired the committee that introduced the bill.

AB 3046 was introduced into the state legislature by the assembly's Committee on Higher Education on March 13, one week after voters elected not to support the Measure E school bond and its provision for upgrading West Valley's outdoor football field. Committee Chairwoman Alquist represented Santa Clara, San Jose, Cupertino, Sunnyvale and Mountain View. The West Valley­Mission Community College District includes Santa Clara.

The bill would have extended the authority of a school district to exempt itself from a city or county land-use ordinance, by a two-thirds vote of its members, when it intends to build non-classroom facilities classified in the state's education code as educational. The education code includes sports facilities as educational facilities.

Currently, boards only have the authority to exempt themselves from ordinances for the construction of classroom facilities.

"The effect of this change is to specifically eliminate K-12 and community college auditoriums, student centers, sports facilities and 'related facilities and equipment, including streets, parking and supportive service facilities' from the government code definition of non-educational facilities," according to bill analysis information from the California Legislative Information website. The bill was supported by the Association of California Community College Administrators. No official opposition was on file.

No action was taken on the bill after it was sent to the local government committee April 17. And, Alvarez said, with the end of the session, all pending bills, like AB 3046, are dead and would have to be rewritten and reintroduced during the next legislative session. Alquist will be leaving office Nov. 30, and thus she will not be championing any such bill, he said.

Saratoga Mayor Nick Streit, who is running for reelection in November, mentioned the bill, although not by name, at a Saratoga City Council candidates' forum Oct. 3, responding to candidate Shelley Williams' remark that the issue of a stadium at West Valley is moot.

Streit later told the Los Gatos Weekly­Times that he didn't know the bill's name and didn't realize that it was dead, nor did he realize that Alquist was leaving office. But he said the threat of a similar bill remains, as community college districts throughout the state actively supported West Valley's quest for more control over its property in order to improve its field. Any of them could urge their representatives to introduce such legislation that, if passed, would give that authority to West Valley, he said.

Saratoga's Streit, Vice Mayor Evan Baker, Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith and Councilman John Mehaffey are endorsing three candidates for the school district's board who have said they oppose a stadium at West Valley. At the forum, council candidates Andrew Barnes, Kathleen King and Norman Kline also said they opposed a stadium at West Valley. Williams did not state his position on the issue.