UC leases housing at $9,950 a month for president Napolitano

The University of California has leased an Oakland residence for incoming system president Janet Napolitano for $9,950 a month, officials said Monday. Napolitano, the former U.S. secretary of Homeland Security and former governor of Arizona, will be provided the housing plus an annual $570,000 salary, $8,916 a year for car expenses and $142,500 for one-time relocation costs.

Napolitano is scheduled to begin her UC presidency Sept. 30, with her office at UC system headquarters in downtown Oakland.

The two-year lease for the 3,500-square-foot residence began Sept. 1. The monthly rent is $2,550 less than what UC recently has been paying for a Lafayette home for current President Mark G. Yudof.

The lease terms were revealed as the regents are scheduled to discuss Tuesday whether to take the first steps toward the renovation of a UC-owned mansion in Kensington that had been the residence of UC presidents until five years ago. It has been mainly unused since.

The 1920s mansion, called Blake House, needs repairs and renovations that could cost between $3.5 million and $6 million to make it fully livable again for presidents and usable for such official functions as donor and alumni dinners, according to a UC report. The regents Tuesday are expected to review a proposal for an initial $620,000 expenditure from a private endowment to make seismic and roof improvements and commission architectural and engineering reports.

One of the arguments for restoring Blake House as a presidential home is that it will save money in the long run if UC no longer has to pay rent for housing and entertainment locations elsewhere. It is about 11 miles north of Oakland, surrounded by extensive gardens.

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