Report Prepared by: Sarah Knoester, Management Analyst, City Manager’s Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Merced, Merced County, Merced Union High School District, and Merced County Office of Education Dedicating Additional Land and Resources to the Expansion of Community Park 42 and Memorializing the Intent of these Jurisdictions to Form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to Operate the Sports Complex in the Future
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a Memorandum of Understanding between City of Merced, Merced County, Merced Union High School District, and Merced County Office dedicating additional resources to the expansion of Community Park 42 and memorializing the intent of these jurisdictions to form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to operate the Sports Complex in the future.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving a Memorandum of Understanding between City of Merced, Merced County, Merced Union High School District, and Merced County Office of Education dedicating additional resources to the expansion of Community Park 42 and memorializing the intent of these jurisdictions to form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to operate the Sports Complex in the future; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or Deputy City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommend by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by Staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future meeting.
AUTHORITY
Merced City Charter, Section 200
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
City Council’s FY 2023/24 Goals and Priorities: Merced Unity Project - Community Park 42 (CP-42)
DISCUSSION
In 2007, the City purchased approximately 39 acres on the northeast corner of Mission and Tyler for a future park site, known as Community Park 42 (CP-42). Since then, several items of progress have been made: a park master plan design was drafted and finalized, funding was secured for Phase I and Phase II, bids have been solicited, construction has begun on Phase I, and now an agreement for joint use to expand the capacity of CP-42 is being presented to the City Council for consideration.
The Merced Union High School District (MUHSD) owns approximately 35 acres on the southwest corner of E. Gerard and Tyler, abutting the north side of CP-42. The City of Merced and MUHSD would like to combine these two properties to make one large sports complex. Both parties will collaborate on the initial planning phase of the MUHSD property to include, but limited to, environmental review, design, entitlements, and annexation. MUHSD has agreed to allow the City of Merced to act as lead agency.
As part of the ARPA funding, Merced County hosted public meetings and administered a survey to solicit input from county residents on how they would like to see the money spent. The two top responses were improved public facilities and parks. To this end, Merced County and Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) would like to share in the development of CP-42. Merced County will contribute $1,500,000 of ARPA funding and MCOE will contribute $650,000 for the construction of the futsal court.
To collaborate on the development of CP-42 and the operation of the Sports Complex, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between all parties is required. As part of the MOU, these parties are memorializing their commitment to form a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) in the future to oversee operations of the Sports Complex. The responsibilities of each party under the JPA are as follow:
City of Merced
1. The City shall serve as lead agency for the Project, in consultation with the County.
2. The City shall be jointly responsible, along with MUHSD, for maintenance of the MUHSD Property until the JPA is established.
3. The City shall cooperate with the Parties as necessary to facilitate the Project.
Merced County
1. The County shall contribute the Funding.
2. The County shall cooperate with the City in determining how the MUHSD Property is developed.
3. The County shall support annexation of the MUHSD Property.
4. The County shall cooperate with the Parties as necessary to facilitate the Project.
MUHSD
1. MUHSD consents to City operating as lead agency for the Project.
2. MUHSD shall contribute the MUHSD Property to the JPA upon formation.
3. MUHSD shall be jointly responsible, along with the City, for maintenance of the MUHSD Property until the JPA is established.
4. MUHSD shall cooperate with the Parties as necessary to facilitate the Project.
MCOE
1. MCOE shall contribute Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($650,000) for the construction of a futsal court at the Sports Complex, as set forth in the Futsal Agreement, and shall retain equal access to the Sports Complex Phase One, as outlined in the Futsal Agreement.
2. MCOE shall cooperate with the Parties as necessary to facilitate the Project.
The MOU proposes the following governance structure for the future JPA:
• City of Merced: two voting members
• Merced County: two voting members
• MUHSD: two voting members
• MCOE: one voting member
Staff is requesting Council approval of the Memorandum of Understanding between City of Merced, Merced County, Merced Union High School District, and Merced County Office of Education for the collaborative development of Community Park 42.
Merced County Board of Supervisors approved the MOU on October 17, 2023. MCOE and MUHSD are anticipated to ratify once the City has adopted the MOU.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No funding is required at this time. The City has allocated $8.3 million to build CP-42 in two phases.
ATTACHMENTS
1. MOU between City of Merced, Merced County, MUHSD, & MCOE