Subject: CUPERTINO SCHOOL DISTRICT GRANT AGREEMENT
Council District:1
SNI Area:N/A
Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a grant agreement with the Cupertino School District in an amount not to exceed $318,000 for the purpose of designing and constructing athletic field improvements on the campus of Murdock Elementary School, contingent upon Council approval of the FY 2003-04 Parks and Community Facilities Capital Improvement Program, Council District 1 Parks Construction and Conveyance Fund, and direction to the City Manager to negotiate and execute the following action after the approval of the FY 2003-04 Parks and Community Facilities Capital Improvement Program. CEQA: Exempt, PP03-04-127. Council District 1. SNI Area N/A. (Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Service)
BACKGROUND
There is currently a deficiency of ballfields in the Council District 1 area of the City. There are currently four ballfields available for use in this area, located in Calabazas, Hathaway, Mise, and Starbird Parks. Based on the findings of the City’s Greenprint, this represents a deficiency in this area. Furthermore, there are limited opportunities for future park development in this area of the City, since it is nearly completely built out. One of the strategies identified in the Greenprint is to pursue the joint development of athletic fields in conjunction with school districts as individual school campuses are renovated. The Murdock School campus, which is located within the City of San Jose, was specifically identified during the City’s community input process for the Greenprint as a potential site where athletic fields could be jointly developed by the City and the Cupertino School District.
Over the past two years, the Cupertino School District has been planning and designing the renovation and expansion of Murdock Elementary School. While their focus has been the renovation of the classroom portion of the campus, City staff has been working with school district staff regarding the potential of a joint venture that would allow the play field area of the campus to be renovated in such a way that it could accommodate two softball fields and one soccer field that could be available to youth sports organizations that serve the surrounding community.
The Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services has been in discussions with the Cupertino School District regarding the renovation of the athletic fields on this site for several months. In principle, both parties have agreed that the renovated fields would be an asset to both the school district as well as the City. The school district would have full access to the fields during all school hours and the City would be able to program and reserve these fields on weekdays after school hours and during the weekends. The district has agreed that they would be responsible for the maintenance of the site.
Funding for this grant agreement is contingent upon Council approval of the FY 2003-04 Parks and Community Facilities Capital Improvement Program, Council District 1 Parks Construction and Conveyance Fund. The agreement would be executed at the point that this funding becomes available. Based on the availability of funding identified for this project, this agreement will be negotiated after July 1, 2003.
This project was discussed with during community meetings for the Murdock Park Youth Lot renovation project held on August 23, 2001, as well as during the course of the two community meetings for the extension of the Saratoga Creek Trail (which runs along the edge of the school site) on January 16 and February 20, 2002. Additionally, the Cupertino School District held two community meetings of their own during this same time period. The athletic field improvements were discussed at those meetings as well. The proposed improvements were well received at all meetings.
The proposed agreement has been coordinated with Council District 1 Office, the City Attorney's Office, the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, and the City Manager’s Budget Office.
This proposed agreement would allow the provision of grant funding of up to $318,000 to the Cupertino School District for the purpose of designing the improvements and renovating an area of seven acres on the campus of Murdock Elementary School.
Exempt, PP03-04-127.
SARA L. HENSLEY
of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services