In the fall of 2013 CSA Staff and the MERCSA Western Yolo Recreation Task Force were directed by the Board of Supervisors to move forward with a process to adequately obtain financial support for the annual operations and maintenance budget of the proposed Esparto Community Park and Aquatic Facility. Full Financial support of the annual operations cost in the amount of $200,000 for the next 30 years would be required in order to maintain the proposed Esparto Community Park after construction.
In the spring of 2014 SCI Consulting Group was contracted by Yolo County/MERCSA to assist in the necessary assessment process for generation of one portion of the $200,000 annually once the park is built. The $200,000 annual budget was formulated utilizing information and models from neighboring cities with similar size parks and aquatic facilities. The most similar facility in the rural county region would be the aquatic facility that is owned and operated by the City of Winters. City of Winters Management was instrumental in assisting with peer review of the major line item budget. After nearly one year of the proposition 218 process in the Esparto Area, the Esparto Park Maintenance and Operations Assessment District was formed in March 2015. The Engineers Report and Public Hearing documents showed a proposed assessment rate of $92.00 per single family equivalent beginning in fiscal year 2016-17 and thereafter, providing $75,893 for maintenance and operations. Then finally, due to the vast community outreach and task force efforts, on May 19, 2015 the proposition 218 election passed with 64% of the votes returned being in favor the assessment.
The remaining of the $125,000 annual operation and maintenance revenue required would be obtained with an annual $75,000 in usage fee generation, and an additional $50,000 in public/private partnership revenues. In December 16, 2105 a detailed presentation of the project user fee scenarios for $75,000 was provided to your Board. It was requested at that time that staff and the Task Force return to a future Board of Supervisors meeting, should the Proposition 218 election be successful, to present additional public private partnership revenue information confirming the commitment for the $50,000 annual pledge. This commitment closes the final gap in the operations and maintenance funding portfolio for the Esparto Community Park and Aquatic Facility. The Task Force is prepared to provide the additional revenue information as included in this presentation.
The next step toward construction of the Community Park and Aquatic Facility is acquisition of the project parcel site. At the time of $ 2,896,000 Grant Commitment in 2013, a $400,000 portion of the total was approved by the Office of Grants and Local Services for acquisition of 9.77 acres on APN: 049-150-077. This acquisition funding is available for expenditure in escrow. On July 11, 2013 an intent to sell letter was signed by the Westerdahl Family Trustee and the designee of the Planning and Public Works Department. This letter indicated a purchase price of $25,000 per acre and the real estate appraisal done in 2013 substantiated the unit price. In order to purchase the property an update to that appraisal would be sought and continued negotiations with the Westerdahl Family Trust would be formalized in Escrow. A necessary Payment Request Form and Grant Expenditure Form for acquisition of the Park Site parcel would need to be submitted to the State Office of Grants and Local Services prior for purchase of the property under the current terms of the Grant Contract.
In summary, over the last several years the Recreation Task Force has been diligently working with the County Service Area staff in order to formalize the Esparto Parks grant awarded to MERCSA by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The description of the grant calls for the construction of a new community park and aquatic recreation center, to be located within the town boundary of Esparto. The project as conveyed in the Grant application features a community facility, a community swimming pool which would be open to the public only during the summer period a joint use baseball field and soccer field, and a full size basketball court as well as picnic tables, benches and a walking path. The general park area would be open daily.
In order to continue the commitment to construct the proposed park utilizing the State Parks Grant award funding it is necessary for the Board of Supervisors to ensure the annual Operations and Maintenance Commitment of the local community in the amount of $200,000 until June 30, 2041. District Assessment, User fee estimation, and Public/Private partnership commitments have previously been provided and the additional financial breakdown of the Western Yolo Recreation and Aquatic Fund Endowment pledge is being presented to your Board of Supervisors.
|