City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 7, 2022 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARD: 6
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH JOHN MUIR CHARTER SCHOOL FOR 852 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE AT THE ERIC M. SOLANDER CENTER, AT BRYANT PARK, FOR THE TERM OF JULY 1, 2022, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,286.52 PER MONTH ISSUE:
Approve the First Amendment to the Lease Agreement with John Muir Charter School for the term of July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, for 852 square feet of space at the Eric M. Solander Center, located at Bryant Park, generating $1,286.52 monthly.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the First Amendment to the Lease Agreement with John Muir Charter School at the Eric M. Solander Center, located at Bryant Park; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute necessary documents for the First Amendment to the Lease Agreement with John Muir Charter School.
BACKGROUND:
In August 2012, as part of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department’s (PRCSD) first CalGRIP grant, the City entered into a Lease Agreement with the John Muir Charter School (JMCS), a non-profit public-benefit corporation, to house a charter school at the Eric M. Solander Center at Bryant Park. The school was eventually named Riverside Heritage John Muir Charter School, where participants in the CalGRIP grant program received additional social services, life skills workshops, and work experience. Due to the success of the initial campus and high demand for alternative education opportunities in other areas in the city, the team expanded the program to the Cesar Chavez Community Center.
In 2013, PRCSD received another CalGRIP grant and applied the facility space utilized for the school site as in-kind support. Thus, the lease agreement was terminated, and the City entered into an MOU with JMCS. As any true and successful partnership, each entity had certain roles and responsibilities in order to make the program a success.
In 2016, due to the CalGRIP grant termination, JMCS entered into a lease agreement and began to pay rent for properties at Cesar Chavez Community Center and the Eric M. Solander Center.
On June 22, 2021, The City entered into a lease agreement with JMCS to continue leasing space at Eric M. Solander Center, with the option to extend for four additional one-year terms.
DISCUSSION:
JMCS has expressed interest in extending the lease term for an additional year as outlined in the agreement. PRCSD confirms the services provided by JMCS benefit the Riverside community, and the Department is agreeable to exercising the option to extend the lease for an additional one-year term.
The City uses these properties for space from which various non-profit organizations or associations operate programs that benefit the citizens of Riverside. For example, these centers are currently providing office space for Latino Lawyers, Inc., Riverside County Office of Education, Family Service Association, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). JMCS utilizes the space to offer the Riverside Heritage Charter High School to youth ages 15-25 in the City of Riverside so students may have an alternate route to earning their high school diploma, reducing the high school drop-out rate, and providing a safe environment where communication and success are fostered and celebrated.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
Lease agreements with non-profits contribute to Strategic Priority 1 – Arts, Culture and Recreation, and goals 1.1 and 1.5 fostering a partnership that promotes lifelong learning and educational opportunities to youth of the community.
The item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – JMCS provides access to social services, life skills workshops, and work experience to the community’s youth.
Equity – The Eric M. Solander location allows the JMCS to provide social and educational programming to be accessible to an undeserved community and contribute to reducing the high school drop-out rate.
Fiscal Responsibility – Lease agreements generate rental income for the City, assisting in offsetting costs for facility maintenance and lease administration.
Innovation – Lease agreements with non-profit organizations assist the City in providing social and educational programming, and services to address the community’s needs.
Sustainability & Resiliency – Partnerships continue to ensure that the needs of the community are met. By partnering with agencies through lease agreements, the City of Riverside ensures educational and social service needs will continue to be met and accessible to the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact for this action is $15,438.24. The monthly revenue of $1,286.52 from the lease will be deposited into the General Fund, Recreation, Land and Building revenue account 5205000-373100.
Prepared by: Pamela Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Lease Agreement
John Muir Charter Schools First Amendment. ● Page 2