City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 9, 2026 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARD: 6
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: 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, 2026, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027, IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,431.46 PER MONTH, WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR TERMS ISSUE:
Approve the Lease Agreement with John Muir Charter School for 852 square feet of space at the Eric M. Solander Center, located at Bryant Park, for the term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $1,431.46 per month, with the option to extend for four additional one-year terms.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the Lease Agreement with John Muir Charter School, with the option to extend for four additional one-year terms; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute necessary documents for the Lease Agreement and future amendments 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 community center at Bobby Bonds Park.
In 2013, PRCSD received another CalGRIP grant and used the facility space being utilized for the school site as in-kind support. Thus, the lease agreement was terminated, and the City entered into an MOU with John Muir Charter School. As with 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, JCMS entered into a lease agreement and began to pay rent for properties at the community center at Bobby Bonds Park and the Eric M. Solander Center.
In 2021, JCMS entered into a lease agreement for the property at the Eric M. Solander Center, located at Bryant Park.
JMCS wishes to continue leasing property at the Eric M. Solander Center and enter into a new agreement with PRCSD.
DISCUSSION:
PRCSD confirms the services provided by JMCS benefit the Riverside community, and the Department is agreeable to entering into a new Lease Agreement and optional term extensions.
The City uses this property for space from which various non-profit organizations or associations operate programs that benefit the citizens of Riverside. For example, the site is currently providing office space for the 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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the one-year term of the agreement is $17,177.52. Revenue generated will be deposited into the General Fund, Parks & Recreation-Recreation, Land and Building account 5205000-373100. The table below outlines the initial year of the agreement plus the optional four, one-year renewals should the agreement be extended.
Table 1. Lease Revenue (includes optional renewals)
Term
Monthly Rent
Annual Revenue
July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
$1,431.46
$17,177.52
July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2028
$1,503.03
$18,036.36
July 1, 2028 - June 30, 2029
$1,578.18
$18,938.16
July 1, 2029 - June 30, 2030
$1,657.08
$19,884.96
July 1, 2030 - June 30, 2031
$1,739.93
$20,879.16
Prepared by: Jovan Fontenot, Recreation Supervisor
Approved by: Pamela M. Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Julie Nemes, Interim Finance Director Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachment: Lease Agreement
John Muir Charter Schools. ● Page 2