City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARD: 1
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: LEASE AGREEMENT WITH JOHN MUIR CHARTER SCHOOL FOR 370 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE AT THE JOHNNY MARTIN SOTELO YOUTH OPPORTUNITY CENTER, AT BOBBY BONDS PARK, FOR THE TERM OF JULY 1, 2026, THROUGH JUNE 30, 2027, IN THE AMOUNT OF $621.60 PER MONTH, WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR FOUR ADDITIONAL ONE-YEAR TERMS ISSUE:
Approve the Lease Agreement with John Muir Charter School for 370 square feet of space at the Johnny Martin Sotelo Youth Opportunity Center, located at Bobby Bonds Park, for the term of July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the amount of $621.60 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, following the expiration of the CalGRIP grant, JMCS entered into lease agreements for space at the Community Center at Bobby Bonds Park and the Eric M. Solander Center at Bryant Park and began paying rent for both facilities.
In 2021, JMCS executed a new lease agreement for the Eric M. Solander Center at Bryant Park, as the Bobby Bonds Park lease was no longer included.
In June 2026, JMCS entered into a new lease agreement to continue its occupancy of the Eric M. Solander Center at Bryant Park.
JMCS has expressed its desire to expand its services by leasing space at the Johnny Martin Sotelo Youth Opportunity Center at Bobby Bonds Park and entering into a new lease 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 currently uses this location to provide space for teen programming. The area is available during the morning hours, creating an opportunity to maximize its use by offering additional community programming while continuing to serve the teen demographic through its existing after-school programs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the one-year term of the agreement is $7,459.20. Revenue generated will be deposited into the General Fund, 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 Rate
Annual Revenue
July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
$621.60
$7,459.20
July 1, 2027 - June 30, 2028*
$652.68
$7,832.16
July 1, 2028 - June 30, 2029*
$685.31
$8,223.72
July 1, 2029 - June 30, 2030*
$719.58
$8,634.96
July 1, 2030 - June 30, 2031*
$755.59
$9,067.08
Total:
$41,217.12
*Optional Renewals
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, Finance Director Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: James Johnson, City Attorney
Attachment: Lease Agreement
John Muir Charter Schools ● Page 2