City of Sacramento
City Council - 5PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-01175 10/3/2023 Consent Item 5.
Reversion of the McClellan Dock Property to Federal Ownership File ID: 2023-01175
Location: District 3, Represented by Councilmember Talamantes Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution finding that the McClellan Dock Property is not needed for public park and recreational uses and authorizing the City Manager or his designee to take the necessary actions to return title to federal ownership.
Contact: Shannon Brown, Assistant Director, (916) 808-6076, [email protected]; Barbara Smith, Administrative Officer (916) 808-5762, [email protected], Department of Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment Presenter: None.
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
3-McClellan Quitclaim Deed
4-McClellan Dock Photos
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The McClellan Dock was acquired by the City of Sacramento’s Parks and Recreation Department from the National Park Service via quitclaim deed on June 4, 2007, subject to the condition that the City would establish a park at the site.
The McClellan Dock occupies a 1.65 acre of land at 1601 Garden Highway along the Sacramento River. The property includes a fenced, paved dock area with a 74 foot by 311-foot concrete paved area on pilings. It was constructed in the 1930s and used as a delivery point for damaged aircraft brought upriver for repair during WWII. There is also to a 40 foot by 80-foot metal storage shed, wooden walkways to the lower dock level and an area of undeveloped land. The majority of the natural ground elevation is below the levy and considered underwater or in the riverbed.
Planned improvements to the site to make it accessible for recreational use were researched but were found to be cost-prohibitive due to the extensive work required to meet ADA and safety
File ID: 2023-01175 10/3/2023 Consent Item 5.
requirements. In addition, the economic conditions immediately after and since the site was acquired led to drastic City budget cuts resulting in a lack of available funding for dock improvements. The dock therefore remains in similar condition to when it was acquired. While the Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART), a nonprofit organization, has been using the property since 2007 for training purposes, it currently serves no recreational purposes.
The City was recently contacted by the Regional Program Manager for the Federal Lands to Parks Program of the National Park Service. The letter stated that if the City is not using the property for the public park purpose for which it was conveyed, we need to consider reversion to federal ownership or abrogation of the park use requirements through the purchase of the property by the City.
City staff does not recommend that the City purchase the property due to the potential expense of any improvements, as well as future maintenance and repairs on this large, aging structure. In addition, any plans to develop the property would likely require mitigation steps due to the prior use by the military during wartime. The City is also required to maintain a lease with California State Lands for the portion of the property that lies below the high-water line. This lease is currently expired, and the State has expressed their intention to add stringent inspection (above and below the water line), repair, and reporting requirements to a new lease. To meet such requirements would require significant additional expenses that exceed YPCE’s resources.
Given the excessive costs associated with retaining the property and the other challenges associated with improving the property to allow for recreational uses, the Department desires to have the property revert to federal ownership. To do so, the City must adopt a resolution stating that the property is not needed for public park and recreational use and send a letter formally expressing the City’s desire for the property to revert to federal ownership.
Policy Considerations: Council approval is required for property transfer.
Economic Impacts: City would be relieved of potential maintenance and liability considerations for the property and structure.
Environmental Considerations: Not Applicable.
Sustainability: Not Applicable.
Commission/Committee Action: Not Applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: : Per the Quitclaim Deed through which the City acquired the McClellan Dock, the property must be developed into a public park. A recent letter from Federal Lands indicated that if the City is not going to follow through with this plan, the property ownership should revert to the federal government. The Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment
File ID: 2023-01175 10/3/2023 Consent Item 5.
has determined that it is not feasible to develop a park on this site; therefore, the property should be returned.
Financial Considerations: The City acquired the property at no cost via the Quitclaim deed.
However, maintenance costs associated with keeping the property are prohibitively high.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not Applicable.
RESOLUTION NO. 2023-
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
Finding that the McClellan Dock Property is not needed for Parks and Recreation Uses
BACKGROUND
A. The McClellan Dock was acquired by the City of Sacramento’s Parks and Recreation Department from the National Park Service via quitclaim deed on June 4, 2007, subject to the condition that the City would establish a park at the site. At that time, the site was used by the Drowning Accident Rescue Team (DART), a nonprofit organization, and the Sea Scouts.
B. The McClellan Dock occupies a 1.65 acre of land at 1601 Garden Highway along the Sacramento River. The property includes a fenced, paved dock area with a 74 foot by 311-foot concrete paved area on pilings. It was constructed in the 1930s and used as a delivery point for damaged aircraft brought upriver for repair during WWII. There is also a 40 foot by 80-foot metal storage shed, wooden walkways to the lower dock level, and an area of undeveloped land. The majority of the natural ground elevation is below the levy and considered underwater or in the riverbed.
C. While DART continues to use the property for training, the necessary improvements required to allow the property to be used for park and recreation uses remain cost prohibitive for the City.
D. Therefore, the City desires to have the property revert to federal ownership.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 The facts set forth in the Background section above are true and correct.
Section 2
The McClellan Dock property is not needed for public parks and recreational uses.
Section 3
The City Manager or his designee is authorized to take the necessary actions required to return title of the McClellan Dock property to federal ownership.
Aerial Photo
Front of Subject Site Along Garden Highway
Interior of SitePaved AreaUndeveloped Area of Subject Site Stair to Lower Dock Level
Subject Storage Building / Warehouse Subject WarehouseOther Storage Building On Site Street View Along Garden Hwy.