CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: December 6, 2023
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Charles A. Montoya, City Manager;
Lydie Gutfeld, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Department: Parks, Recreation, & Community Services
Subject: Approve Agreement with Los Angeles Dodger
Foundation for the Renovation of Blair Park Baseball
Fields - 5th Ward
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 2023-182 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, to:
1. Approve the agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to build three Dodger Dreamfields at Blair Park.
2. Accept the donation of labor and construction costs for the development of the three Dodger Dreamfields valued at $1,718,844.
3. Authorize the City Manager to conduct all negotiations, signings, and submittal of necessary documents to receive the donation.
Executive Summary
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and several partners have agreed to fund the development of three Dodgers Dreamfields at Blair Park. Through this partnership, the City will provide additional park upgrades at an estimated cost of $130,000. There is no impact to the General Fund as the cost for the upgrades has been identified in the current budget.
Background
The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation (LADF) builds Dodgers Dreamfields to give families in neighborhoods across Southern California safe havens and points of pride.
The addition of revitalized baseball and softball fields contributes to existing green spaces, promotes physical activity, and increases opportunities for play in underserved communities. To date, LADF has spent over $18.7 million building 60 Dodgers Dreamfields and has plans to complete an additional 15 fields by 2033 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Dodgers’ move to Los Angeles.
In December 2022, the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department submitted an application to the LADF to consider a City of San Bernardino park site with baseball fields for the Dodger Dream Field Program.
In completing the application, staff were asked to identify three locations that would meet the criteria of the project:
1. The site had to have numerous baseball/softball fields.
2. The site had to be used by local youth sports organizations and City programming.
3. The fields needed to be used for both baseball and softball, as well as City programming.
Staff worked with the Athletics team and the Park Operations team to identify the locations that would work to meet the criteria. Subsequently, Wildwood, Newmark, and Blair Parks were selected as possible sites. Staff provided LADF with demographic data of youth sports groups, as well as a maintenance plan that would be implemented should the City’s site be chosen by LADF. The maintenance plan would assure LAFD that there would be longevity in the use of these three fields for a variety of site users.
In January 2023, a site walk through of each park was completed with representatives from San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, the Public Works Department, and the lead designer for the Los Angeles Dodgers Dream Fields. Additional follow up meetings were completed to discuss irrigation, maintenance, and other needs.
Discussion
In March 2023, the City was notified that Blair Park, located at 1466 W. Marshall Blvd., had been selected as the next Dodger DreamFields site. LADF has committed to partnering with the City to build three (3) Dodgers Dreamfields at the park and will provide an overall rendering of the project to the City. Construction of the Dodgers Dreamfields at Blair Park will be led by LADF and its project manager, Jon Mosier of Landmark Sports.
This project will be fully funded through the LADF and its funding partners including lead partner San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and sponsors LA84 Foundations, the Helen and Will Webster Foundation and Security Benefit. In July, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians notified the City that it will be providing $1,296,000 towards this project and LADF will cover the balance. The three fields will represent the 61st, 62nd, and 63rd Dodger Dreamfields, contributing towards LADF’s pledge to build 75 Dodger Dreamfields by 2033 to commemorate the 75 th anniversary of the Dodgers move to Los Angeles. The total cost of the project is approximately $1.8 million.
The City is committed to providing additional enhancements to the park that will include a scheduled parking lot slurry seal and lining and renovations to the restroom and concession building, which will be completed prior to the grand opening day tentatively scheduled sometime in May 2024. The City’s cost to complete these enhancements is approximately $130,000. Funding for these enhancements has been identified in the current operations budget and the parking lot slurry is planned with the current asphalt contract and will follow regulations for prevailing wage work. 2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
Strategic Target No. 2 – Focused, Aligned Leadership and Unified Community- by developing enhanced fields, youth groups and adult sports will begin to experience a higher level of play. Strategic Target No. 3.- Improved Quality of Life- by having fields that are designed with quality elements, the experience can develop stronger youth skill sets through sports and provide health and wellness benefits for all ages.
Fiscal Impact
Approval of this item will not impact the City’s General Fund as adequate appropriations have been identified in the current budget.
Conclusion
Adopt Resolution No. 2023-182 of the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, to:
1. Approve the agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to build three Dodger Dreamfields at Blair Park.
2. Accept the donation of labor and construction costs for the development of the three Dodger Dreamfields valued at $1,718,844.
3. Authorize the City Manager to conduct all negotiations, signings, and submittal of necessary documents to receive the donation.
Attachments
Attachment 1-Resolution 2023-182 Accept LADF Donation of Dreamfields Attachment 2-Letter of Intent for Blair Park
Attachment 3-Agreement with LADF Blair Park Fields
Ward:
Fifth Ward
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
September 2023 The Mayor and City Council received and filed the Letter of Intent from the LA Dodger Foundation to complete three
fields at Blair Park.