City Manager’s Office
www.santa-ana.org/cm
Item # 8
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
April 7, 2026
TOPIC: River View Golf Course Land Lease with Orange County Flood Control District
AGENDA TITLE
Approve Lease Agreement with the Orange County Flood Control District for River View Golf Course Property Located at 1800 W. Santa Clara Avenue
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute a 25-year lease agreement with the Orange County Flood Control District for the River View Golf Course, located at 1800 W. Santa Clara Avenue (Santa Ana River Channel Facility Nos. E01-1008, 1008.1, 1051.01, 1052.01 and 1053), beginning May 1, 2026, with provisions for five optional five-year extensions, with an annual lease payment of $200,000, increasing by CPI capped at 3% per year.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
DISCUSSION
The original 9-hole Riverview Golf Course was constructed on City-owned land in the early 1960’s. On September 2, 1969, River View Golf LLC entered into an agreement with the Orange County Flood Control District (District) for use of approximately 70 acres of District land along the Santa Ana River Channel to expand the golf course into an 18-hole facility. The District’s land is used for nine (9) of the 18 golf course holes.
The driving range, putting green, clubhouse, pro shop, cart barn, parking lot, and remaining nine (9) holes are located on City-owned land.
The land lease agreement between the District and River View Golf LLC expired January 26, 2026. The District and River View Golf LLC have extended the agreement on a month-to-month basis while awaiting a long-term agreement with the City. The current lease payment to the District is a share of net golf course income, an approximate total of $288,000 for the 2025 calendar year.
On March 3, 2026, City Council approved an agreement with CourseCo, Inc. to operate the River View golf course for the City, as the current operator agreement with River View Golf LLC expires on April 30, 2026. The City has negotiated a proposed land lease agreement with the District to continue using its 70 acres for the golf course (Exhibit 1).
River View Golf Course Land Lease with Orange County Flood Control District April 7, 2026
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The term of the proposed agreement is 25 years with five (5) additional, 5-year extensions at the City’s option. The proposed annual lease payment to the District is $200,000, to be paid in 12 equal monthly installments, increasing by CPI capped at 3% annually.
If City Council approves the proposed agreement, it will be presented to the Orange County Board of Supervisors for approval on April 14, 2026 to become effective on May 1, 2026.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the CEQA Guidelines, the Project is categorically exempt from further review per Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) of the CEQA Guidelines. Class 1 exemption applies to the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The Project involves execution of a 25-year lease agreement with the Orange County Flood Control District for the River View Golf Course, an existing golf course with ancillary supportive facilities, beginning May 1, 2026. No site alteration, expansion of service, or other activity is proposed that would have a physical effect on the environment, and any future improvements to the site following execution of the lease would be reviewed pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines for any project-specific impacts. Based on this analysis, a Notice of Exemption will be filed for this Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
Lease payments totaling $200,000 in the first year of the agreement will be made from the River View golf course operating account as part of the City Council approved budget each year, and will be recorded in the River View golf course enterprise fund account 11213200-62500.
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Lease Agreement with Orange County Flood Control District Submitted By: Kathryn Downs and Minh Thai, Assistant City Managers Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, City Manager