Agenda Item: 15
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: August 23, 2022
SUBJECT: FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE CENTRAL PARK LEASE
AGREEMENT WITH SANTA CLARITA VALLEY WATER
AGENCY
DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood Services
PRESENTER: Susan Nelson
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Fourth Amendment to the Ground Lease Agreement with Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency for the Central Park Sports Facility, extending the lease through January 1, 2038, in an amount of $33.33 per year, not to exceed $500.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the License Agreement for Exercise and Access Stairs.
BACKGROUND
The Central Park Sports Facility (Central Park) is a regional park and recreational facility in the City of Santa Clarita (City). This 108-acre regional park site features a number of amenities, including softball fields, multipurpose fields, basketball courts, a playground, fitness areas, a disc golf course, a dog park, a community garden, and a cross country running track. Central Park is the location for numerous community events, including Concerts in the Park, Relay for Life, Earth Arbor Day, Touch-a-Truck, Eggstravaganza, and numerous sports tournaments.
Since 1997, the City has leased the Central Park property from the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCVWA), formerly the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA). On December 11, 1995, the City and CLWA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for purpose of a park and sports facility. This MOU provided the basis for the ground lease. The ground lease, allowing City use of CLWA property, originated on January 2, 1997, when construction of Central Park commenced on 34.22 acres.
The ground lease has been amended three times. The first amendment on February 4, 1997, made minor changes to some language in the lease. The second amendment on December 16, 2002, adjusted the boundary of the lease from the original 34.22 acres to the 108 acres currently used.
The second amendment also extended the term of the lease from 2012 until 2017. On December 21, 2017, the lease was extended until January 1, 2023, and included language that addressed a number of issues, including the requirement for an annual meeting of the City and SCVWA; allowed use of areas for disc golf, supply storage, and the dog park; provided City access to the site 24 hours per day; prohibited on-site vehicle fueling and the storage of non-operable vehicles; required the City to submit any development plans to SCVWA three months prior to the start of construction; and addressed other issues that more clearly defined both parties’ responsibilities to the site.
On October 1, 2010, a license agreement was executed between the City and CLWA. This allowed the City to use CLWA-owned land adjacent to Central Park for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a cross country trail.
This fourth amendment to the lease agreement revises the following key terms:
• Recital D - Identifies SCVWA as the successor in interest to CLWA. • Section 1.01 - Expansion of the Lease Area (to approximately 111.9 acres) for the Disc Golf Course (approximately 2.5 acres) and the City Maintenance Yard (approximately
1.5 acres).
• Section 1.03 - Specifies that the annual meeting as set forth per Amendment No. 3 between the City and SCVWA is now specific to Amendment No. 4. • Section 2.01 - Extends term to January 1, 2038.
• Section 4.03(M)(2) - Addresses interaction and approvals related to future commercial activities of concessions, specifying commercial concessions must be ancillary to community activity.
• Section 4.03(O) - Adds language that the City will complete appropriate CEQA review for future ground disturbing improvements.
• Section 4.03 - Permits the installation of an exercise staircase, outside of the lease boundary, by an independent License Agreement.
• Section 6.02 - City to notify SCVWA of maintenance to existing improvements. • Section 11.03 - City to gain approval from SCVWA prior to erecting additional memorials or commemorative signage.
Approval of the recommended action would ensure Central Park is available to the community for the next 15 years.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action, adequate funds will be availabe for the term of this agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
Central Park Fourth Amendment Lease Boundary Map
Fourth Amendment to the Central Park Ground Lease with SCVWA (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)