Agenda Item: 2
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: July 9, 2024
SUBJECT: MASTER AGREEMENT AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS FOR
THE TRANSFER OF WILLIAM S. HART REGIONAL PARK
DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood Services
PRESENTER: Amber Rodriguez
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute the Master Agreement and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
2. Adopt a resolution approving the transfer of William S. Hart Regional Park from the County of Los Angeles to the City of Santa Clarita.
3. Appropriate $174,706 in Fiscal Year 2024-2025 as outlined in Exhibit A from the Library Fund (Fund 309) and General Fund (Fund 100).
4. Appropriate one-time funding in the amount of $220,000 from the General Fund (Fund 100) for expenses related to the transfer of Hart Park to Hart Park Expenditure Account (1008300- 516101).
5. Find this action exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq. “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”).
BACKGROUND
William S. Hart Regional Park is the last remaining Los Angeles County (County) park located within the City of Santa Clarita (City). At the November 23, 2021, City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to draft a letter to the 5th District Board of County Supervisor, Kathryn Barger, requesting that the City and the County begin formal discussions regarding the transfer of ownership and operation of William S. Hart Regional Park (Hart Park) to the City.
Once it was agreed to in concept by the County, an internal Hart Park City team was formed to develop a feasibility report detailing the resources needed to maintain, operate, and program the park, which was presented to the City Council for review and consideration at the June 13, 2023, City Council meeting. At that meeting, the City Council directed staff to negotiate and finalize the terms of the transfer. Since that time, City staff have finalized the negotiated terms on the attached Master Agreement along with necessary documents to file with Probate Court.
Negotiated Terms
As referenced in the attached Master Agreement, the nine parcels totaling 156 acres would be transferred to the City at no cost, with the exception that the City would pay for relocation costs of County equipment and assets, probate preparation and processing, and preparation of legal documents. Further, the County is requesting the use of Hart Park facilities for five events or meetings on a gratis basis annually, with the exception that the County will bear all costs associated with the events. Additionally, as a condition of the transfer of the Hart Park property from the County to the City, the City has agreed to lease back a portion of Hart Park to the County for the purpose of the temporary operation of a satellite maintenance yard and departmental administrative offices. The lease agreement between the City and County is for five years and can be terminated by the City with 180 days’ notice. As part of the transfer, the City will also take over the former Senior Center, with the condition that the property is to be maintained as a public community and recreational center and for programs for arts and veterans.
Operational Costs
As part of the transition analysis, City staff have considered the financial impact of assuming site operations. To effectively scale into operations, budgetary requests are being recommended in three phases as part of the transition. The timeline provides the opportunity to recommend most staffing and other resource requests through the City’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Midyear Budget and the annual FY 2025-2026 Budget process.
As shown in the table below, Phase 1 of the budgetary requests, includes the recommendation to approve the addition of a Museum Curator and Museum Supervisor for a one-time total of $174,706. The Hart Museum comprises over 6,000 3-dimensional objects requiring ongoing care, including scheduled cleaning and occasional specialized treatment or conservation. With the addition of both positions, staff can ensure the proper transition and security of the collection.
Additionally, staff recommends approving the appropriation of $220,000 to cover expenses related to the transfer of ownership, including, but not limited to, relocation costs of County equipment and assets, filing, probate preparation, processing, and preparation of legal documents.
Phase 2 includes capital improvement project requests, security camera upgrades, and additional staff to assist in the overall operations of the park. Lastly, Phase 3 includes remaining operational needs through the FY 2025-2026 Budget process. Total estimated costs for the first full year of operations is $2.6 million.
Phase 1
(July 2024)
Phase 2
(Jan 2025)
Phase 3
(FY 25/26)
Revenues - $165,890 $380,220
Expenditures 394,706 $1,699,949* $2,577,571
Net (394,706) ($1,534,059) ($2,197,351)
*includes $600,000 for emergent capital projects and security cameras
Next Steps
As part of the transfer process, the Master Agreement must be presented and approved by the City Council prior to County approval. If both parties approve, the County will file with Probate Court for the transfer. The approval process for Probate Court is currently estimated to take four to eight months. Once the probate process is complete, the County would need 60 days to vacate the site physically. This timeline sets the transition date for July 1, 2025.
This action is not subject to CEQA review pursuant to (Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq. “CEQA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder (14 Cal. Code of Regs. §§ 15000, et seq., the “CEQA Guidelines”) which exempts from CEQA review projects that substitution of trustee and the transfer of property and continued operation of the Park and Adjacent Property by the City will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. This agenda item meets the criteria for this exemption because the property is currently improved as a park and will remain so.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total costs associated with these actions are estimated at $394,706. Upon approval of the recommended actions,$174,706 will be available in Hart Museum Expenditure Account 3098301-500101 through 501113 and Technology Services Expenditure Account 1002200- 511108, and $220,000 in Hart Park Expenditure Account 1008300-516101.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Approving Transfer of Hart Park
Exhibit A_William S. Hart Park Museum Personnel
Master Agreement William S. Hart Regional Park