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between the fields and surrounding roads. The oak woodland area has been the subject of <br /> considerable community feedback. Residents and users have expressed the desire to plant additional <br /> oak trees, develop this as a passive buffer between the active play areas and adjacent neighborhoods, <br /> and to develop trails that would allow access to some of the commercial and residential areas that will <br /> soon be developed. <br /> Phases three and four would include future development of a community/teen/cultural center as well as <br /> amphitheatre, an additional lighted baseball field, additional parking, a road, and one additional field <br /> area that is not yet defined. Ms. Andrade-Wax stressed that the design is still conceptual in nature. <br /> Upon direction from the Council, staff would begin to prepare the final design and construction <br /> documents for phase two and it is then that specific amenities and features will be identified. <br /> Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked how this compares to Pleasanton's sports park, which is rather <br /> sizable in and of itself. <br /> Ms. Andrade-Wax said the sports park is over 100 acres, which qualifies as a regional facility. Bernal <br /> Community Park, at over 50 acres in total, would also qualify as a regional facility once complete. <br /> Assistant City Manager Bocian presented the preliminary funding concepts. Staff has estimated a <br /> construction cost of $15.8 million, $10.135 million of which could be funded by the Bernal Community <br /> Park Reserve, Capital Improvement Project Reserve, and East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) <br /> Measure WW funds. To fill the remaining $5.5 million gap, staff is looking to othe- City funds that could <br /> be appropriated for this purpose and considering cooperative efforts with the sports users and overall <br /> community that could include the following: <br /> • A non-profit foundation to be created by the City and managed in cooperation with members of <br /> the City's sports organizations for the purpose of raising significant community funds, similar to <br /> the Firehouse Arts Center; <br /> • Assessment of a park development fee as one component of program registration for private <br /> sports group activities. Staff is requesting feedback from the Council before looking at what that <br /> amount would be or for how many years the fee would be assessed; <br /> • Corporate sponsorships, if done appropriately, can yield positive results. <br /> Staff feels that one or more of the efforts could be used effectively in concert with the advancement of <br /> City funds, to be repaid through the various funding mechanisms. <br /> Mr. Bocian stated that with direction from the Council, staff would begin to pursue these options and <br /> work with legal staff on the preparation for some sort of non-profit entity. A number of the sports groups <br /> have expressed a strong interest in working with the City to define the primary elements of the <br /> fundraising effort. He acknowledged that this would a somewhat unique undertaking and staff would <br /> like to coordinate this effort with the City Council Finance Committee. Staff anticipates finalizing the <br /> fundraising strategy in December and is optimistically hoping for a potential opening date in fall of 2015. <br /> Mr. Fialho said that the concept of advancing City funds against a dedicated pledge of funds from local <br /> sports groups comes from the idea that the City has various internal pots of money from which to <br /> borrow. Provided there is a consistent revenue stream that can be pledged over time, the City can <br /> operationally absorb the temporary loan of monies from areas such as the Repair and Replacement <br /> Fund. He noted that the roughly $10 million already identified does not include things such as exactions <br /> that might be borne from future development or potential state grants. <br /> He acknowledged that the idea of assessing a fee on registered sports participants is a sensitive issue <br /> and assured the Council that it is not a recommendation that staff takes lightly. Staff has and will <br /> continue to engage the sports groups, some of whom have been receptive and some of whom have <br /> City Council Minutes Page 3 of 6 September 18, 2012 <br />