CCMIN091812 - Laserfiche WebLink

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