HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 2306-160120.Approval of Amendment Number 3 to the Agreement With Palo Alto Unified School
District (PAUSD) for PAUSD Athletic Field Brokering and Maintenance Cost-sharing to
Extend the Term to June 30, 2024, with an Optional Extension for an Additional Six
Months; CEQA status – categorically exempt (Regulation 15301).
City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: Community Services
Meeting Date: June 19, 2023
Report #:2306-1601
TITLE
Approval of Amendment Number 3 to the Agreement With Palo Alto Unified School District
(PAUSD) for PAUSD Athletic Field Brokering and Maintenance Cost-sharing to Extend the Term to
June 30, 2024, with an Optional Extension for an Additional Six Months; CEQA status –
categorically exempt (Regulation 15301).
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve and authorize the City Manager to execute
Amendment No. 3 (Attachment A) to the Agreement1 Between the City of Palo Alto and the Palo
Alto Unified School District of Santa Clara County Concerning the Public Use, Brokering and
Maintenance of District-Owned Athletic Fields, Tennis Courts, and Basketball Courts Jointly Used
By School Students and the General Public (Agreement) to extend the term to cover the period
July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024, with an optional extension of an additional six months.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City and PAUSD have partnered since 1995 for the maintenance of select school athletic fields
for joint school and community use of the fields through a cost sharing agreement. The initial
agreement has been modified and renewed multiple times with revisions to capital
improvements, revenue sharing of field brokering fees, and priority use dates and times. The
partnership provides field maintenance and facilitates field use during school and athletic activity
hours and community use during late afternoon, evenings, and weekends.
City and PAUSD staff have met several times over the past year to discuss extending the terms
and prioritization of tennis court hours. Both parties have come to an agreement on Amendment
No. 3 to extend the partnership through June 30, 2024, with an optional six-month extension
1 City Council June 25, 2018; SR 9278; Agreement as Attachment B
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-reports-
cmrs/year-archive/2018/id-9278.pdf
BACKGROUND
Beginning in 1993, the City and PAUSD staff met to discuss a possible partnership for the
maintenance and public use of PAUSD athletic fields. In 1995, the City and PAUSD entered into
an Agreement for the City to maintain select PAUSD athletic fields for both school and community
use with both parties contributing an equal share of the costs. The Agreement also included an
equal cost share for capital improvements to athletic fields. The agreement has since been
revised several times and no longer includes a cost share for capital improvements. The cost of
capital improvements is now fully incurred by PAUSD.
The Agreement encompasses the maintenance and brokering of the athletic fields at 13
elementary schools and three middle schools, and tennis courts at five PAUSD schools. The City
manages the brokering of PAUSD athletic fields and tennis courts for public community use
outside of school activity hours. Revenue received from renting PAUSD athletic fields and courts
is shared between both parties with the City retaining 60% and PAUSD retaining 40% of revenue.
The Agreement provides for the continued maintenance of school district fields at all PAUSD
elementary schools, as well as the fields at Jane Lathrop Stanford (JLS) and Frank S. Greene, Jr.
(Greene) Middle Schools. The maintenance of turf areas includes mowing, edging, de-thatching,
reseeding, aeration, and maintenance of irrigation heads, valves, and controllers. The fields at
Ellen Fletcher (Fletcher) Middle School are not part of this agreement as these fields are
dedicated parkland (Terman Park) and are maintained in a manner consistent with City Park
maintenance standards.
The Agreement also provides for the maintenance of tennis courts and basketball courts at JLS,
Greene, and Fletcher Middle Schools, and at Henry M. Gunn and Palo Alto High Schools. This
work includes periodic sweeping of the court surfaces and washing during the summer months.
The City brokers the fields, tennis courts, and basketball courts in accordance with the Council-
approved Field Use Policy2. This policy is intended to ensure residents, both youth and adults,
have fair access to PAUSD and City-owned fields and athletic facilities. The criteria incorporated
into the Field Use Policy helps ensure Palo Alto youth and non-profit sports clubs have top priority
access to field space for practice and competition.
The City places a high priority on the maintenance and safety of school playing fields to ensure
the community has access to athletic fields and courts for physical fitness and recreation. This
Agreement will continue the City’s commitment to provide quality turf and court surfaces.
2 City of Palo Alto Field and Court Use Policy
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/community-services/facility-rentals/reservations-community-
centers-fields/field-and-tennis-court-reservations/field-court-policy-22.pdf
ANALYSIS
In the fall of 2019, City and PAUSD staff met to discuss renewing the Agreement (Amendment
No. 13). City and PAUSD staff agreed to extend the Agreement through December 31, 2021, with
an option for a two-year extension. On December 9, 2019, City Council approved an extension of
the Agreement (Amendment No. 2). City staff later learned that PAUSD staff did not bring
Amendment No. 2 to the PAUSD Board for approval. While this matter was being resolved, both
the City and PAUSD honored the terms of the Agreement and Amendment No. 2.
PAUSD staff later agreed to update Amendment No. 2 to extend the term to cover the period July
1, 2019 through June 30, 2022, with an optional 24-month extension, and brought Amendment
No. 2 to the PAUSD Board for their approval on February 8, 2022. City Council approved the
updated Amendment No. 24 on February 14, 2022.
City and PAUSD staff met multiple times from March 2022 to May 2023 to discuss extending the
Agreement. Though the Agreement expired on June 30, 2022, both the City and PAUSD honored
the terms of the Agreement while negotiations continued. In May 2023, City and PAUSD staff
came to mutually agreeable terms for an Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement. Amendment No.
3 retains the same scope of work and service level performed by City staff. The maintenance
costs are shared equally between the City and PAUSD. The revenue share remains at 60% to City
and 40% to PAUSD.
Amendment No. 3 extends designated hours and dates for PAUSD to have priority use of four of
the seven tennis courts at Palo Alto High School. PAUSD priority use of courts number 1, 2, 3, and
4 extends from 4:00pm to 7:00pm weekdays during the following date periods. The select four
courts are identified on the map attached to the Amendment:
•June 5, 2023 – August 4, 2023
•November 20, 2023 – November 24, 2023
•December 25, 2023 – January 5, 2024
•June 3, 2024 – June 28, 2024
The period covered by Amendment No. 3 is July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024, with an optional
six-month extension. PAUSD staff intends to bring Amendment No. 3 to the PAUSD Board for
approval on June 6, 2023. If City Council approves Amendment No. 3 of the Agreement, staff will
3 City Council June 25, 2018; SR 9278; Amendment No. 1 as Attachment A
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/reports/city-manager-reports-
cmrs/year-archive/2018/id-9278.pdf
4 City Council February 14; 2022 SR 13899; Agenda Item #4; Amendment No. 2 as Attachment A
https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/agendas-minutes-reports/agendas-minutes/city-council-
agendas-minutes/2022/20220214/20220214pccsm-amended-linked-final.pdf
collaborate with PAUSD and return to City Council in 2024 with a recommendation to extend the
Agreement with an amendment or approve a new Agreement.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Amendment No. 3 extends the terms of the existing agreement for two years (July 1, 2022 to
June 30, 2024). The annual maintenance cost is approximately $1.0 million, and the costs are split
equally between the City and PAUSD. The revenue remains shared at 60% to the City and 40% to
PAUSD. The total shared revenue varies and has been approximately $45,000 annually.
The amendment maintains the level and scope of services and cost share of actual expenses as
established in the original contract. The only financial impacts to the City from this action are the
result of updated labor costs for continuing these services, which are included in the FY 2024
Operating Budget of the Community Services Department. Funding for subsequent years of the
agreement is subject to City Council approval and appropriation of funds through the annual
budget process.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
City and PAUSD staff met multiple times to discuss Amendment No. 3 to the Agreement and have
a mutual interest in continuing this partnership. If Council approves Amendment No. 3, staff will
communicate with the tennis community the reduced access to certain courts at Palo Alto High
School.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This amendment is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to section 15301 (existing facilities) of the CEQA guidelines.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: PAUSD Athletic Field Brokering and Maintenance Cost-sharing Agreement
Amendment No. 3
APPROVED BY:
Kristen O'Kane, Community Services Director
AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO THE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AND THE
PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SANTA CLARA
COUNTY CONCERNING THE PUBLIC USE, BROKERING AND
MAINTENANCE OF DISTRICT-OWNED ATHLETIC FIELDS,
TENNIS COURTS AND BASKETBALL COURTS JOINTLY USED
BY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC
This Amendment No. 3 to the “Agreement Between The City Of Palo Alto And The Palo
Alto Unified School District Of Santa Clara County Concerning The Public Use, Brokering And
Maintenance Of District-Owned Athletic Fields, Tennis Courts And Basketball Courts Jointly Used
By School Students And The General Public” (“Contract”) is entered into June 20, 2023, by and
between the CITY OF PALO ALTO, a California chartered municipal corporation (the “CITY”) and
the PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, a unified school district
organized and existing under the Laws of the State of California (the “DISTRICT”) (individually, a
“Party” and, collectively, the “Parties”), in reference to the following facts and circumstances:
R E C I T A L S
A.The Contract was entered into between the Parties on or about January 1,
2014 for the use, maintenance, and related cost-sharing of District-owned athletic fields and
courts. The Contract was amended in June 2018 [Amendment No. 1] and March 2022
[Amendment No. 2].
B.The Parties intend to extend the Contract to cover the period July 1, 2022
through June 30, 2024. The Parties also intend to designate specific tennis courts for priority use
by the District as detailed below.
C.The Parties wish to amend the Contract for the purposes described herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, terms, conditions, and
provisions of this Amendment, the Parties agree:
SECTION 1. Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this Amendment:
a.Contract. The term “Contract” shall mean Contract titled “Agreement
Between The City Of Palo Alto And The Palo Alto Unified School District Of
Santa Clara County Concerning The Public Use, Brokering And
Maintenance Of District-Owned Athletic Fields, Tennis Courts And
Basketball Courts Jointly Used By School Students And The General Public”
between DISTRICT and CITY, dated January 1, 2014 as amended by:
I. Amendment No.1, dated June 25, 2018; and
II. Amendment No. 2, dated March 16, 2022
b.Other Terms. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Amendment
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Contract.
1 of 4006247.0014641
163498.1
SECTION 2. Subsection 2.1 of Section 2 TERM AND TERMINATION of the Contract
is hereby amended to read as follows:
2.1 The term of this Agreement pursuant to this Amendment 3
commences on July 1, 2022, and ends on June 30, 2024, subject to the
earlier termination of this Agreement by any Party hereto upon ninety
(90) days’ advance written notice. The preceding sentence
notwithstanding, this Agreement is subject to the fiscal provisions of the
Charter of the CITY and other Laws of the CITY and the DISTRICT, and this
Agreement will terminate without any penalty (a) at the end of any fiscal
year in the event that funds are not appropriated by the Council or Board
of Education for the following fiscal year, or (b) at any time within a fiscal
year in the event that funds are not appropriated by the Council or Board
of Education for a portion of the fiscal year and funds for this Agreement
are no longer available. The CITY or the DISTRICT will use reasonable
efforts to give the other Party reasonable notice of termination in the
event that funds will not be appropriated. No provision is made for the
automatic extension or renewal of the term.
SECTION 3. Subsection 2.3 of Section 2 TERM AND TERMINATION of the Contract
is hereby amended to read as follows:
2.3 The term of this Agreement may be extended for an additional six
(6) months by written mutual agreement of the parties executed at least
seven (7) calendar days before expiration of the term. Nothing in this
Agreement requires either party to renew or extend this Agreement or to
enter into negotiations regarding the renewal or extension of this
Agreement.
SECTION 4. Section 7.2a is hereby added to read as follows:
7.2a District will have priority use of tennis courts numbered 1, 2 ,3 and 4 per
Attachment H located at Palo Alto High School from 8 am to 7 pm, Monday through Friday during
the following time periods:
a. June 5, 2023 through August 4, 2023 (“2023 Summer Period”),
b. November 20, 2023 through November 24, 2023 (“2023 Fall Period”)
c. December 25, 2023 through January 5, 2024 (“2023/24 Winter Period”); and
d. June 3, 2024 through June 28, 2024 (“2024 Summer Period”).
SECTION 5. New Attachment H (as attached to this Amendment) is hereby
incorporated into the Contract pursuant to Section 15.6 of the Contract.
2 of 4006247.0014641
163498.1
SECTION 6. Except as herein modified, all other provisions of the Contract,
including any exhibits and subsequent amendments thereto, shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 7. The recitals set forth above are terms of this Amendment and are fully
incorporated herein by this reference.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have by their duly authorized representatives
executed this Amendment on the date first above written.
Dated: ____________________________Dated: __________________________
CITY OF PALO ALTO PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT
_________________________________
Ed Shikada, City Manager ________________________________
Carolyn Chow, Chief Business Officer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
__________________________________
City Attorney or designee
3 of 4006247.0014641
163498.1
ATTACHMENT H - Palo Alto High School Tennis Courts
Palo Alto High School Tennis Courts
#7 #3
#2
#1#6
#5
#4