Title
Review and Recommend Alameda Soccer Club Project Scope to Renovate the Tennis Courts Adjacent to the Hornet Soccer Field.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Recommend Alameda Soccer Club Project Scope to Renovate the Tennis Courts Adjacent to the Hornet Soccer Field.
BACKGROUND
On July 14, 2016, the Recreation and Parks Commission approved and recommended to City Council, the Alameda Soccer Club’s proposal to renovate the tennis courts that are adjacent to the Hornet Soccer Field for use as additional soccer and futsal practice area, as an amendment to the existing Hornet Soccer Field lease and with the condition that recycled tire crumb rubber not be used as an infill for synthetic turf.
On November 15, 2016, the City Council approved an amendment to Hornet Field license agreement with the Alameda Soccer Club to include the operation and maintenance of the adjacent tennis courts for additional soccer field space. This license agreement expires in February 2019.
On May 11, 2017, the Alameda Soccer Club made a report to the Commission on its progress and several Commissioners expressed concern that the project scope had expanded beyond the original approval and requested that more information be provided for review and approval on the June 8, 2017 agenda.
DISCUSSION
Since the final approval last November, the Alameda Soccer Club (ASC) board of directors have done significant work to clear the courts of all debris and weeds as well as address trees that were overhanging the fence and created a potential hazard.
Meanwhile ASC was working with the San Jose Earthquakes and the US Soccer Foundation (USSF) about potential funding of the improvements. ASC determined that synthetic turf, especially with a non-rubber crumb infill as required by the Recreation and Parks Commission, was too expensive. Their original intention was to install donated, used synthetic turf but that has rubber crumb infill. ASC decided that a better solution was to do an acrylic surface, similar to a tennis court surfacing.
USSF has now confirmed that they will fund one of the three proposed courts including the surfacing, painting lines/logos, goal installation, interior fencing and fence windscreens. This will be done by a contractor employed by USSF. This work is valued at an estimated $40,000. USSF requires that ASC fund the asphalt repair and preparation for the one court prior to their contractor’s work. ASC has estimated the repair and prep work to cost $24,000 which is within their budget allocated for this project.
USSF also will fund the “Soccer for Success” program with the Alameda Boys and Girls Club. ASC is required to provide the Alameda Boys and Girls Club the necessary space on the court at least three times per week for two hours each day for two 12 week sessions each year for “Soccer for Success.” ASC has been in discussion with the Boys and Girls Club, who is interested in the opportunity.
USSF is ready to start as soon as the project is approved and the court is repaired and prepped.
Discussions are continuing regarding the length of term requirement for USSF. Since this facility is located within Enterprise Park, which is under State Land Commission (Tidelands), there are specific regulations of allowable uses. An athletic field or playground is considered a non-compliant use and is therefore a temporary use. The City may only enter into a maximum of a five year license agreement for these use types.
The differences from the previous proposal from ASC include the following:
Original Proposal
• Three courts
• Synthetic turf or rubberized
• Tie the project to the remainder of the Hornet Field License Agreement (approximately two years with the potential for another five years)
Updated Proposal
• One court surfaced instead of three courts, located closest to the water near the Bay Trail. ASC would then work to identify other potential donors to fund the repair and lining of the other two courts.
• Acrylic surfacing
• Potential to renew a five-year Hornet Field License Agreement that includes this project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to the City from this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and recommend Alameda Soccer Club project scope to renovate the tennis courts adjacent to the Hornet Soccer Field.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Excerpt from Recreation and Parks Commission meeting minutes of July 14, 2016