What may have seemed a simple subject —extending the city’s lease of the football and baseball fields to the Douglas Unified School District — became somewhat contentious due to some concerns that the district had overstepped its bounds as a tenant.
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The concerns from the city revolve around the demolition of the concrete portion of the football stadium on the west side, naming of the field and putting up a telecommunications tower all without notifying the city of the changes.
“I am concerned about all of these changes without the permission of the city,” said Mayor Dr. Michael Gomez.
“I believe it is important to partner with the school district, but we should not find out about these changes to our facility after the fact.”
Council member Margaret Morales agreed and said that any proposed changes should be brought to the council at least 90 days prior to the beginning of executing planning for those changes.
She also pointed out that she believed the $1 million liability policy required in the lease may not be enough and suggested the $1 million liability plus a $2 million umbrella policy.
“We are responsible to the citizens of Douglas,” said Councilmember Bob Fernandez. “No entity should go out on their own and make the determination on a facility that affects them both. We should have been notified just out of courtesy.”
Ivan Huish said some aspects of the contract need to be updated to show the assets that the school district has added, like the all-weather track.
But he also questioned the need for adding artificial turf to the field.
“For that same $800,000, the district could purchase the property and not have to worry about a lease at all.”
DUSD Athletic Director Randy Walker said that the turf would pay for itself in about eight years, and help alleviate some of the injuries that occur on the football field when soccer season begins. He said injuries increase because the soccer players have to contend with a field that has been “torn up” in the fall and doesn’t have time to recuperate.
Council member Mitch Lindemann and Ray Shelton believed the current lease agreement was adequate and the city needs to continue to maintain the relationship with the district. Both council members have a close working relationship with the school district.
In the end the council unanimously agreed to approve the lease with the 90-day notice, increased insurance and updated inventory.
In other action, the council conducted the third reading of Ordinance 09-970, an ordinance of the Mayor and Council to accept a donation of real property from the Halpern and Margolis family of unimproved real property
Comments
food for though wrote on Mar 24, 2010 12:06 PM: