Approve a Joint Use Agreement and first amendment to the Land Use Memorandum of Understanding, Agreement No. 22-130, with Woodland Joint Unified School District concerning the Knights Landing Community Park. (No general fund impact) (Pistochini)

The County and the Woodland Joint Unified School District (WJUSD) have partnered together to bring a new community park to Knights Landing. This park will be located on WJUSD-owned property adjacent to the Sci-Tech Academy.  The Board and WJUSD entered into a 30-year Memorandum of Understanding with WJUSD, which the Board approved on June 28, 2022 (see Board agent item here for background), and describes the approved recreational facilities as well as the terms and conditions for the joint use of the park by the County and WJUSD.  The 2022 MOU (Agreement No. 22-130) is included as Attachment C for reference.  As the WJUSD staff report noted when the 2022 MOU was approved, the "MOU is in the best interest of the school district and the community of Knights Landing and eastern Yolo County, its citizens and school children to participate in providing recreation services in Knights Landing." 

At the time of approval in June 2022, the MOU contemplated that the park would be constructed in three phases due to funding constraints. With the additional funding approved by the Board of Supervisors this year, the phasing is no longer required.  The County and WJUSD have been working collaboratively on construction timing and the Board of Supervisors approved the Plans and Specifications for the Recreation Center Facilities on July 25, 2023. The Knights Landing community park is expected to break ground in Spring 2024 with construction completed in late Summer 2024.

Amendment of the MOU with WJUSD regarding the park property is required to reflect the new project timeline. The attached First Amendment (Attachment A) clarifies that the license for the entire property was effective as of July 1, 2023 and that the 30-year term of the license commenced from July 1, 2023 with an option to extend for an additional five years. 

In addition, the MOU required the parties to enter into a more detailed joint use agreement to be included as an exhibit to the MOU. The proposed Joint Use Agreement is attached as Exhibit B.  The Joint Use Agreement lays out the hours of use, WJUSD's priority for use of the park during school hours, athletics events, and the County's maintenance obligations, consistent with the terms of the MOU. 

Staff of the County and WJUSD negotiated and agreed in principle to the amendment to the MOU (Attachment A) and the Joint Use Agreement (Attachment B), which require approval by Board of Supervisors and the WJUSD Board of Trustees.

The General Services Department collaborated with the County Counsel's Office and the Woodland Joint Unified School District.

Not applicable.