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DATE: February 8, 2005
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Improving Places for Kids to Play and Stay Healthy

SUMMARY:
Several communities in East County have demonstrated a need for improvements to their recreational facilities, and have shown that they are prepared to work together with other jurisdictions and community members to provide their children with opportunities to play and stay healthy. This action will provide funds to several communities to improve and develop recreational facilities in East County.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Supervisor Dianne Jacob:

  1. Find that the Ramona Pony Baseball project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301.
  2. Authorize Ramona Pony Baseball to use $21,347 of previously awarded District Two Community Projects funds (FY 03-04) to upgrade their snack bar and board room building.
  3. Find that the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report on file in the Department of Planning and Land Use as Environmental Review Number 96-19-007 and the Addendum thereto as Environmental Review Number 96-19-007A for the McGrath Family YMCA were completed in compliance with the CEQA and state and County guidelines and that the Board of Supervisors reviewed and considered the information contained therein before approving the project.
  4. Find that there are no changes in the YMCA project or in the circumstances under which it is undertaken which involve significant new environmental impacts which were not considered in the previously certified Subsequent EIR, or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects, and that no new information of substantial importance has become available since the Subsequent EIR and Addendum were prepared.
  5. Allocate $140,726 in District Two Community Projects funding (FY 04-05) to the McGrath Family YMCA in Rancho San Diego to be used in the development of one baseball/softball combination field and one soccer field, which will be part of the first phase of the McGrath Family YMCA.
  6. Allocate $127,033 to the Cajon Valley Union School District for construction costs for two full-size soccer fields and one smaller soccer field at Meridian Elementary School in El Cajon.
  7. Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to execute an amendment to the grant agreement with Ramona Pony Baseball to allow use of the funds as described above. The amendment to the grant agreement shall be approved by County Counsel.
  8. Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to execute grant agreements with the Cajon Valley Union School District and McGrath Family YMCA establishing terms for receipt of the funds described above.
  9. Find that the grant awards described above have a public purpose.

FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of these recommendations is $289,106. The funding source for these items is previously allocated FY 03-04 District Two Community Projects, and FY 04-05 District Two Community Projects. This action will result in the addition of no new staff years and no future costs.

BACKGROUND:
Ramona Pony Baseball has always done a tremendous job of stretching their dollars to turn run-down baseball facilities into beautiful, safe fields, snack bars and stands. This project will certainly go a long way for the youth and adults who enjoy the park as athletes, spectators or coaches. On May 18, 2004, (19) the Board approved an allocation of $30,050 to Ramona Pony Baseball to upgrade gates and fencing at their facility. However, Ramona Pony Baseball was unable to spend $21,347 of the allocation for the approved purpose. Today's action will authorize Ramona Pony Baseball to use the $21,347 in unspent funding to upgrade their snack bar and board room building.

The YMCA has a long history of enhancing the lives of San Diego County residents through quality programs, professionalism and by responding to developing trends in the community. The recent approval of the Rancho San Diego McGrath Family YMCA has been long awaited by the residents of Rancho San Diego. Today's action will allocate $140,726 in District Two Community Projects funding (FY 04-05) to the McGrath Family YMCA in Rancho San Diego to be used in the development of one baseball/softball combination field and one soccer field, which will be part of the first phase of the McGrath Family YMCA.

The Cajon Valley Union School District partnered with the City of El Cajon to create a grass sports field at Meridian Elementary School in El Cajon. This 5-acre complex was recently constructed and includes two full-size soccer fields and one smaller soccer field for younger players. This facility provides a safe place to play for youth in the City of El Cajon, as well as in the unincorporated area. The total cost of the project is $479,913, of which $127,033 remains unpaid. The allocation of $127,033 to the Cajon Valley Union School District will be used to pay the outstanding portion of the construction cost for this recreation facility.

I urge your support!

Respectfully submitted,

DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District