DATE: May 18, 2005
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Allocation of District Two Community Projects Funds

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. Transfer appropriations of $300,000 from the District 2 Community Projects fund to the Department of Parks and Recreation, Org. 52811, Account 53666, for sports field improvements including the installation of a synthetic turf play surface at El Capitan High School.
2. Allocate $23,000 from the District Two Community Projects fund (Org. 0262) to La Mesa National Little League for the outstanding portion of the construction costs pertaining to the expansion of the field to regulation size, the construction of handicap accessible bathrooms, and the adjustment of the parking lot to accommodate the expanded field.
3. Allocate $23,832.20 from the District Two Community Projects fund (Org. 0262) to the Ramona Junior Fair Board to purchase a new tie wall for the steer barn and purchase two new storage units as well as new rabbit and cavies show cages.
4. Allocate $150,000.00 from the District Two Community Projects fund (Org. 0262) to the to the Ramona Parks and Recreation Association to purchase aluminum bleachers for the Fred Grand Arena at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center.
5. Allocate $8,137.28 from the District Two Community Projects fund (Org.0262) to the Ramona Wrestling Club to purchase a new wrestling mat.
6. Allocate $150,000 to the Grossmont Union High School District to go toward the cost of installing lighting at the athletic stadium at Steele Canyon High School.
7. Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to execute grant agreements with the organizations listed in Recommendations 2 through 7, establishing terms for receipt of the funds described above.
8. Allocate $50,000 to the San Diego Rural Fire Protection District to be used toward the purchase of a County owned property (County Parcel 2005-0104-A) ideally located on Harbison Canyon Road to be used as site for the construction of a future fire station.
9. Find that these grant awards have a public purpose.

FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of these recommendations is $654,969.48. The funding source is FY 04-05 District Two Community Projects. This action will result in the addition of no new staff years and no future costs.

BACKGROUND:
El Capitan High School, located in the community of Lakeside, is part of the Grossmont Union High School District, and home to approximately 2,000 students. Facilities at the school include a multi-use sports field. During regular school hours the field is used by the high school students for various sports activities. When school is not in session, the field is available for use by community residents and for league sports. Due to the high demand for sports fields in the community of Lakeside, the field at El Capitan High School is heavily used. Years of extensive use have rendered the field overused and have diminished the field’s recreational value. Grossmont Union High School District is proposing to rehabilitate the field through the installation of a synthetic turf play surface. Today’s allocation of $300,000 will be used to partner with the Grossmont Union High School District for field improvements at El Capitan High School in Lakeside.

La Mesa Memorial Park holds many memories for East County residents. Built in 1953, generations of youngsters have played baseball on Memorial Field. The La Mesa National Little League has committed to maintain and upgrade the park through the Memorial Field Project, but has some unresolved financial obligations relating to the project. Today’s allocation of $23,000 to the La Mesa National Little League will be used to pay the outstanding portion of the construction costs pertaining to the expansion of the field to regulation size, the construction of handicap accessible bathrooms, and the adjustment of the parking lot to accommodate the expanded field.

Ramona is well known across the region for its annual Junior Fair. Held on the grounds of Wellfield Park, the Ramona Junior Fair showcases the agricultural achievements of more than 400 young people ranging in age from five to 19 years old. In an effort to continue hosting a safe, enjoyable, and successful Junior Fair event for years to come, the Ramona Junior Fair Board has asked for funding to purchase a new tie wall for the steer barn and purchase two new storage units as well as new rabbit and cavies show cages. Today’s action will allocate $23,832.20 to the Ramona Junior Fair Board to purchase a new tie wall, two new storage units and new rabbit and cavies show cases.

The Ramona Rodeo is an event that is attended by thousands of lovers of the sport from all over the county and beyond. This year will mark the twenty-fifth year that Ramona has held the Ramona Rodeo in the Fred Grand Arena at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, and the wooden bleachers show it. Today’s allocation of $150,000 will be used to purchase aluminum bleachers to replace the wooden ones at the Fred Grand Arena at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center.

The Ramona Wrestling Club has provided a safe place for youth to receive quality wrestling training for many years. The Club’s hand-me-down mat has been split and repaired several times, but it is on its last legs. Today’s action will allocate $8,137.28 to the Ramona Wrestling Club to purchase a new wrestling mat.

The athletic fields at Steele Canyon High School are used extensively by both high school student-athletes and community sports groups. During the winter months when the sun sets before 5:00p.m., practices are cut short and the use of the field is eliminated because of the lack of lighting. Lighting the stadium would allow for home football, soccer, and track events and bring a sense of community pride. Today’s allocation of $150,000 will be used to partner with the Grossmont Union High School District to for the Steele Canyon stadium lighting project. The school district will prepare the appropriate environmental review and/or make the appropriate CEQA findings before approving the stadium lighting project.

During the 2003 firestorm, the San Diego Rural Fire Protection District lost a fire station as the Cedar Fire swept through the community of Harbison Canyon. While residents are coming together to rebuild their community, they have not seen any progress in rebuilding the fire station. The previous fire station was located on an undesirable piece of property that is unsuitable for the current and future needs of the community. The San Diego Rural Fire Protection District has had discussions with the County regarding a County owned property (County Parcel 2005-0104-A) ideally located on Harbison Canyon Road to be used as site for the construction of a future fire station. Today’s allocation of $50,000 will close the gap between available funding and the value of the property, and enable the Fire District to purchase this property. This action will greatly assist the Fire District in being able to adequately serve the residents of Harbison Canyon.

I urge your support!

Respectfully submitted,

DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District