PREPARED BY: CHARLES CHING DATE OF MEETING: 5/20/2024
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AND THE CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT FOR THE JOINT USE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2600 CASTRO ROAD
CEQA: This proposed action is not a Project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution
Body
Compliance statements
Explore Feasibility of Pursuing a Public Interest Land Conveyance on Hunter Hall US Army Reserve Center - 2600 Castro Road is a Council Priority under the FY 2023-25 City Council Priority Workplan, effective May 1, 2023.
BACKGROUND
The City’s corporation yard (Corporation Yard) is currently located at 1515 Folsom Avenue. The Corporation Yard is outdated and does not have sufficient space and capacity for the City’s current and future operational needs. The City has identified the Hunter Hall Army Reserve Center located at 2600 Castro Road (Site) as an ideal site for the City’s future Corporation Yard.
The Site is owned by the US Army. Over the years, the City has observed limited activity and use of this facility. After several unsuccessful attempts at contacting US Army on its operational status and potential use, the City contacted the City’s Congressional representative, John Garamendi to request assistance on the City’s potential interest in the Site for future develop and use as the City’s Corporation Yard.
On February 5, 2024, the City Council of the City of San Pablo adopted Resolution 2024-015, adding “Explore feasibility of pursuing a public interest land conveyance (i.e. property transfer) on Hunter Hall Army Reserve Center - 2600 Castro Road, San Pablo” to the City Council Priority Workplan, with the intent that the property be used as a future Corporation Yard.
The City has been working with its lobbyist, Townsend Public Affairs, on the potential for transferring ownership of the Site to the City. On February 5, 2024, the City, through the Mayor, transmitted a letter to Congressman John Garamendi requesting his support of the City’s pursuit of a public interest land conveyance of the Site to the City per Federal surplus regulations. Congressman Garamendi’s office has legislated many such public interest conveyances in the past, including the Port of Stockton at the decommissioned Sharpe Army Depot through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) process via the Armed Services Congresssional Committee where Congressman John Garamendi is the Democratic ranking member
Given the Site’s proximity to Contra Costa College campus, (, the City reached out to the Contra Costa Community College District (College District) to explore the possibility of a joint use of the Site. The College District expressed interest in using a portion of the Site for parking and classroom space, including for future workforce development partnerships.
On February 20, 2024, the City Manager transmitted a letter to College District Chancellor Mojdeh Mehdizadeh expressing the City’s interest in developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the College’s joint use of the Site to expand parking and classroom space for workforce development programs.
The attached MOU was approved by the College District’s Governing Board on May 8, 2024. The proposed resolution approves and authorizes the City’s execution of the same MOU which will reflect the joint use of both the City and Colllege District’s future property interests for the Site in the future
Additional future agreements may be required between the City and College District to solidify our future joint development and use of the Site once the public land conveyance transfer is deemed complete to the City per Federal surplus requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The execution of the proposed MOU does not have any fiscal impact to the City.
ATTACHMENTS
Att A - Proposed Resolution
Att B - MOU