Title
Request to Enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with Laveen School District No. 59 for the Joint Use and Maintenance of a School/Park Site (Ordinance S-51856) - District 8
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Laveen Elementary School District No. 59 for the joint use and maintenance of a school/park site of City-owned property located north of the northeast corner of S. 59th Avenue and W. Olney Avenue in Phoenix, Arizona.
Additionally, request the City Council to grant an exception pursuant to Phoenix City Code § 42-20 to authorize inclusion in the documents pertaining to this transaction of indemnifications and assumption of liability provisions that otherwise would be prohibited by Phoenix City Code § 42-18, as tenancy agreements include such provisions.
Report
Summary
In 2005, the City purchased the roughly 40-acre site located at 59th and Olney avenues with the intent on developing a future community park. However, funding is not available to develop and maintain a park at this site. In 2019, the Laveen School District (District) began to engage in discussions with the Parks and Recreation Department regarding a partnership for the use of a portion of the park property to build a school. The Laveen area has been experiencing explosive growth over recent years and within the neighborhood of the park, there are new developments that will add about 660 homes to the community. To meet the needs of the growing community, the District proposed to build a K-8 school to serve the area. The Parks and Recreation Department recognized the partnership would be beneficial to both parties by enabling the District to build a school, including sports courts, fields and a playground on approximately 20 acres of the 40-acre park site. In turn, the recreational amenities would be programmed outside of school hours by the Parks and Recreation Department. The development of the IGA outlines the responsibilities of both parties for the joint use of the school/park site. All recreational amenities, park infrastructure and park furniture, other than sports field lighting, on the 20-acre school/park site would be maintained by the District. It is the intent of the Parks Department to develop the remaining 20-acres into a park in the future. In the meantime, residents in this area have access to a recently developed neighborhood park just over a mile away and have access to additional neighborhood parks and a regional park in the Laveen area.
Concurrently with this IGA, the Parks and Recreation Department and Laveen School District have entered into a 75-year Lease Agreement for the purpose of constructing, maintaining and operating a public-school facility on approximately 20 acres of the undeveloped 40-acre park parcel.
Contract Term
The term of the IGA will begin on July 1, 2025, and remain in effect for the duration of the Lease Agreement.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was approved by the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board on August 25, 2022.
Location
North of the northeast corner of S. 59th Avenue and W. Olney Avenue, identified by Maricopa County Assessor parcel number 300-02-060B.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Parks and Recreation Department.