Title
Intergovernmental Agreement with Deer Valley Unified School District (Ordinance S-51096)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Deer Valley Unified School District for shared use and maintenance of City property located at North Stetson Hills Loop and West Hackamore Drive. Further, request to grant an exception pursuant to Phoenix City Code section 42-18 authorizing indemnification or assumption of liability provisions that otherwise would be prohibited. There is no financial impact associated with this item.
Report
Summary
The Parks and Recreation Department (Parks) owns an approximate 10-acre parcel of property in north Phoenix on the northeast corner of North Stetson Hills Loop and West Hackamore Drive. Parks also intends to purchase at auction the adjacent hillside property currently owned by the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD). If successful, Parks plans to add the land into its preserve inventory and develop a trail on the hillside property with connectivity to the Deem Hills trail system. The existing City-owned parcel will also be developed and it will include a parking lot.
Parks has been working with the Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) on the City's proposed plan, since the ASLD hillside property is currently leased to DVUSD and a modification to their lease would be necessary. Included in the City's proposed plan is an opportunity to partner with DVUSD for shared-use and maintenance of the planned parking lot and trail access for students at Sandra Day O'Connor High School. Some of the key terms that will be included in the IGA are as follows:
- City will be responsible for the construction of a parking lot at the site.
- Dedicated parking spaces will be available to students of DVUSD during school hours.
- Maintenance and repair of the parking lot will be the responsibility of DVUSD.
- DVUSD may install a security camera at the parking lot.
- A 250-foot setback will be developed to create a natural separation between the school and preserve land, including the planting of additional vegetation in key areas.
- Preserve land will be used by the students of DVUSD for recreation and educational purposes that comply with Phoenix City Charter Chapter XXVI.
- Other than the trail system developed by the City, DVUSD may propose and fund addition trail alignments as approved by the City.
- Park Rangers will monitor the trail access point as part of their regular patrols.
Upon the City's successful acquisition of the ASLD property, the IGA will be executed.
Concurrence/Previous Action
- The City's proposed plan was presented for discussion to the DVUSD Governing Board on April 11, 2023.
- The item including, the City's Letter of Intent, was presented for action to the DVUSD Governing Board on May 9, 2023, in which it was approved by a vote of 5-0.
Public Outreach
The City's proposed plan was presented at a public meeting held on Sept. 25, 2023. Notice was sent by first-class mail to each property owner in the Stetson Valley and Stetson Hills communities.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact associated with the IGA.
Location
N. 39th Avenue and W. Hackamore Drive
Council District: 1
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Parks and Recreation Department.