DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 2
SUBJECT:
License Agreement with Eastside Christian Action Group
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes the execution of a License Agreement with Eastside Christian Action Group for the continued operation, maintenance and use of the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, located in Martin Luther King Park and the Wheatley Heights flood buyout property in Council District 2. The term of the agreement is for five (5) years, beginning on the date of execution with up to two (2) additional five (5) year renewal options, subject to the approval of City Council for a total maximum term of fifteen (15) years; no City funds are associated with this action.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2008, voters approved a Bexar County Venue Tax Program (BCVTP) that provided funding for various amateur sports organizations to develop or expand sports complexes to serve local teams and enhance tourism. Eastside Christian Action Group (ECAG) was selected by Bexar County to receive $7,500,000.00 from the venue tax for the development of a sports complex. Pursuant to Ordinance 2009-06-18-0532, ECAG entered into a License Agreement with the City to develop, operate and maintain the Wheatley Heights Sports Complex (WHSC) which is located on approximately 170 acres in Martin Luther King Park and in the Wheatley Heights area. Since the execution of the initial license agreement, ECAG has added amenities including a football field, an eight lane running track, stadium seating, and a parking lot located at the northern area of Martin Luther King Park.
Under a new, managing consortium established by ECAG at the facility with George Gervin Youth Center and Standard of Athletics, over 107,000 people attended approximately 160 events at the stadium complex from June 2015 through June 2016. In lieu of rental fees, ECAG will operate and continue to maintain the licensed premises and they will bear financial responsibility for any improvements during the term of this License Agreement.
ISSUE:
This ordinance will authorize the execution of a License Agreement with ECAG for the continued use and operation of the WHSC, located in Martin Luther King Park and the Wheatley Heights area for five (5) years, beginning on the date of execution; with up to two (2) additional five (5) year renewal options, subject to the approval of City Council for a total maximum term of fifteen (15) years. This action is consistent with other License Agreements.
ALTERNATIVES:
If this License Agreement was not to be authorized, an alternative would be for the City to issue a request for proposals for a sports organization to manage and operate the complex. The City could also elect to place the fields on the reservation system whereby the City would be responsible for the maintenance of the facility, which would have a corresponding budgetary impact.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Under the terms of the License Agreement, ECAG will continue to use the sports complex at no charge, in return ECAG is responsible for the costs associated with the operations, maintenance, and improvements of the premises. There is no financial impact to the City’s budget with this action.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval and execution of the License Agreement with Eastside Christian Action Group.