Item 15 - Centennial Park Land Conversion

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Centennial Park Land Conversion February 1, 2022 Page 2 license agreement because they found that the operation of the Center did not comply with the deed restrictions for the land upon which the College is located in Centennial Park. In order for the City to enter into a long-term license agreement with the College, NPS must approve a land conversion. The land conversion includes a requirement of the City to transfer the deed conditions (property to be used for recreational or public parks purposes only) for the land where the Center is located to new parks sites of equal recreation value and size. The three replacement properties selected for the land conversion are located at Raitt-Myrtle Street Park (1.09 acres), 6th and Lacy Street Park (0.42 acres), and Pacific Electric Park (1.25 acres). Collectively these replacement properties would impose a condition of exclusive use for public park and recreation purposes, as required pursuant to the Act. The original 30-year agreement with the College was set to expire on November 5, 2009 and the parties, under the same conditions, agreed upon a 5-year extension of the license in 2009 and again in 2014. On February 28, 2019, the NPS allowed the City to extend the license agreement between the City and College for up to two years. On March 5, 2019, the City Council approved a two-year license agreement extension with the College expiring November 5, 2021. On October 15, 2019, the City approved a ground lease agreement with the College for a period of 85 years from October 16, 2019 to October 15, 2104, conditioned upon the NPS approval of the land conversion related to the deed restrictions on the property. Over that past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic and missing L shape parcel continued to stall the land conversion. During the process of the working on the Deed of Release and the Declaration of Restrictions for the exchange, the City could not find the deed/parcel area that runs between the college parcel and park site. This reverse L shape parcel, is between three Quit Claim Deeds and is 21.05 ft. wide running north/south and 52 ft. wide running east/west was mistakenly not transferred over to the City in the original conveyances. The City's efforts to process this land conversion with the NPS has lasted an unbelievable 13 years. Due to help from outside consultants, Congressman Lou Correa, Chancellor Martinez, and assistance from the Department of Interior, the land conversion is moving forward. City staff is requesting City Council approval of the following to conclude the land conversion process: 1) Acknowledge the City Manager's acceptance of Quit Claim Deed (pursuant to her authority under SAMC Section 33-55) for the missing L shape parcel located in the middle that was mistakenly not transferred over to the City in the original conveyances (Exhibit 1). 2) Adopt a resolution accepting the Deed of Release (Exhibit 2) removing the recreational deed condition from the 2.42-acre parcel at Centennial Park.