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Livingston council hears plan to use Prop 68 money to build first phase of RecPlex
Summary
City staff and consultants presented a phased plan for a recreation complex funded largely with Prop 68 and Measure V money, recommending construction of a new multipurpose building and park infrastructure to meet a state deadline in December 2027 while pursuing additional grants for future phases.
Livingston — City staff and consultants told the City Council on Aug. 5 that the city will use its remaining Prop 68 grant money and Measure V funds to build a first-phase recreation building and related site work — a move designed to satisfy grant requirements and keep the larger RecPlex project alive while officials pursue additional funding.
The update, presented by consultant Gregor and summarized by City Manager Jose Ramirez, outlined a plan to take the back half of the Livingston Farmers Association building’s high-bay area and construct a new multipurpose recreation building and associated sidewalks, parking and site improvements. Gregor said of the grant deadline, "This portion of the project . . . needs to be open and operational be by or on, December 2027." Ramirez and the consultants said the approach is to execute a critical first phase now and add other elements later as grant funding becomes available.
Why it matters: Prop 68 grants carry deadlines and required deliverables; if the city does not open the portion of the project that satisfies the grant’s requirements by the state deadline, the city could be required to return funds. The council heard that escalating construction costs make a full retrofit of the existing large Farmers Association building financially infeasible with the funds currently on hand, so staff proposed a smaller new building as the deliverable that can be completed on time.
Consultants described the project as a multipurpose indoor space — often labeled a basketball court but intended for a range of community uses — plus studios, lobbies, storage and restrooms. The presentation said the city has approximately $4.8 million of the Prop 68 award available now for the first phase; earlier in the project cycle the city had applied for and been awarded about $7 million in Prop 68 money. Ramirez and the consultants said the existing building retrofit was estimated at roughly $6 million and would exceed the funds available for this grant-driven phase.
Council members and members of the public asked about specific elements: square footage, uses, site ownership and future park amenities. The consultants said the new building concept is about 7,500 square feet and that asbestos removal in the existing structure will be a separate early task; the city also pays about $1,000 a month for the senior center and could ultimately relocate it to the renovated space. Ramirez said some additional off-site sidewalk and park work would be funded with Measure V (the council discussed using both the 80% and 20% portions of Measure V), and staff said they are pursuing other grants and meeting with state officials and the city’s assemblywoman to seek funding.
Public commenters and council members raised follow-on issues including whether the plan could include two courts instead of one multipurpose court, whether portions of streets or alleys could be abandoned to expand the site, and how the planned transit-oriented development and the future ACE station tie into the larger master plan. Consultant Gregor said additional court(s) might be feasible but would push the design toward the limits of available funds. Ramirez and the consultant team also noted coordination with Caltrans and the railroad would likely be required for any additional property acquisition.
The city described next steps as beginning design in the coming weeks, with the consultants estimating nine months for design and permitting before construction and with the December 2027 grant deadline driving the schedule. Staff also said they will continue to aggressively pursue other grant funding and to use Measure V and other resources to complete future phases. Council members requested more regular numerical updates on budget and schedule as the project progresses.
Ending: Staff asked the council for questions and said the next project steps will be design, permitting and fundraising to support later phases; the consultants and Ramirez emphasized the priority of meeting the Prop 68 open-by date while continuing to seek additional grant match and land acquisitions for the larger master plan.
