Livingston narrows RecPlex work to grant deliverables after consultants present larger plan; city seeks fundraising and Measure V support

City Manager Jose Antonio Ramirez and recreation staff told the council June 3 that the city will focus RecPlex work on the specific deliverables required by the Prop 68 grant after consultants presented a broader plan that the city cannot fully fund today.

Why it matters: Livingston received a Prop 68 grant tied to the RecPlex purchase and renovations; staff said the grant imposes deliverables with a December 2027 deadline. City managers said a multi‑pronged funding strategy will be required to meet the grant conditions and advance initial site work.

What staff said

City Manager Jose Antonio Ramirez said the city received a $7,374,000 grant that helped acquire the building, and that staff told consultants to “focus on the needs and making sure that we we address those items that the grant require us to actually, complete. Why? Because we only have until December of 20 27 in order to, you know, meet those, grant requirements.” Ramirez said the full consultant plan included far more work and an approximate $27 million total estimate that the city cannot afford at once.

Ramirez and staff described a multi‑pronged implementation approach that includes:

- Prioritizing grant deliverables and essential site work that are required by Prop 68 and must be complete by the grant deadline. - Fundraising and private‑sector outreach, including potential naming rights for spaces and targeted corporate and foundation requests. - Searching for additional grants, including federal opportunities for community facilities and other funding sources. - Using existing local funds where possible (staff noted on‑ and off‑site improvements that could be paid from Measure V and other local sources) and seeking cost savings through city staff work where feasible.

Staff underscored that some RecPlex improvements are “off‑site” (curbs, sidewalks, ADA work) and can be advanced independently of major building construction; staff suggested these items as near‑term steps that can improve access while larger funding is pursued.

Council direction and next steps

- Ramirez told council he will impose a narrower scope for consultants to ensure the city first satisfies grant requirements, then identify further fundraising and grant opportunities. - Staff said the two consultant firms that have worked on the RecPlex will be asked to present a consolidated update to council; the city manager asked for a careful, timely briefing and recommended a fuller council update in early July so members and the public have a clear, prioritized list of needs and costs.

Speakers (attributed in article)

- Jose Antonio Ramirez, City Manager, City of Livingston - Jackie (Jack Ybonois), Recreation Superintendent, City of Livingston - Councilmember Paul, Councilmember

Authorities

- grant: Proposition 68 (state grant used toward RecPlex acquisition and deliverables) — referenced_by: ["recplex-project-and-grant"]

Actions

- No formal action taken June 3. City staff directed consultants to re-scope work to prioritize grant deliverables and to return with a consolidated update to council (staff requested to present by early July).

Discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: Council heard consultant scope, staff assessment of funding gap, and a plan to prioritize state grant deliverables. - Direction: City Manager told consultants to narrow the scope to grant deliverables and produce a prioritized, costed plan for council review.

Clarifying details

- Grant size: "$7,374,000" (city manager's summary of available Prop 68 funding for the project; part of that funding already used to acquire the building). - Grant deadline: deliverables must be complete by December 2027 (city manager statement). - Consultant estimate: staff cited a larger consultant plan with an estimated total cost that exceeded city funding (figure referenced in staff discussion; staff said they would prioritize needs).

Proper_names:[{"name":"RecPlex","type":"facility"},{"name":"Proposition 68","type":"other"},{"name":"Measure V","type":"other"}]

Community_relevance

- Geographies: RecPlex site and surrounding downtown corridors; off‑site improvements such as curbs, sidewalks and ADA access. - Funding sources: Prop 68 grant, Measure V, private fundraising, federal/community facility grants, development impact fees. - Impact groups: youth and adult recreation program participants, seniors (senior center), event vendors, facility renters.

Meeting_context

- Engagement_level: consultants previously briefed council; staff received the consultant plans and reassessed scope to match grant deliverables; council requested a follow‑up update. - Implementation_risk: high to medium — the project requires external fundraising and correct sequencing to meet grant deadlines. - History: purchase funded in part by Prop 68; consultants previously prepared broader plan and now are being asked to pare scope to grant requirements.

Searchable_tags:["RecPlex","Prop68","grant","capital project","facility"],

Provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_12199.829","local_start":0,"local_end":260,"evidence_excerpt":"The bottom line here is 1 of the main reason I'm here is to introduce myself to you...","tc_start":"02:06:39","tc_end":"02:06:52","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_12199.829-2","local_start":0,"local_end":368,"evidence_excerpt":"...we received a $7.37400000.0 dollar grant of which a certain dollar amount was used to actually purchase the actual building...we only have until December of 20 27 in order to...meet those, grant requirements.","tc_start":"02:06:39","tc_end":"02:07:32","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]},

salience:{"overall":0.78,"overall_justification":"Large single capital project tied to a state grant with a fixed deliverable deadline; funding gap requires council attention and external fundraising.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Facility serves local recreation and community needs.","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"Grant deadline December 2027 imposes time pressure.","follow_up_priority":8}}