Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Schools Joint Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves new master joint-use agreement with Long Beach Unified to formalize shared use of school and city facilities
Summary
The city adopted a five-year master joint-use agreement with Long Beach Unified School District to formalize reciprocal use of gyms, fields, pools and classrooms; the agreement establishes fees for direct costs, a facilities management committee and a master use calendar.
The Long Beach City Council on June 3 approved a new master joint-use agreement with the Long Beach Unified School District to formalize reciprocal access to school and city facilities for recreational, educational and civic activities.
Parks, Recreation and Marine staff described the program as an update to a 1996 agreement that had been operating month-to-month since its 2006 expiration. Sherlyn Beatty, Partnerships Officer, and Brent Dennis (Parks, Recreation and Marine) told the council the updated agreement opens most city and district facilities for reciprocal use while excluding specialty sites such as golf courses, tennis centers and facilities already covered by third-party contracts.
Key changes include a five-year term with two optional five-year renewals, charges for direct costs (for example, utilities and staffing) when applicable, and the creation of a Facilities Management Committee (FMC) made of equal city and district representatives to manage a master use calendar, resolve conflicts and oversee operational coordination. “At the beginning of the year, they’re gonna establish that master use calendar,” staff said, calling the FMC the operational body to ensure equitable and efficient scheduling.
Council members praised the long-negotiated agreement and its emphasis on equity. Councilwoman Kerr said she originally pushed for an updated joint-use agreement years ago when serving on the school board and thanked staff and district partners for completing the work. Council members asked how the FMC would operate and whether community groups could provide input; staff said the FMC would be a working operational group with outreach channels for community feedback and that community groups would continue to make reservations through the department’s reservation system as third parties.
Council action: The council voted to adopt the master joint-use agreement (motion and second; vote recorded as carried on the record). The agreement will be coordinated with the school district, which staff said planned to consider the agreement at its next meeting.
Ending: Staff said they will work with the district to implement the FMC, finalize the site‑specific exhibits for facilities with unique funding or maintenance arrangements, and begin using the master schedule to manage reservations.
