San Benito County staff to audit Verizon lease and seek lighting bids after Veterans Park users raise safety, maintenance and revenue concerns

San Benito County staff said they will pull lease and accounting records and solicit contractor bids for lighting after residents, youth‑sports organizers and volunteers raised questions about a long‑running Verizon Wireless lease and a wide range of operations problems at Veterans Park.

The meeting on public park operations centered on two linked problems: (1) whether monthly rent from a county lease of telecommunications equipment — described in the meeting as $2,970.26 per month (about $30,000 a year) and referenced elsewhere in meeting materials as a $21,000‑per‑year line with a 3% annual increase — has been credited to the park’s dedicated fund or instead was routed to the county general fund; and (2) ongoing maintenance and safety issues at Veterans Park, including damaged irrigation, unreliable porta‑potties and restrooms, pest and trash problems, an aging parking lot, and a lack of permanent field lighting that users said creates safety risks during evening hours.

Why it matters: Youth leagues, volunteers and veterans’ groups said the park is a high‑use community asset — hosting hundreds of players and thousands of annual visits per speakers’ estimates — and that deferred maintenance and higher operating costs threaten program affordability and participant safety. Commissioners and staff said resolving the lease accounting and securing funding and quotes for lighting are priorities to reduce immediate safety risks.

What was said and decided

Staff reported that current lease receipts tied to the Verizon site are about $2,970.26 per month and that the county’s records-show a different routing of the funds in recent years. Multiple public speakers and at least one commissioner asked staff to trace the revenue historically and, if appropriate, seek retroactive transfers into the Veterans Park (also referred to in the meeting materials as Memorial Park) accounts. Staff told the commission they would request the lease and service documentation from the vendor and expect an update within a week.

Commissioners and speakers discussed whether the original lease covered a set number of antennas or “repeaters,” and whether additional equipment added later is generating unrecorded rent. A staff member said the vendor will be asked to confirm the contract scope and any rolled‑over renewal terms.

On lighting, speakers called the lack of wired field lights a top safety concern. Commissioners said funding for lighting exists in county plans and directed staff to solicit contractor quotes: the staff estimate was that contractors can respond in two to three weeks and that wired, hard‑line lighting is the county’s preferred option over solar because of long‑term reliability.

Park operations issues raised by user groups included: - Irrigation and water pressure problems (end‑of‑line pressure loss reported by multiple groups); - Septic/portable restroom failures and lack of reliable access to restrooms during events; - Trash and dumpster misuse and requests for larger/more frequent receptacle service; - Pest control (rodent) needs and questions about whether pest vendors cover all fields or only some areas; - Rising PG&E and staffing costs passed on to organizers, with several leagues reporting sharp increases in utility bills and referees/umpire pay.

Leagues and volunteer leaders urged the commission to prioritize repairs to the parking lot and striping, install lighting, and clarify which organizations are responsible for particular maintenance tasks. Speakers also requested that the county provide a single point of contact for urgent operational problems and a consolidated contact list so staff can notify user groups about planned work and minimize conflicts with scheduled programming.

Formal actions and next steps

- The commission approved consent to budget items at the start of the meeting (voice vote; motion and second recorded in the minutes). - Staff was directed to obtain Verizon contract documents and historical accounting entries, investigate whether prior payments should be moved into the Veterans/Memorial Park fund retroactively, and report back to the commission. - Staff was directed to solicit at least three contractor quotes for wired field lighting (staff estimated a 2–3 week turnaround to collect bids) and return with options and recommended next steps. - Commissioners discussed scheduling a follow‑up item in early January to review the accounting update and lighting proposals.

Community context and impacts

Speakers — league directors, coaches, volunteers and veterans — said the park supports youth programs (including special‑needs divisions), adult leagues and large weekend schedules that can draw hundreds of visitors on busy days. Several speakers said rising field and utility costs are forcing organizers to consider fee increases or cutbacks in programming, which they said would reduce access for low‑income families.

What remains unresolved

Staff committed to returning with vendor contract details, accounting histories, and lighting quotes; the commission did not approve a specific capital contract during the meeting. Several public speakers asked for retroactive accounting adjustments; staff said they would research the matter and report findings, but the meeting produced no immediate re‑allocation of funds.

Ending note

Commissioners and staff thanked the volunteers and league representatives for detailed reports and encouraged organizations to provide written contact information and program calendars so staff can coordinate scheduling and maintenance around high‑use dates.