San Benito County parks update: Verizon offers $429,000 prepayment as supervisors, commissioners weigh parking, permits and staffing

Public Works Administrator Steve Loop told the San Benito County Parks and Recreation Commission that several park projects are moving forward but hinge on permit timelines, grant deadlines and a contract decision involving the on-site cell tower at Veterans Park.

"Good evening, commissioners. Steve Loop, public works administrator, and I'll be providing an update to various capital improvement projects that are ongoing for the parks in our county," Loop said, outlining work from Veterans Park to Riverview Regional Park and San Juan Oaks.

Loop said final repairs, interior and exterior lighting and painting remain for an existing restroom building at Veterans Park and a contract for that work is currently under review by county administration and county counsel. He said staff expect contractor work to take three to four weeks after contract approval.

The county recently received an option from Verizon — the cell-tower owner on the Veterans Park site — to prepay the lease with a lump-sum payment of $429,000 instead of continuing a month-to-month arrangement Loop described as roughly $1,600 per month. Loop said staff will present the funding/contract options to the Board of Supervisors because it is both a funding and contract decision, and, if the board approves the prepayment, the county park commission would later consider allocating the money to a parking-lot and lighting project for Veterans Park.

"I forwarded the contract from…