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Board reviews proposed Rennie Field lease tied to OPRD grant; questions linger on scope and long term terms
Summary
District staff outlined a proposed lease with Chehalem Parks & Rec (CPRD) to satisfy an Oregon Parks and Recreation Department grant condition requiring a formal lease for a track/turf project; board members sought geographic Exhibit A, lease term limits, and clarity on operational costs.
District staff presented a draft lease for Rennie Field that mirrors an existing intergovernmental agreement but responds to a condition from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). CPRD applied for OPRD funding and — according to staff — must produce a 25‑year lease for the portion of Rennie Field it will improve (the track and turf area) before OPRD releases funds to CPRD.
Staff said the district previously received $750,000 in grant funds and that CPRD recently modified its application to pursue approximately $1,000,000 for its portion. The lease under discussion is narrow in scope (staff emphasized it applies to the track portion, not the entire Rennie Field parcel) and will include an Exhibit A map that identifies the exact area before any board signature. The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) remains in place and will not be replaced; the lease provides the additional documentation OPRD requires.
Board members pressed for specifics: which legal lot or surveyed area will be leased, whether a multi‑decade lease could limit district options for future school expansion, and which utility and operational costs CPRD will assume. Staff said the lease includes a new provision requiring CPRD to cover water and sanitary sewer charges for a proposed restroom and related operational costs (metering and maintenance). Staff also said the district will retain ownership of the land and that appropriate clauses about first‑use priority during school hours are retained.
Staff noted prior capital work on Newberg High’s turf and track (2012 budgeted $1.2M; final cost about $1.5M) and cautioned that current grant dollars are likely to cover only part of a multi‑phase project that could require CPRD and district funds for additional site work, sidewalks and parking. The board did not vote on the lease; staff committed to returning the lease with Exhibit A and clearer cost and phasing details for future board action.
