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Escalon approves termination and settlement with school district; district to pay $300,000 and grant limited field use
Summary
Council approved a termination and settlement agreement with Escalon Unified School District: the district will pay the city $300,000 for the city's interest in the former high‑school pool, share demolition costs (city share estimated ~$75,000) and provide up to 40 days/year for city recreation use of specified district fields for three years.
The Escalon City Council approved a termination and settlement agreement with the Escalon Unified School District that transfers the city’s ownership interest in the school‑pool facility to the district and sets terms for the parties’ next steps.
Staff recounted the agreement’s history: a 2000 contract allocated 39.84% of the pool to the city and 60.16% to the district. A joint "value in use" appraisal put the facility’s current value at $1,100,000, making the city's theoretical share about $442,000. The negotiated settlement reduces that to a $300,000 payment from the district to the city; the city also agreed to share in demolition costs, with staff estimating the city's demolition share at about $75,000, leaving a net of roughly $225,000. The district also agreed to provide the city up to 40 days per year of access to designated fields and courts for three years for recreation programs, with the possibility of future expansion if the arrangement works.
Councilmembers and members of the public debated tradeoffs. Some speakers urged taking the payment and directing funds toward expanding Hogan Park field capacity and water infrastructure. Others expressed concern that the district has previously limited community access and urged protecting long‑term recreation interests.
The settlement directs staff to execute the agreement and continue discussions with the district about possible expansion of community access after the pilot period. City staff reminded council that if the parties waited to the contract’s natural end of term (the 30‑year expiration), payment to the city would occur years later (the report noted 2030 as a potential end point), which would delay any resolution and defer funds needed for recreation planning.
Next steps: the city manager was authorized to execute the agreement; staff will track demolition costs, manage the three‑year field‑use pilot and return to council with options for use of settlement proceeds (including potential Hogan Park improvements).
