Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
After Prop 64 review, council directs staff to seek $100,000 for skate‑park design and to return remaining funds to school for bathrooms and ADA
Summary
City staff presented a Prop 64 grant review and a 19-site skate-park site analysis. Council directed staff to request about $100,000 for design work, prioritize returning remaining Prop 64 funds to the school for ADA and restrooms, and pursue follow-up with the grantor and Caltrans for the leading Zion Street site.
City staff on June 24 updated the council on work tied to a multi‑project Prop 64 grant and sought direction on whether to proceed with a skate park, return funds to the school for restrooms/ADA improvements, or pursue other parks priorities.
Staff reported the California Board of State and Community Corrections provided $3 million to support youth programming to date; the city has about $664,000 left in an equipment and fixed-asset category. A site-selection analysis considered 19 candidate locations and ranked the top three as 775 Zion Street (a former Caltrans shop, 1.9 acres, deed-restricted), Pioneer Park (about 13 acres) and a vacant lot on Searles Avenue (not city‑owned). Spohn Ranch provided a design/environmental quote of about $85,000; staff proposed requesting $100,000 from the grantor to fund design and environmental work and to use remaining funds to help the school complete bathrooms and ADA improvements.
Council debate centered on keeping momentum for the skate-park effort while honoring prior commitments to the school. Council Member Doug (speaking for skater advocates) urged the city not to "go back to zero," noting strong youth turnout for earlier meetings. Other council members said the school should get funds to finish ADA and restroom work and recommended stepping back to pursue design funding and possible grant modifications. Council did not take a formal vote but directed staff to pursue a $100,000 design request from BSCC, to prepare subagreements to send remaining eligible funds to the school for the bathrooms/ADA, and to examine Caltrans deed restrictions for the Zion Street site.
Public commenters—many identifying as youth or school district representatives—urged the council to prioritize a skate facility for local youth and stressed that a smaller, quickly built skate spot could meet community needs while larger plans develop. The Nevada City School District operations director said the district could complete bathrooms and ADA work within six months if the funds are returned.
Key numbers and logistics mentioned in council discussion: grant originally $3,000,000; remaining equipment/fixed-asset balance $664,000; Spohn Ranch design/environmental estimate ~$85,000 (staff proposed asking $100,000 to the grantor); school-provided cost estimate for bathrooms and ADA $655,000–$795,000; Spohn Ranch estimated design/environmental at $85,000. The council asked staff to return with agreements and next steps.
Next steps: Staff will request grantor approval to allocate about $100,000 for skate‑park design/environmental work, prepare an agreement to redirect remaining eligible funds to the school for ADA/restrooms, investigate Caltrans deed issues for the Zion Street parcel and report back to council. No formal appropriation was approved tonight; council provided direction to staff.
