HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - February 4, 2004 E-06AGENDA ITEM F. •
CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TM
AGENDA TITLE: Authorize return of the remaining donated Breakaway Sports items to Mr. Dave
Vaccarezza
MEETING DATE: February 4, 2004
PREPARED BY: Parks and Recreation Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council authorize return of the remaining donated
Breakaway Sports items to donor, Mr. David Vaccarezza, in
accordance with provisions of the amended Letter of Understanding
dated January 24, 2003.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In February 2002, the City of Lodi accepted a very generous
donation of approximately one million dollars of various sports
equipment from Mr. Dave Vaccarezza. Over the course of time, staff
met several times with various groups to develop plans on how best
to use the donated items. Through this process, it was ultimately decided to focus efforts on the donated
soccer fields and the construction of an open-air soccer facility to be located north of the Grape Bowl on
City -owned property.
On December 18, 2002, staff presented a review of the Breakaway Sports donated items to the City
Council and asked Council to authorize preparation of specifications and construction documents, as well
as the advertisement for bids for the Soccer Field project facility installation. However, further evaluation
of the project created many challenges that were not easy to address or overcome. There were no
existing facilities available in Lodi to house the donated basketball courts, and costs to build the proposed
project continued to escalate, resulting in a very high-cost facility that proved to be inferior to the one
which was originally approved by Council.
As a result of the first challenge (no existing facilities), staff asked Council to approve the return of certain
donated items to Dave Vaccarezza and to amend the original Letter of Understanding dated February 8,
2002. The Council approved this action on January 24, 2003, and those items were returned to the
donor.
Concurrently, staff continued to look at different design options for the project and evaluate related costs.
As costs continued to escalate and capital funds became more of a concern, staff finally made the
recommendation to both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council not to move forward
with the Donated Soccer Field project as planned.
APPROVED:
H. Dixon Flynn, City anager
The final step is to dispose of andlor return the equipment that remains in the City's possession pursuant
to the conditions in the amended Letter of Understanding. Mr. Vaccarezza has acknowledged our
demise and has graciously agreed to accept return of all items. This action will result in a savings to the
City of $828.26 per month, the amount currently being charged to store the equipment.
FUNDING: None needed
Tonyhrs
Parks and Recreation Dir or
TGAI
cc: City Attomey