PRFO Recommendation to Council: Rescind Approval of Blair Park Project
In a turn around on the proposed development of a sports field in Blair Park the Piedmont Recreation Facilities Organization (PRFO) and the Piedmont City Administrator, on April 27, 2012, jointly released the following press release:
City Administrator and PRFO Recommend Blair Park Element of Moraga Canyon Sports Fields Project Be Withdrawn
The Piedmont City Administrator and the Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization (PRFO) today announced that they will recommend that the City Council rescind its approval of plans to construct a sports field and park facility in Moraga Canyon, otherwise known as Blair Park. The City Council’s May 7th agenda will include an item rescinding the approval of the project.
The cost to complete the environmental work leading to project approval, including the cost of City oversight, was many times greater than the City and PRFO had anticipated, and the parties have not yet reached agreement on how to apportion the significant costs, although discussions are ongoing. In addition, while PRFO has agreed to indemnify the City against third party legal action, the City and PRFO cannot agree on who should absorb other future costs that the City has determined should be reimbursed by PRFO. Those costs include direct and indirect project approval costs, including such items as site lease development, a second set of story poles required by the City’s Story Pole Policy, and internal and external labor for supplementary City oversight during the project implementation.
Because of the significant administrative costs that have already been paid by PRFO to the City and its lawyers, and indications that there could be further unanticipated and significant future costs, as well as an inability to resolve the need for such services and who will manage and pay for these services, and after extended negotiations with the leadership of PRFO, the City Council will consider rescinding its approval of the project at its May 7th meeting.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Piedmont City Council will consider a resolution to formally rescind the approval granted for the Blair Park element of the Moraga Canyon Sports Fields Project. The Council will conduct a public hearing on this matter on Monday, May 7, 2012 at 7:30 pm in the Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA. This action, recommended by the City Administrator and the City Attorney, will, if approved by the Council, terminate the Blair Park Component of the Moraga Canyon Sports Fields Project as proposed by the Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization. The Coaches Field element of the project was previously disapproved at the Council meeting of December 5, 2011.
Public testimony and comment on this matter is welcomed. Written comments may be sent to City Council, c/o Piedmont City Clerk, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont, CA 94611 or by email to: jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us. Correspondence received by the City Clerk is considered part of the public record.
Seating in the Council Chambers is limited. However, the meeting will be televised live on KCOM-TV, Channel 27, the City of Piedmont government access TV station, and is also available through streaming video on the city web site: www.ci.piedmont.ca.us under on-line video.
For further information, contact City Clerk John Tulloch at 420-3041 or Recreation Director Mark Delventhal at 420-3073.
Posted on: April 26, 2012
The City’s notice was posted one day after a well attended fund raiser organized by Friends of Moraga Canyon (FOMC), a non-profit organization opposing the EIR and development of Blair Park as a large sports complex. The approval of the EIR on Blair Park remains in effect, leaving the door open for the renewal of development plans in the future. Comments from residents on this announcement can be viewed here.
Thanks to all who helped save our canyon from this il-advised development.