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HomeMy WebLinkAbout17 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FOR CLEAN-UP AND MAINTENANCE ON REUSE PARCEL 18DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A G1zY �� AGENDA REPORTS� 1 MEETING DATE TO FROM NOVEMBER 16, 2021 Agenda Item S Reviewed: ?n�� City Manager DS Finance Director MATTHEW S. WEST, CITY MANAGER/LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION FROM FUND 189 FOR INITIAL CLEAN-UP AND ONGOING MAINTENANCE ON REUSE PARCEL 18 AT FORMER MCAS TUSTIN FOR FY 21/22 SUMMARY Request for a supplemental appropriation of $330,000 from Fund 189 (Land Sale Proceeds) for a Phase 1 initial cleanup and ongoing maintenance activities on Reuse Parcel 18 at former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council, acting as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) for former MCAS Tustin, take the following actions: 1. Appropriate $330,000 from Fund 189 to the Economic Development Department property management budget for the balance of FY 21/22 for a Phase 1 initial clean-up and ongoing maintenance on Parcel 18 2. Direct staff to return to the City Council/LRA with progress updates and recommendations for future phases of additional site work and budget requests for Reuse Parcel 18 FISCAL IMPACT Fund 189 has sufficient budgetary reserves to fund the requested supplemental appropriation of $330,000. Any additional appropriations will be requested through the mid -year or yearly budget process, or at a separate meeting of the City Council/LRA. BACKGROUND On August 11, 2021 the City Council (acting as the LRA) held a public meeting focused on Reuse Parcel 18 at former MCAS Tustin. At this meeting, the City Council (acting as the LRA) made certain findings based on the County of Orange's (County) inadequate DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A Agenda Report — Supplemental Appropriation for Reuse Parcel 18 November 16, 2021 Page 2 responses to the City/LRA March 30, 2021 letter, and the County's refusal to take responsibility for the site by accepting a license, interim lease and/or LIFOC for maintenance and security of Reuse Parcel 18. On August 11, 2021, the City Council/LRA took the following actions: - Adopted LRA Resolution 21-01, revising the Federal Reuse Plan for former MCAS Tustin to exclude the Orange County Regional Park from Reuse Parcel 18 (resolution attached) - Directed staff to inform the Department of the Navy (Navy) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) of the intent to adopt a revised Federal Reuse Plan for Reuse Parcel 18 and to request that the Navy and DOI revoke the County's Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC) application - Directed staff to work with the Navy on an amendment to the existing City license or an interim lease for the City/LRA to assume maintenance and security on Reuse Parcel 18 - Directed staff to return to the City Council/LRA with several Federal Reuse Plan alternatives for Reuse Parcel 18 at a later date Since August 11, 2021, in accordance with City Council/LRA direction, staff has: - Sent a letter to the Navy and DOI informing them of the August 11, 2021 City Council/LRA findings and actions taken, and requesting a formal revocation of the County's PBC application (letter attached) - Requested that the City's Congressional representative Katie Porter submit an inquiry letter to DOI regarding the status of the City/LRA revocation request - Received an amended license from the Navy for the City/LRA to perform enhanced maintenance and security on Reuse Parcel 18 - Developed a phasing plan and preliminary cost estimates for initial and future phases of property maintenance, security and cleanup work to be performed by the City/LRA DISCUSSION Staff will be presenting a phasing plan for City/LRA responsibilities on Reuse Parcel 18 with prerequisites required and preliminary associated costs for City Council/LRA consideration. The phases are broken down as follows: - Phase 1: Initial Cleanup (FY 21/22) DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A Agenda Report — Supplemental Appropriation for Reuse Parcel 18 November 16, 2021 Page 3 o Large container removal o Various piles removal o Various equipment removal o Interior fencing removal o Repair and replace perimeter fencing o Tree removal and maintenance o Incorporation of site into regular Tustin Legacy property maintenance contract o Hazardous materials assessment to determine any abatement necessary for all buildings (excluding hangar) - Phase 2: Reuse Planning (Timing TBD) o Begin City/LRA reuse planning process upon decision from DOI on revocation of County PBC application o Explore potential for revenue generation opportunities o Perform ongoing site and tree maintenance - Phase 3: Demo and Site Prep (Timing TBD) o Hazardous materials abatement of buildings (other than hangar) o Initial buildings demolition (to slab) o Hardscape and utility demolition o Grading o Perform ongoing site and tree maintenance Staff recommendation for consideration is that the City Council/LRA appropriate $330,000 from Fund 189 into the Economic Development property management fund to accomplish the site activities listed under Phase 1. This phase focuses on initial clean-up and securing of Reuse Parcel 18 and incorporating the site into the larger Tustin Legacy property maintenance contract. All of the items for Phase 1 will be performed by existing City contractors that are familiar with the site, and have provided reasonable cost quotes to accomplish the Phase 1 work. By accomplishing the items listed under Phase 1, the City/LRA will be undertaking the most comprehensive clean-up, site security, property maintenance and assessment of Reuse Parcel 18 since MCAS Tustin closed in 1999. Phase 1 will allow for greater site visibility for public safety personnel, bring the site into a regular and ongoing maintenance schedule, and demonstrate the City/LRAs immediate and future commitment to the site on behalf of the Tustin community. Staff will return to the City Council/LRA with updates on Phase 1 progress, as well as recommendations and appropriation requests for Phase 2 and/or Phase 3 work at a future date. DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A Agenda Report — Supplemental Appropriation for Reuse Parcel 18 November 16, 2021 Page 4 �sf,,�, Signed by: (,6sf ,v�3'd'Rt1'S6Bfil"F4... Christopher Koster Director of Economic Development Attachments DocuSigned by: Kc Ng4." Kenneth Piguee Senior Management Analyst - August 11, 2021 adopted LRA Resolution 21-01, revising the Federal Reuse Plan for former MCAS Tustin - Letter from the City/LRA to Navy and DOI dated August 19, 2021 DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A RESOLUTION NO. 21-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, ACTING AS THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY FOR FORMER MARINE CORPS AIR STATION TUSTIN REVISING THE EXISTING REUSE PLAN FOR FORMER MCAS TUSTIN REGARDING REUSE PARCEL 18 WHEREAS, former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin was designated for realignment and closure in 1991 by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, and confirmed for realignment and closure by the Department of Defense in 1993, pursuant to and in accordance with the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, as amended; and WHEREAS, prior to the closure and disposal of military installations, the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC) within the Department of Defense (DOD), formerly known as the Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA), recognizes a local governmental entity to be the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) to prepare a Reuse Plan for closed or realigned military installations; and WHEREAS, in 1992, the City of Tustin (City) was designated as the LRA for former MCAS Tustin by OEA (now OLDCC) to prepare a Reuse Plan for former MCAS Tustin in order to facilitate the closure and disposal of MCAS Tustin and its reuse in furtherance of the economic development of the City and surrounding region; the City was re -confirmed as the LRA in 1994; and WHEREAS, during the LRA Reuse Planning process, the County of Orange (County) sought to acquire former MCAS Tustin Reuse Parcel 18 to create and operate a Regional Park through a Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC); and WHEREAS, the City considered and supported the County PBC application through Resolution 94-20, and the LRA included a County Regional Park in Parcel 18 in the formal MCAS Tustin Reuse Plan submitted by the LRA to the United States Department of Housing and urban Development for review and approval, which Reuse Plan was subsequently approved; and WHEREAS, in 1995, and in accordance with the MCAS Tustin Reuse Plan, the County submitted a PBC application to acquire Parcel 18 to the Department of the Interior (DOI) that identified the County's proposed plan for a Regional Park, and the funding mechanism intended to address the costs of creating and operating the proposed Regional Park which was approved by DOI; and WHEREAS, in October 1996, the City approved the MCAS Tustin Specific Plan/Reuse Plan after numerous meetings and community input which incorporated the County Regional Park PBC on Reuse Parcel 18; and Resolution 21-01 Page 1 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A WHEREAS, former MCAS Tustin officially closed in 1999; and WHEREAS, in 2012, the County submitted to the DOI an alternative Program of Utilization (POU) that proposed changes to the previously approved PBC application by seeking additional and more expansive revenue -generating activities which has never been approved by DOI; and WHEREAS, in 2013, the North Hangar (Hangar 1) on Reuse Parcel 18 experienced a partial roof collapse requiring stabilization by the Department of the Navy (Navy); and WHEREAS, since 2013, buildings and improvements on Reuse Parcel 18 have experienced rapid physical deterioration due to a lack of maintenance and security; and WHEREAS, due to the deterioration of Reuse Parcel 18, the City has been forced to expend resources at its own cost and without reimbursement, to respond to safety concerns involving trespassing, vagrancy, vandalism, and other illicit activities; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Grand Jury issued a report entitled "What's Happening with the Historic Tustin Hangars?" dated June 9, 2020 outlining the issues with Reuse Parcel 18; and WHEREAS, the County has previously refused to accept a license, interim lease, or Lease in Furtherance of Conveyance (LIFOC) to maintain and secure Reuse Parcel 18 as the intended property recipient; and WHEREAS, the County has demonstrated no progress on advancing planning and financing of the proposed Regional Park in accordance with the County's PBC Application; and WHEREAS; on February 23, 2021, the LRA held a public meeting inviting all property recipients at former MCAS Tustin to give updates on development progress; and WHEREAS, at the February 23, 2021 meeting, the County indicated an unwillingness to take an interim license, interim lease, or LIFOC to secure and maintain Reuse Parcel 18, and also indicated there is no current timeline, plan, or approved budget for when or how the County proposed Regional Park would be constructed; and WHEREAS, on March 30, 2021, the LRA sent a letter to the County requesting additional information based on the February 23, 2021 meeting and requested written responses within thirty (30) days; and WHEREAS, on August 10, 2021, the County Executive Officer sent a letter responding to the March 30, 2021 letter from the LRA indicating an unwillingness to Resolution 21-01 Page 2 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A accept an interim lease or LIFOC unless certain conditions are met with an unknown timeline; and WHEREAS, the August 10, 2021 letter from the County refers to potential alternatives to the approved plans that the County would like to discuss. The appropriate forum for changes in the approved Reuse Plan would be Reuse Plan amendment proceedings, and the LRA invites the discussion of such alternatives with the County and others in that context, and WHEREAS, the LRA held an additional meeting on August 11, 2021 where it considered the current state of reuse for Reuse Parcel 18; and WHEREAS, the LRA has determined that action be initiated to (i) remove the County Regional Park from the MCAS Tustin Reuse Plan, and (ii) consider, review, and analyze other appropriate alternative uses that may include public park components amongst other land uses for Reuse Parcel 18. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN ACTING AS THE LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY FOR FORMER MARINE CORPS AIR STATION TUSTIN, THAT: 1. The foregoing recitals are hereby incorporated and adopted as the findings of the City Council acting as the LRA; and 2. The MCAS Tustin Reuse Plan is hereby revised to exclude the County Regional Park from Reuse Parcel 18, but not to preclude consideration of Regional or other park uses in connection with future Reuse Plan amendment proceedings; and 3. The LRA will inform the Navy and DOI of the actions taken and the reasons such actions were taken, and request Federal revocation of the County Regional Park PBC for Reuse Parcel 18; and 4. The LRA will work with the Navy to amend the existing City license or seek an interim lease for Reuse Parcel 18 to ensure the maintenance and security of Parcel 18. 5. The LRA will commence a Reuse Planning process to consider, review, and analyze appropriate alternative uses that may include public park components amongst other land uses for Reuse Parcel 18. PASSED and ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Tustin at a special meeting on the 11 ti, day of August, 2021. Resolution 21-01 Page 3 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A DocuSigned by: LETIT �F�14yL/��7Q�}g�j(j� , . Mayor ATTEST: DocuSigned by: `LV'iCa (�aStti�,a ERICA` I. DA, City Clerk STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) CITY OF TUSTIN ) I, Erica N. Yasuda, City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No 21-01 was duly passed and adopted at a special meeting of the Tustin City Council acting in its capacity as the Federally designated Local Reuse Authority, held on the 11th day of August, 2021 by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: Clark, Lumbard, Cooper, Gallagher, Gomez (5) COUNCILMEMBER NOES: (0) COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: (0) COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: (0) DocuSigned by: E R I CAMIMMA, City Clerk Resolution 21-01 Page 4 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A Office of the City Manager August 19, 2021 Mr. David Siegenthaler Regional Program Manager Federal Lands to Parks 333 Bush Street, Suite 500 San Francisco, CA 94104 David SiegenthalerkNPS.gov Via email and First -Class Mail Mr. Charles Perry, PE Base Closure Manager Navy Base Realignment and Closure 3300 Nixie Way, Building 50, 2nd Floor San Diego, CA 92147 Charles. L. Perr):kNavy •mil RE: Reuse Parcel 18 at Former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin Dear Mr. Siegenthaler and Mr. Perry: On August 11, 2021, the City of Tustin (City) acting as the Federally recognized Local Reuse Authority (LRA) for former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Tustin adopted LRA Resolution 21-01 which revises the existing Reuse Plan for former MCAS Tustin to remove the County of Orange (County) Regional Park use from Reuse Parcel 18, and to start a new reuse planning process for Reuse Parcel 18. As you are aware, the County submitted a Public Benefit Conveyance (PBC) application in 1995 to create and operate a Regional Park which was approved by the Department of the Interior (DOI). The City supported the County's PBC application through City Council Resolution 94-20 and included a County Regional Park on Reuse Parcel 18 in the formal MCAS Tustin Reuse Plan that was ultimately approved in 1996. In 2012, the County proposed an alternate Program of Utilization (POLI) that proposed changes to the DOI approved application by seeking additional and more expansive revenue -generating activities to subsidize the costs of creating and operating the proposed Regional Park. This alternate plan has never been approved by DOI, thus leaving in place the original 1995 DOI PBC application as the only approved plan for a Regional Park on Reuse Parcel 18. The County has never assumed any responsibility for Reuse Parcel 18, unlike the City or all other property recipients or entities awaiting conveyance of property at the former MCAS Tustin. Since 2012, Reuse Parcel 18 has experienced rapid physical deterioration, including a partial roof collapse of the North Hangar. In addition to the physical deterioration of the site and structures, the site has experienced increasing incidents of trespassing, vagrancy, vandalism, and other illicit activities that impacts the community and has forced the City to respond at its own risk and cost. Some of these issues were documented in an Orange County Grand Jury report entitled "What's Happening with the Historic Tustin Hangars?" dated June 9, 2020. 300 Centennial Way • Tustin, California 92780 • www.tustinca.orQ • 7I4 -573-30I2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A Mr. Siegenthaler and Mr. Perry August 19, 2021 Page 2 Beyond physical deterioration, the LRA and County have had numerous conversations about alternative uses for Reuse Parcel 18 since 2012. In these conversations, and in communication with the DOI, the LRA made it clear that any alternative uses would require a Reuse Plan amendment process, as well as any necessary California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and/or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review. On February 23, 2021, the LRA held a public forum inviting all former MCAS Tustin property recipients (or future property recipients) to present updates on development progress given the 20 years since the closure of MCAS Tustin. A link to the video of this meeting can be found here: https://tustin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view id=5&clip id= 1947. At this meeting, the County presented updates on several projects, including its status to acquire, develop, and operate a Regional Park on Reuse Parcel 18. During its comments on the Regional Park, the County indicated an unwillingness to take an interim license, interim lease, or Lease in Furtherance of Conveyance (LIFOC) to secure and maintain Reuse Parcel 18 as all other property recipients at former MCAS Tustin have done and also indicated there is no current timeline, plan, or approved budget for when or how the Regional Park would be constructed. Following the February 23 meeting, the LRA sent a letter to the County requesting additional information based on the County's testimony and requested written responses within thirty (30) days, or April 29, 2021. No response was received until August 10, 2021, where the County indicated it (1) would not accept an interim lease or license at this time to maintain and secure Reuse Parcel 18; and (2) has no budget, timeline, or funding source to build the Regional Park or preserve the North Hangar. Because of the outstanding issues and insufficient responses by the County to the LRA letter, the LRA held a second public meeting focused on Reuse Parcel 18 on August 11, 2021. The LRA invited the County to participate in a letter dated July 21, 2021. The agenda, staff report, and communications between the City and County can be found at this link: https://tustin.gEanicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.phn?view id=5&clip id=2024. A link to the video of the meeting can be found at this link: https://tustin.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view id=5&clip id=2024 . The County declined to participate in the August 11 meeting to provide more information or to answer questions directly from the LRA in a public setting. On August 11, the LRA voted unanimously to approve and/or initiate the following actions based on the County lack of progress and commitment to building the Regional Park and insufficient responses: - Adopt LRA Resolution 21-01, removing the County Regional Park use from Reuse Parcel 18 - Inform the Department of the Navy (Navy) and DOI of the LRA intention to adopt a revised Reuse Plan for Reuse Parcel 18, the reasons such actions were taken, and request that the Navy and DOI revoke the County PBC for Reuse Parcel 18 - Once Federal revocation of the County PBC for Reuse Parcel 18 occurs, begin a new reuse planning process for Reuse Parcel 18 - Work with the Navy on amendment to the existing City license or an interim lease for the LRA to undertake maintenance and security for Reuse Parcel 18 DocuSign Envelope ID: 89AB5F7E-7024-41 E5-8A70-595E64F5D32A Mr. Siegenthaler and Mr. Perry August 19, 2021 Page 3 With the adoption of Resolution 21-01, the LRA now respectfully requests that DOI and the Navy formally revoke the County PBC application. This Federal revocation action will allow the LRA to confidently initiate a formal reuse planning process for Reuse Parcel 18 where the LRA will consider, review, and analyze alternative uses that may include park and public uses, and other alternative land uses. Additionally, the LRA respectfully requests the Navy to tender an enhanced license or interim lease to the LRA as quickly as possible. This enhanced license or interim lease will allow the LRA, on behalf of the community, to provide sufficient maintenance and security for Reuse Parcel 18. Specifically, the LRA requests that the enhanced license or interim lease allow (but does not require) the LRA to: - Provide on-site security or security equipment - Reconfigure or add new fencing - Perform enhanced maintenance in line with the balance of former MCAS Tustin - Repair or secure buildings (excluding Building 28) - Demolish buildings to slab only (excluding Building 28) - Repair or replace hardscape and utility systems (via a PERF, if needed) - Sublicense or sublease for interim uses The LRA has given the County abundant opportunity to provide input and answer questions for the public record. While this LRA action removes the County Regional Park use from Reuse Parcel 18, it does not preclude the County from participating in the forthcoming reuse planning process for a park or other public use. In fact, the LRA encourages the County to participate in the reuse planning process as the LRA evaluates potential alternative uses for the site. This LRA action is to remove a dormant and inactive intended property use proposal and its recipient as an impediment to progress on Reuse Parcel 18 for the benefit of the community. The LRA appreciates your attentiveness to this matter and looks forward to a productive partnership with DOI and the Navy. Should you have any questions, please contact me at 714-573-3012 or mwest(C/�,tustinca. org. Sincerely, *�/V / WAr Matthew S. West LRA Executive Director/ City Manager Attachment: LRA Resolution 2 1 -01 cc: Tustin City Council Laura Duchnak, Department of the Navy (via email) Congresswoman Katie Porter Alexander Bethke, Department of the Navy Nicole Bernard, Assistant City Manager Amy Jo Hill, Department of the Navy David E. Kendig, City Attorney Elizabeth Larson, Department of the Navy George Schlossberg, Kutak Rock Kyle Olewnik, Department of the Navy Christopher Koster, Director of Economic Development