COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS

 

DATE:

October 7, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 21, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None Required

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

Proposed Amended Memorandum of Understanding between the County of San Mateo and the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an Amended Memorandum of Understanding between the County of San Mateo and the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks regarding renovation and operation of the Folger Stable Building and authorizing the County Manager to execute the “Possession and Use Agreement.”

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goal(s) 15: Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.

 

The Amended Memorandum of Understanding between the County and the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks (Friends) regarding renovation and operation of the Folger Stable Building contributes to the commitment and goal as it supports the Friends’ efforts to fundraise and restore a historical site that in the future will provide expanded educational and recreational opportunities for the citizens of San Mateo County.

 

BACKGROUND:

On February 28, 2006, the Friends and the County entered into a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a public/private partnership toward accomplishing certain goals at the Folger Estate Stable: renovation and maintenance of the main stable building and related infrastructure; development and implementation of a plan for ongoing maintenance and operation of the Stable Building; and development and implementation of ongoing programs such as promotion and development of equestrian, historical and architectural educational programming for children and adults, public horse boarding, and special events.

 

DISCUSSION:

The Friends approached the County in the last year and requested amending the 2006 MOU to effect a change in the responsibilities for conducting the renovation of the Stable. The proposed Amended Memorandum of Understanding provides that the Friends will assume responsibility and operational management for the actual renovation including the contracting of design and construction services and that the County will have final oversight and approval of all plans prior to implementation and will not be responsible for costs of the renovation, bidding the subcontracts, or daily administration of the renovation. In addition, the responsibilities of the Friends and County will be memorialized in a “Possession and Use Agreement” to be signed by the County Manager. This change represents benefit to both the Friends and County through the reduction of overall costs of the project and an increase in efficiency for completing the project.

 

To support this partnership, the County accepts some risk in limiting the liability of the Friends to the agreed upon cost for renovation at the time of approval by the County of the design plans and renovation costs. The Friends’ liability is limited to the funds on hand plus 10%, not to exceed $3,000,000.

 

The restoration of the Stable (cost, plans, and construction) is a donation to the County by the Friends, to be accepted by the Board of Supervisors upon completion.

 

County Counsel has reviewed the Resolution and the Amended MOU as to form.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proposed Amended MOU between the County and the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks outlines the financial commitments. The County portion of the partnership is valued at approximately $500,000 of services that include grading, permits, and minor maintenance. The Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks will provide approximately $3 million to the project through private fundraising, as well as another $1 million in an endowment fund for future major maintenance projects.