City, MBUSD draft new lease agreement

By Courtney Hughey
Staff Writer

To create a new master agreement for the use of Manhattan Beach Unified School District property, the Manhattan Beach Ad Hoc Subcommittee, consisting of Amy Howorth and Nicholas Tell, met on March 6 with the MBUSD Board of Trustees.

The Board and the Manhattan Beach City Council have created a proposed layout of terms for renting out new areas of district property. The facilities include recreational areas of all MBUSD elementary schools, swimming pools and other facilities.

“The new agreement allows the city to take advantage of all the facilities that the school district is now making available,” MBUSD Board of Trustees President Ida Vanderpoorte said. “It’s also beneficial for the school district because it would increase revenue, which is especially important due to budget cuts.”

The district and the city currently have an agreement that offers city use of almost all school district recreational areas, including Polliwog Park for $75,000 a year. The city uses the facilities for community recreational activities and other public functions. The draft of the new, five-year agreement includes an incremental annual payment of $575,000 to MBUSD for increased use of district recreational areas.

Under the agreement, the city would be responsible for the maintenance of all school district fields and hardscapes.

“If adopted, the agreement would represent a new community partnership between the two government agencies that serve Manhattan Beach,” Manhattan Beach City Manager David Carmany said.

MBUSD plans to present a recommendation for the MB City Council’s appropriate compensation for extensive use of school district property on April 22 at a joint City Council and Board of Trustees meeting.
In response to these negotiations, the city has created a budget for all costs to maintain facilities and formal payments to MBUSD. This includes $53,700 for regular landscape and irrigation for all elementary schools, a maintenance fee of $75,000 for use of Costa’s swimming pool and fields, and $60,000 for athletic field rehab among other fees.

“This agreement would benefit the the district positively if it is agreed upon,” Carmany said.