HomeMy WebLinkAbout20 - NB-2 - Renewal of the User Agreement with the - 5/20/2014CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: MAY 20, 2014 ITEM NUMBER:
SUBJECT: RENEWAL OF THE USER AGREEMENT WITH THE HARBOR SOARING SOCIETY
DATE: MAY 8, 2014
FROM: PUBLIC SERVICES DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
PRESENTATION BY: RAJA SETHURAMAN, TRANSPORTATION SERVICES MANAGER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FARIBA FAZELI, CITY ENGINEER, (714) 754-5335
RECOMMENDATION
1) Approve the recommended changes proposed by the Parks and Recreation Commission to
the User Agreement with the Harbor Soaring Society (Attachment 1).
2) Approve the Parks and Recreation Commission's recommendation to renew the User
Agreement with the Harbor Soaring Society for five years.
BACKGROUND
The Harbor Soaring Society (HSS) is a radio controlled soaring club committed to promoting and
improving the enjoyment of radio -controlled aircraft flying in Orange County. HSS is an Academy of
Model Aeronautics (AMA) gold -rated charter club. All members of HSS belong to the AMA, which
provides each flyer with $2,500,000 in liability insurance.
For over thirty years, HSS has been using a portion of Fairview Park, between the end of Canyon
Drive and the restroom, to fly radio -controlled aircraft. This area was designated as a launch/land site
for silent flyers in the approved Fairview Park Master Plan (Attachment 2).
HSS made a presentation to the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee on March 5, 2014
outlining their use of the park and renewal of the User Agreement (Attachment 3). Committee
members inquired about the length of the renewal and received the report. At the March 27, 2014
Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, Chairman De Arakal proposed changes to the agreement
for the Commission's review. The item came back to the Commission at their April 24, 2014 and the
commissioners voted 5-0 to renew the HSS agreement for five years with proposed changes.
ANALYSIS
In 2007, a permit system was developed by the City and required amendments to the Costa Mesa
Municipal Code for its proper establishment and enforcement. The permit system includes a permit
application, rules and regulations, field rules, and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Safety
Code. With the creation of a model aircraft permitting process, anyone wanting to fly a radio -controlled
model aircraft at Fairview Park registers with the Recreation Division and obtains a permit for a fee of
$25.00. A total of 275 permits were issued to the public in 2013. The number of permits issued thus far
in 2014 is 148.
With the passage of the permit process in 2007, after review by the Parks Commission, the City
Council approved a User Agreement between HSS and the City for the group's use of Fairview Park.
The agreement allows HSS to use the launch/land site at Fairview Park and ensures that all members
and the organization are insured. HSS oversees the use of the launch/land site and maintains the
graded site by clearing weeds, mowing, and removing loose impediments. In 2013, the Parks and
Recreation Commission recommended the agreement be renewed for one year. The City Council
confirmed this and renewed the agreement on May 7, 2013. The Public Services Department
administers the agreement and meets with the club's president at the site on a regular basis to walk
the area and review any proposed HSS improvement projects.
Over the years, HSS has improved the flying field and performed several community service projects
in the park. The club assisted a local Eagle Scout with the construction of a frequency board for use by
the model aircraft flyers, installed a battery charging station, and graded a portion of the field to move
the launch/land site further from the bicycle trail. Club member volunteers assisted staff with the
installation of ten interpretive signs along the trails, provided staff with aerial photographs for use in
grant applications, and performed an annual clean-up of the upper mesa. HSS members also provide
free model aircraft flying lessons during the week and for special events.
HSS requests that the agreement be renewed for a five-year term. The five-year term allows the club
to plan longer term improvement projects and eliminates the need to bring the renewal for approval to
the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council on an annual basis. Terms of the
agreement state that either party may cancel the agreement with or without cause by providing a thirty
(30)-day notice.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
No alternatives were considered regarding this item.
FISCAL REVIEW
No fiscal review is required.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved the proposed changes to the agreement.
CONCLUSION
The Parks and Recreation Commission recommended at their regular meeting of April 24, 2014 that
the City Council review the proposed renewal of the HSS agreement for a term of five years.
ERNESTO MUNOZ FARIBA FAZELI
Public Services Director City Engineer
ATTACHMENTS: 1 - Proposed Agreement with the Parks and Recreation Commission's
Recommendations
2 - Fairview Park Master Plan
3- Existing User Agreement
DISTRIBUTION: Chief Executive Officer
Assistant Chief Executive Officer
City Attorney
City Clerk
Staff
President, Harbor Soaring Society
File
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