May 7: Council to Consider Rescinding Blair Park Approval
Bills submitted by City to PRFO result in end of partnership –
After being presented with an unexpectedly high bill from the City for reimbursement, Piedmont Recreational Facilities Organization (PRFO) requested that the City share in future Blair Park costs. Since “the City Council and City Administrator had taken the position that all project costs, would, of necessity, be borne by PRFO”, this has led to a joint request from PRFO and City Administrator to rescind the project. The request will be considered on May 7 by the City Council at their regular meeting starting at 7:30 pm in the Council Chambers. The meeting will be televised via KCOM and the internet.
The staff report noted that an additional $246,000 in staff time has been devoted to Blair Park matters, but is not claimed as reimbursable. The estimate is based on good faith estimates, rather than time sheets. See Staff Report on a resolution rescinding the 12/05/11 approval of Blair Park
The request made by Piedmont Recreation Facilities Organization (PRFO), to rescind their proposal for development of a sports facility in Blair Park on Moraga Avenue has been recommended by the City Administrator Geoff Grote and City Attorney Tom Curry. It requires City Council approval.
Issues surrounding Council action include:
- Will the Piedmont City Council also retract the certification of the
EIR ? - If not, what are the ramifications of allowing the approved EIR to stand?
- Will the City of Oakland drop its threat of a lawsuit against Piedmont?
- Will the lawsuit by Friends of Moraga Canyon (FOMC) be dropped?
- If not
, will Piedmont or PRFO pay future lawsuit costs? - How much money has Piedmont spent on legal and other costs to date?
- To what extent will PRFO reimburse Piedmont for its costs?
The Piedmont Post has reported that PRFO considers the Blair Park project tabled and the group hopes to resume work in the future on developing sports fields. The question of whether or not the Blair Park project and EIR should be rescinded has been posed in a poll conducted by The Patch and can be viewed here.
City Council discussion will start at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, May 7, in the Council Chambers, 120 Vista Avenue, Piedmont.
The Staff Report for the May 7 City Council meeting is excerpted here:
