Placement: Resolutions
Action Requested: Motion / Vote
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Resolution 25-R02, Authorizing the Acquisition of 15.41 Acres of Real Property Owned by the School Board of St. Lucie County, in Accordance with a Land Swap Agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the School Board of St. Lucie County.
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Submitted By: Jesus Merejo, City Manager.
Strategic Plan Link: The City's Goal of high-quality infrastructure and facilities.
Summary Brief (Agreements/Contracts only)
1. Prepared by: City Manager’s Office.
2. Parties: City of Port St. Lucie and the School Board of St. Lucie County.
3. Purpose: An exchange of properties to secure ownership by each in the delivery of services and/or expansion of services benefiting the citizens of the City of Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County.
4. New/Renewal/Modified: New.
5. Duration: Permanent conveyance of identified properties. The Land Swap Agreement provides for a 90-day inspection period, with the closing to occur 30 days after the expiration of the inspection period.
6. Benefits to Port St. Lucie: To enable expansion of recreational and related services available to residents currently offered by the City of Port St. Lucie and consideration of new, yet to be identified, public services deemed appropriate for this venue.
7. Cost to Port St. Lucie (Annual and Potential): Per "Section 3" of the attached "Land Swap Agreement," the parties agree that the School District land will be conveyed to the City for the sum of $1,050,000.00 paid to the School Board by the City of Port St. Lucie, as well as in exchange for the City conveying two City-owned properties to the School Board.
Presentation Information: Staff will provide a brief visual presentation of the properties involved in the exchange.
Staff Recommendation: Move that the Council approve the Resolution authorizing the acquisition of the School Board Land in accordance with the Land Swap Agreement between the City of Port St. Lucie and the School Board of St. Lucie County.
Alternate Recommendations:
1. Move that the Council amend the recommendation and provide staff direction.
2. Move that the Council not approve the recommendation.
Background: In the years following the closing of Port St. Lucie Elementary School, located at 198 NW Marion Ave., the Parks & Recreation (P&R) Department leadership held informal conversations with St. Lucie Public School District staff to explore the possibility of acquiring the 15.4-acre school site to enlarge or possibly redevelop Sportsman's Park and Sportsman's Park West. In 2022, School District staff approached P&R staff with a proposed "land swap'' involving multiple properties, inclusive of the former PSL Elementary School site. P&R staff recommends approval of the agreement that will bring the former school site into the City's property inventory. Acquiring this 15.4-acre property will allow the planning and future development of infrastructure and facilities that will alleviate some of the use-pressures the City is experiencing around Sportsman's Park, including vehicle traffic with related parking issues, a deficit of sports fields for an ever-increasing population, land for a future Recreation Center and/or Community Center, and lighted practice areas.
Issues/Analysis: As cited above, acquisition of this property will enable the City to expand sports and recreational facilities in the City's "River Park" north-central zone along the easily accessible Prima Vista corridor.
Financial Information: On September 19, 2024, the City Manager "ear-marked" $1,050,000 in funding as identified by OMB in General Fund Reserves to enable this transaction between the City of Port St. Lucie and the St. Lucie County School District.
Special Consideration: The School District currently hosts two youth programs at the former Port St. Lucie Elementary School site. The Boys and Girls Club and the Agricultural and Labor Program, Inc. (ALPI, a Head Start program) are housed in adjacent buildings on the campus. Both organizations have leases with the School District which expire in 2026. The City would honor these leases through their conclusion.
Location of Projects: Former Port St. Lucie Elementary School, 198 NW Marion Ave., Manatee Academy K-8, 1450 SW Heatherwood Blvd., Oak Hammock K-8, 1251 SW California Blvd.
Attachments:
1. Resolution
2. Exhibit A to Resolution - Land Swap Agreement.
3. Visual presentation of school locations.
NOTE: All of the listed items in the “Attachment” section above are in the custody of the City Clerk. Any item(s) not provided in City Council packets are available upon request from the City Clerk.
Internal Reference Number: 24180-04
Legal Sufficiency Review:
Reviewed by Margaret M. Carland, Senior Deputy City Attorney. Approved as to Legal form and sufficiency by Richard Berrios, City Attorney.