Sports complex raises questions over use of Measure C

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Plans to build a new sports complex as an addition

to Central Park has raised questions over the application of Measure C,

which requires the majority of voters to approve developments on city

beaches and parkland.

The issue arose as the City Council approved a conditional use permit

for the complex in a Dec. 18 meeting. The Council voted 5 to 2 for the

project, with councilwomen Connie Boardman and Debbie Cook dissenting.

“The voters approved the $1.5-million project when they first voted on

this . . . now it’s grown to [the current] $16.9 million,” Boardman said.

Boardman and Cook felt the difference in cost should send the plan

back to the voters, as required by Measure C.

In 1996, voters approved plans for a smaller $1.5-million version of

the complex, featuring four lighted fields for soccer and softball,

concession stands, restrooms and other improvements on an undeveloped

portion of Central Park.

In the four years since, the project has grown in scope, as city

officials worked with community sporting groups, into a state-of-the art

facility, said Ron Hagan, the city’s director of Community Services

Department.

City Atty. Gail Hutton said additional voter approval would be needed

to proceed with the planned sports complex in order to determine whether

leasing the land for concessionaires -- to run food booths and roller

hockey facilities -- should be permitted. But she could not give an

opinion as to whether a vote would also be needed on the final cost.

“I’ll be looking carefully at that,” she said.

Hagan said he put in an advice request to Hutton following the council

meeting and will abide by the findings.

The sports complex plan first met City Council approval last year and

will be built on 45 acres at Central Park forming an L-shape between

Gothard and Goldenwest streets along Talbert Avenue. Designs for the area

include eight lighted softball fields that can each accommodate soccer

competitions, two playgrounds, a pair of concession stands, a park

maintenance building and an 858-space parking lot. Four roller hockey

rinks and a batting cage are planned for later stages of the project.

While city officials don’t have a final cost for the project pinned

down, they expect it to be between $15 million and $18 million.

“We’ve had a need for more sporting fields for the last 15 years . . .

and this project will be a jewel of a sports complex for the city,” Hagan

said, adding taxpayers will bear none of the added costs, which should be

covered by adult sporting league fees and onsite advertising.

Hagan said he believes with the added costs offset by revenue, and not

through the taxing of the citizens, there isn’t a need to go back to the

voters.

The site was formerly used as a landfill and mushroom farm, city

officials said. Cleaning the area from methane produced by decomposing

garbage, compacting land to provide a stable play surface and addressing

other environmental concerns in the current plan were not part of the

1996 design, they added.