(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “City” means the City of Laguna Woods.

Terms Used In California Public Resources Code 5096.634

  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Department: means the Department of Parks and Recreation. See California Public Resources Code 5096.605
  • Development: includes , but is not limited to, improvement, rehabilitation, restoration, enhancement, preservation, protection, and interpretation. See California Public Resources Code 5096.605
  • Fair market value: The price at which an asset would change hands in a transaction between a willing, informed buyer and a willing, informed seller.

(2) “City Centre Park property” means the approximately 0.32 acre portion of City Centre Park to be removed from public recreation use by the City of Laguna Woods and used as a fire station and for public safety purposes pursuant to subdivision (c).

(3) “Department” means the Department of Parks and Recreation.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the removal of park property and the reinvestment of funding for capital improvements in the City Centre Park authorized under this section is for the sole purposes of enhancing recreational opportunities and improving public safety in the city, and not to facilitate industrial development.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, no later than January 1, 2026, the city may remove from public recreation use City Centre Park property improved with grant moneys from this chapter, subject to the reinvestment of two hundred twelve thousand dollars ($212,000) in capital improvements as described in subdivision (d) in the remaining City Centre Park, which shall be used for park purposes, subject to all applicable requirements of the grant funding received under this chapter, and at no cost to the state. The two-hundred-twelve-­thousand-dollar ($212,000) reinvestment was calculated by an independent appraisal of the fair market value of the City Centre Park property conducted in 2022 and submitted by the city to the department in 2023.

(d) The city shall develop a plan for capital improvements to be made to the remaining City Centre Park that meets the following requirements:

(1) The plan shall include capital improvements in the amount of two hundred twelve thousand dollars ($212,000) in the remaining City Centre Park.

(2) The city shall conduct two community meetings to solicit the input of residents of the city for the capital improvements to be made.

(3) The plan shall be approved by the city council of the city and submitted to the department on or before January 1, 2025.

(4) The plan shall enhance the active or passive recreational utility to the public of the remaining City Centre Park.

(e) The plan developed pursuant to subdivision (d) shall be approved by the department before any of the capital improvements identified in the plan are made to the remaining City Centre Park.

(f) The city shall complete the capital improvements identified in the plan developed pursuant to subdivision (d) within three years of the department’s approval of the plan.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 287, Sec. 2. (SB 475) Effective January 1, 2024.)

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