COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE - R. ESPINOSA   

Provide an informational presentation outlining the plans for the development of Regional Park and related facilities, discuss next steps.     

 SBC FILE NUMBER: 119

The County of San Benito, City of Hollister, and San Benito High School District entered into an Interagency Cooperation Agreement on November 21, 2016, to work collaboratively on the County's Regional Park project and closure of Nash Road between West Street and Monterey Street to make the High School crossings on Nash Road safer for students and faculty.  

The Hollister City limit boundary at this location is the centerline of Nash Road. The High School District owns the southern half of that portion of Nash Road, subject to a public right-of-way under County jursidiction. The City of Hollister has title to the northern half of the street.

The agreement temporarily closed Nash Road during the school year from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday. As part of the agreement, the County agreed to pay the cost of design and construction of the River Parkway bypass road around the High School on an easement over District property.  In return,the San Benito High School District would enter into a 99-year lease for District Property south of River Parkway with the County for the County Regional Park.  River Parkway was completed in 2018 at a cost of $1.9 million.

The Board of Supervisors authorized tthe CAO to begin street vacation procedures for the County portion of the block of Nash Road by Resolution No. 2019-102. Public notice of the public hearing to vacate the County portion is being published for two weeks and posted along the length of that block of Nash Road as required by law.  The public hearing will be conducted on March 23, 2021.

Upon permanent closure of the block of Nash Road between Monterey and West Streets by both the City and County, the district is to transfer fee title to District property south of River Parkway to the County. County staff will be presenting an inforrmational report to the City of Hollister City Council at its meeting on March 15, 2021, with the request that City conduct its street vacation hearings as soon as possible so that transfer of title can be completed.

County staff is preparing an application for a $3 million grant from the State of California Department of Parks for further planning and development of the Regional Park. To be eligible for the grant the County must own or have a long term lease of at least 50 acres. Both the 47.6 acres of land now owned by the High School District and the 22.6 acres of adjacent land owned by the County must be combined. Public outreach in preparation of the grant application will begin in April. The application is due in November.