Temecula council approves 20-year master agreement with Temecula Valley Unified for shared use of school and city facilities

The Temecula City Council approved a new master agreement with the Temecula Valley Unified School District on Sept. 8 that governs how the two agencies share fields, pools and other facilities.

The item was on the consent calendar, which passed 5-0 on a motion by Council Member Kalfus, seconded by Council Member Schwank, according to the meeting's action minutes.

What the agreement covers

A staff report from Community Services Director Erica Russo says the city and district have used joint-use agreements for more than 20 years. In general, those agreements give the city access to school fields, pools and other amenities, which it programs for public use after school and in summer. The district, in turn, uses city space for meetings and for pool parties at summer's end.

The master agreement sets the general terms. Details for each site are left to separate joint-use agreements, which are listed in an exhibit and must be approved by both the school board and the council.

The agreement runs 20 years, from Sept. 8, 2026, to Sept. 7, 2046. The two sides may renew it by mutual written agreement for up to five more years. Either may end it for any reason with 30 days' written notice.

Under the agreement, district facilities are available to the city on weekends and outside school hours, provided the district's own use comes first. The owner of a facility has priority over the other agency.

Other terms in the document:

• The agency using a facility pays for damage it causes beyond ordinary wear.
• Each agency must carry liability insurance of at least $2 million per occurrence and $3 million in aggregate.
• City employees may be required to be fingerprinted for a state Department of Justice check, at city expense, if the district decides it is necessary.
• Alcohol and tobacco are prohibited at shared facilities.

The new agreement supersedes prior joint-use agreements for community recreation, earlier master agreements included, its text says.

The staff report lists no fiscal impact from the master agreement itself. Any payment for use of a facility would be spelled out in the separate site agreements.

The school district's board approved the agreement Aug. 18, the report says.

Also on the consent calendar

The same 5-0 vote covered several other community items, according to the action minutes:

• Special Olympics Southern California's 2026 Law Enforcement Torch Run: a sponsorship with $9,800 worth of in-kind city support plus $6,000 in promotional services.
• The Walk of Hope put on by Michelle's Place Cancer Resource Center: a sponsorship with in-kind support worth $7,750, $11,415 in promotional services and as much as $7,500 from economic development funds.
• Acceptance of completed restroom projects at Vail Ranch Park and Long Canyon Creek Park.
• A $162,268.34 backhoe, a 2026 John Deere, for public works maintenance.

Two people addressed the council on the Walk of Hope item, the minutes show.