SOUTH PASADENA - The way Councilman Mike Ten sees it, $100,000 isa small investment for the right to use South Pasadena High School'snew state-of-the-art track, field and sports complex, whichofficially opened Friday.
Ten has suggested the city pay that amount to the South PasadenaUnified School District, which spent nearly $3 million renovatingthe school's track and field.
The funding would be contingent upon whether the city and theschool district can work out an agreement that would allow the cityto use the facility during non-school hours, Ten said.
The idea, however, has not gone over well with some councilmembers. And school district officials have been thus far 'hesitantto put anything to paper,' Ten said.
Ten said the contribution would give the city a valid claim tothe state-of-the-art facility, which it could then use for programslike jogging classes and events like the fourth of July fireworksshow and the annual Relay for Life cancer walk.
He cited other groups around the San Gabriel Valley that havecontributed to the district in exchange for use the new facilities,including the Polytechnic School in Pasadena, which provided$10,000.
'Pasadena Poly could have more of a claim to the track than wewould,' Ten said. 'Why shouldn't the city participate?'
But Mayor Michael Cacciotti said Ten's suggestion doesn't makesense, given that South Pasadena is facing about $100 million inoverdue repairs to its deteriorating infrastructure.
Others, including former Mayor Harry Knapp, say spending $100,000for use of the track sends a wrong message to voters, who will beasked on Nov. 6 to approve a 3 percent utility tax.
The tax would raise about $1.3million a year, with at least65percent going toward infrastructure repairs. Knapp, who wrote theargument in favor of the tax in the city's voter guide, said hecould not justify it if officials turn around and spend thousands ona nonessential item.
Unlike the city, the school district has a foundation that hasraised millions of dollars on its behalf, he said.
'It would be great if the city had that kind of volunteerorganization that could raise that kind of coin for the city,' Knappsaid.
Councilman Richard Schneider said he was 'unalterably opposed' toTen's idea. But the other four members appear to support it.
'We forget how much value we have in this town because of theschools,' said Councilman David Sifuentes, adding the council should'set aside 'our team versus their team' - the school board versusthe City Council.'
Councilman Philip Putnam said he might consider contributing - ifthe city can secure a long-term agreement with the districtguaranteeing it the right to use the track.
'That would be worth something we can pay for,' he said.
The school district's initial cost- estimate for the trackfacility was $1.9 million. But additional costs, particularly forthe track's turf, have pushed the price tag to $2.6million. That'snot counting another $300,000 needed to complete the project'ssecond phase - construction of permanent visitors bleachers and arenovated baseball field.
School board member Don Eggleston noted that other districts keeptheir fields and facilities closed after school hours. The district,however, spent millions, in part so that the community also couldenjoy South Pasadena High's new amenities.
City staff is now working on a formal joint-use agreement for thetrack. The matter is expected to come back to the council inDecember.
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