City of Westlake Village approves joint-use agreement with Triunfo YMCA

City of Westlake Village approves joint-use agreement with Triunfo YMCA By Lori Porter porter@theacorn.com

Westlake Village city council members approved last week a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding a joint park project between the city and Triunfo YMCA.

For a considerable period of time, the city’s ad-hoc park committee and staff have been meeting with YMCA representatives regarding the project.

"The approved MOU represents a positive step in the direction toward that goal," said Westlake Village City Manager Ray Taylor.

The YMCA is in the process of purchasing a 33-acre parcel for a new regional facility. The land is west of the intersection of Lindero Canyon Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard on the north side of the boulevard.

The neighboring Westlake Canyon Oaks Homeowners Association, which owns the property, is currently negotiating a creative land-swap arrangement with the YMCA in which the parcel will be obtained by the YMCA at virtually no cost. This is the Y’s reward for not pursuing the project at another location that residents opposed.

However, grading the land to create a pad for the future building is too costly for the YMCA alone.

Consequently, Triunfo officials turned to the city, asking for an agreement that would benefit both the taxpayers of Westlake Village and the Y. The YMCA would sell to the city a graded site that could be used for park and recreational amenities such as sports fields, walking paths, play areas and picnic benches that would be connected to a parking area.

To level the extremely steep site, leftover soil can be used to expand and create an even larger master pad (to be developed into an active park for Westlake Village).

Triunfo YMCA Executive Director Paul Parzik said that all negotiations must be completed before the city of Westlake Village can formally sign an agreement. He’s confident that all parties are nearly ready to sign.

"I think both the YMCA and the city are extremely optimistic about this opportunity to provide a YMCA facility and park for the community," said Parzik.

The memorandum of understanding describes the intentions of the YMCA and the city to continue negotiating. The MOU doesn’t preclude the city from exercising its discretion regarding land use or other entitlement applications submitted by the YMCA regarding the facility.

Taylor said the MOU serves as a bridge toward a formal agreement between the city and the YMCA. It sends a positive message to the YMCA that the city is serious, he said. The city has filed an application with the state for a parks and recreation grant. The memorandum of understanding also shows the state that the city of Westlake Village is planning to build a park.