The City of Ripon recently entered into another Supplemental Lease Amendment with the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers on the Lower Stanislaus River Park.

That’s the area around the bike bridge, which sustained significant damage back in October when a large tree fell onto a 65-foot segment of the span. The City continues to look at several options to repair and fund the damage at this part of the Ripon Recreation Area.

Since 2000, the City of Ripon has leased this portion of the Lower Stanislaus River Park from the Department of the Army Corp of Engineers at the end of Parallel Avenue. The previous lease expired on Jan. 31.

No discussion was needed at the Feb. 13 meeting as the Ripon City Council approved the Supplemental Lease Agreement No. 3, extending the lease to an additional 20 years through Jan. 31, 2044.

According to the staff report, the city’s annual expense on the lease requirement is $25,000 during a typical year – paid via the General Fund. However, this amount could increase in the event that additional police patrol being called upon to handle complaints of illegal activity in the area.

The lease is contingent on the use of public recreation purposes on the property.

Besides public safety patrols, the City of Ripon is required to provide the following:

·         Collection of refuse.

·         Cleaning and pumping, if necessary, of public sanitation facilities.

·         Maintenance of the trails, vegetation, stream bank erosion, fire hazard reduction, and maintenance of the pedestrian bridge.

·         Hazardous materials response and containment.

·         Endangered species habitat recognition and monitoring while working with the Department of the Army Corps of Engineers.

·         Emergency medical response, in cooperation with the Ripon Consolidated Fire District.

·         Graffiti removal.

There’s no lease payment on the part of the Army Corps of Engineers on the new agreement, staff noted.