The Ripon City Council Tuesday entered into an agreement with Love-Love Ripon Tennis Foundation to help bring in a tennis center at the Mistlin Sports Park.

Elected leaders approved the Memorandum of Understanding or MOU, which defines the responsibilities between the city and the local-profit group in construction of the Tennis Complex at Mistlin.

This includes the tennis courts, lighting, fencing, utilities, parking, restrooms, and ADA required access. Council directed staff to draft the MOU back in September.

The summary of the MOU is as followed:

·        The engineering services to prepare the design drawings, cost estimates, and technical specifications necessary for bidding and constructing the complex will be donated by the Love-Love Ripon Tennis Foundation.

·        Funding for 50 percent of the cost for the tennis courts and associated elements (fencing, lighting, grading, utilities, and ADA access) will also be donated by the Foundation.

·        Funding for the remaining 50 percent of the project and associated elements, and 100 percent of the parking lot, restrooms, access roads, and landscaping / irrigation will be funded by the City of Ripon.

·        Management of the bid process and construction will be conducted by the city.

·        Any permits required and payments of fees associated with the complex will be paid by the city.

·        The operations side of the complex will be managed by the city, including designated rentals by the Foundation at no charge.

·        Maintenance of the complex will be handled by the city.

City Administrator Kevin Werner noted that the tennis complex at Mistlin was included as part of the projects in the Parks & Recreation Facilities Financing Plan.

Staff will bring back to Council the phasing plan along with the estimated cost of construction and a funding plan once that information becomes available.