Board authorizes design work for Wood Creek High softball fields, asks for seven-year facilities plan

The Roseville Joint Union High School District board voted to authorize staff to begin design work for new softball facilities at Wood Creek High School and asked staff to return with a seven-year facilities and capital projection before moving to construction. The motion to start design passed unanimously after discussion of funding, timing and equity concerns.

District staff told the board the project would reserve space for storage (for example, a cargo container) and that the varsity field would include higher-level amenities such as covered bleachers, dugouts and bullpens, while the JV field would be more modest. Staff said the district collects roughly $5 million to $10 million a year in developer fees and that some of those funds are being used for the Roseville project; staff also said the district expects certain state reimbursements that affect cash flow.

"We would find a space that makes sense just something" the staff said when describing storage provisions for equipment. A member of the Wood Creek softball team thanked the board for starting the conversation, saying the lack of a home field has forced the team into many away games; "it's going to save a lot of girls a lot of trouble in the future," the student said.

Board members pressed staff on whether approving design work would divert money from larger projects such as Oakmont. Staff said the Roseville project is approximately $40 million and that Oakmont currently shows about $14 million in state-eligibility for matching funds if a state school facility bond and other approvals proceed. Staff proposed two paths: authorize design now (design cost under $2 million, which preserves a possible summer 2025 construction window) or delay design until the board sets priorities; any construction contract would return to the board for approval if bids exceeded estimates.

A board member moved to "start the design process" for the Wood Creek fields and asked staff to provide a seven-year projection of capital and maintenance priorities (the board's finance/facility committee would review a draft). The motion carried on a roll call vote with all voting members in favor.

Next steps identified by the board include drafting the seven-year projection, returning with refined design estimates and, if the board approves after bids are received, moving forward with construction. The board moved on to its next agenda item following the vote.