Senate committee hears Bill 326 to lease Baragata Heights land to Guam Football Association; land title, water wells and survey timeline raised as issues

The Committee on Land, Environment, Housing, Agriculture, Parks and Infrastructure held a public hearing June 9 on Bill 326‑38 LS, which would authorize the Baragata Mayor’s Office to lease a portion of Lot 5382N‑R40 in Baragata Heights to the Guam Football Association (GFA) for development of community sports and recreational facilities.

Sponsor remarks described the bill as a public‑land repurposing effort to turn roughly 30,000 square meters of underutilized municipal land into a football pitch and supporting recreation. “If approved, bill 326 authorizes the Baragata Mayor's Office to lease a portion of lot 5382N‑R40 ... for the development of community sports and recreational facilities,” the sponsor said during opening remarks.

June Nublass, who identified herself as mayor of Baragata, told the committee the lot is approximately 32,139 square meters (about seven acres), is sited on the northern aquifer and has three water wells adjacent to it. She said the municipal planning council would meet June 10 to consider a resolution backing the lease.

GFA witnesses presented participation and use data to justify the need for more fields. The association’s general secretary told the committee GFA events attract about 85,000 visitors annually, with some 8,395 participants and 4,000 players across leagues; the association said it operates youth programs in 24 elementary schools and fields multiple national teams.

But Joseph Borha, director of the Department of Land Management, raised several legal and technical concerns and recommended additional review before the committee advances the bill. Borha said the bill’s exhibit map and lot references appear inconsistent with prior records (the attached resolution references lot "5382 N‑36"), the exhibit lacks a Chamorro Land Trust Commission (CLTC) signature, and a prior right‑of‑entry or land‑use permit may still encumber parts of the parcel. He said those discrepancies must be resolved because the CLTC is the property owner in the public record.

Borha also flagged nearby Guam Waterworks Authority (GWA) pump stations and water wells and noted that EPA or GWA consultation may be required if the site will be used in ways that affect the aquifer. He questioned the bill’s 60‑day survey mandate, calling that timeline “unreasonable” given the map and title uncertainties, and recommended sending the measure back to CLTC and requesting documents (including any prior deeds, resolutions, and communications with GWA).

Mayor Nublass and GFA witnesses said the footprint under discussion could be limited — the mayor described initial municipal conversations about permitting “maybe an acre or two” for pitches on the seven‑acre lot — and emphasized the community value of walking paths, youth programming and safe playing fields.

The committee’s questions also addressed transparency and possible commercial uses. The bill text disallows GFA from subletting or transferring the lease without prior approval, but Borha said that condition should refer to the owner or land commission rather than the Legislature. Senators asked that the committee secure CLTC, GWA and EPA input and clarification on ownership and proposed lease area before any vote.

Chair closed the hearing at 4:03 p.m. and invited written statements for the record within seven days.