FUHSD to commit $100,000 to stadium field

The Fallbrook Union High School District will be committing $100,000 for the maintenance and repair of the turf field and track at the Fallbrook High School stadium.

The FUHSD board voted 5-0 April 12 to commit $100,000 of the fiscal year 2020-21 balance for the stadium field. The action item followed a presentation by facilities director Bob Salas on the stadium turf and track.

"Our stadium is one of the finest in San Diego County," Salas said. "I think it's important to keep our stadium looking its best."

An April 2007 FUHSD board action awarded a contract to replace the grass field with a synthetic turf surface and to replace the track with an all-weather surface. The turf was replaced by an upgraded product in 2013 and that upgrade included a new eight-year warranty. In February 2014, the school board approved a contract to repair and respray the existing track surface.

One of the board's April 2015 actions was to approve the deposit of stadium rental fees into a special reserve fund. Between fiscal year 2014-15 and fiscal year 2019-20 the district received $97,979 in rental revenue.

Salas' presentation covered all stadium expenses and not just those for the surface. The expected cost to retrofit the stadium lights with light emitting diode illumination is estimated to cost between $240,000 and $300,000, and a lamp replacement is an estimated $7,200 expense. "These fixtures are energy-efficient, but we don't know how much longer these lamps are going to be produced," he said.

The annual generator maintenance for the stadium lighting is approximately $1,600.

The estimate to replace the scoreboard lighting is $36,125. "There's nothing wrong with it, but eventually it's going to be due for a replacement," Salas said.

Eventually the stadium goal posts will also need to be replaced. The anticipated cost is between $3,233 and $6,681.

Replacing the stadium turf would likely cost just under $1,000,000. The cost would be affected by variables such as the number of sports lines needed along with colors and graphics. Resurfacing the track has an estimated price tag of $390,000.

A mini-groomer was replaced in 2007 and is now nearing the end of its expected useful life. Replacement of the mini-groomer would cost approximately $6,500.

Joe Naiman can be reached by email at [email protected].