After nearly two years, an advisory committee has approved a recommendation to the Sonora Union High School District Board of Trustees in support of selling or donating the historic Sonora Dome, two adjacent former classroom buildings used by Tuolumne County Arts in recent years, and Lions Park.
The committee, which was formed in 2019, met for potentially the final time on Wednesday after the near-unanimous decision to endorse a report that recommends declaring the 112-year-old dome, two buildings and park as surplus to facilitate a potential sale or donation to governmental or nonprofit organization.
Not included in the recommendation to be declared as surplus are the buildings on the other side of the dome currently used by the district’s alternative education programs, Cassina and Ted Bird high schools, as well as the athletic fields used by a number of schools and youth sports organizations for practice and games.
Constructed in 1909, the dome originally housed Sonora Elementary School until 1967 when it was deemed legally unsafe to house students due to a lack of seismic outfittings and preparedness. The building has since languished as unsellable due to meager parking, despite community interest in seeing it utilized and preserved.
Lions Park was added to the package of properties being recommended for the surplus designation at the committee’s meeting on Feb. 10, which drew objections from members of the Sonora Lions Club who donated the park to the school and spent money over the years on its maintenance.
The committee discussed the club’s objections that were reported in The Union Democrat on Feb. 11, though most members said they still supported including it with the recommendation because it could be converted into parking and make the overall property more attractive to a potential buyer.
“I’m doing my best to look out for the best interest of the district and the students,” said Chris Nugier, a committee member.
Another committee member, Sheri Hoffman, said she spoke with someone from the Lions Club who determined the club had spent about $36,000 over the years maintaining the park. She suggested the district could make a donation to the club with proceeds from the sale.
“Perhaps a nice donation back to the Lions for taking care of the park, or being willing to give it up, or some kind of political move, if you will, could be negotiated if in fact it was something that was needed to sweeten the deal for whoever the buyers will be,” she said.
The committee voted 6-0-1 to approve the recommendation, with member Peter Ghiorso abstaining because he also serves on the Sonora Planning Commission and was advised not to vote in case the property ever comes before the commission for some reason. Committee member Randy Selesia was absent.
Cindy Costello, administrative assistant to the district superintendent, said the recommendation could be presented to the Board of Trustees at its next regularly scheduled meeting on March 9 if the committee provides her with a final draft by next week.
Members of the Lions Club were still not in favor of the decision to declare the park as surplus, especially if it ultimately becomes a parking lot.
“We’re not happy with anything that’s going to sell it or deny it from being a park for the community,” said Phil Baylis, president of the club. “Our biggest thrust with the Lions Club is doing good for the community.”
Baylis acknowledged there were access issues getting to the park, which he said is only via walking in or through the adjacent baseball diamond, though the club feels the area is already lacking enough public spaces for people.
The club donated the park to the district sometime between 1979 and 1980.
“There’s not really a right of ownership to the park (by the club),” Baylis said. “We’re just going to have to see what the recommendation does.”
A feasibility study presented at the committee’s previous meeting showed the dome had an estimated valuation of $5.5 million for insurance purposes, while the two classroom buildings had an estimated insurance value of about $600,000 each.
The buildings previously housed day care and cosmetology school on the campus, but have been used in recent years by groups that include Tuolumne County Arts and KAAD-LP community radio.
Tuolumne County Arts currently pays $3,600 a year to rent the space it uses in the buildings. Laurie Livingston, the organization’s executive director, could not be reached for comment.
People who are part of the Historic Dome Preservation Group have also pushed for the athletic field below the dome to be included as surplus property, though the report approved by the committee determined the district is in an agreement through 2022 with Youth Sports Foundation for use of the field.
Contact Alex MacLean at amaclean@uniondemocrat.net or (209) 768-5175.