Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund (MBPIF) and San Diego Regional Parks Improvement Fund (RPIF)
Authorized by San Diego Charter Article V, Section 55.2, the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund (MBPIF) and the San Diego Regional Park Improvement Fund (RPIF) are funded by revenues from leaseholds in Mission Bay Park. Money collected in these accounts may fund capital improvement projects.
San Diego Charter Section 55.2 first became effective on July 1, 2009, under Proposition C. A subsequent amendment to Charter 55.2 became effective after voters approved Measure J on November 8, 2016, with those amendments going into effect on December 19, 2016.
Mission Bay lease revenues are allocated by a formula based on Charter Section 55.2 as follows:
- Initial $20 million of Mission Bay lease revenues goes into the City’s General Fund and may be used for any municipal purpose
- Next $3.5 million goes to RPIF (total lease revenue is $23.5 million)
- Next $6.5 million goes to MBPIF (total lease revenue is $30 million)
- Revenue received thereafter is split at a ratio of 35% to RPIF and 65% to MBPIF
Both funds support the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for regional parks, as identified in the City Charter or by City Council Ordinance.
Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund
San Diego Charter Section 55.2 priorities projects in Mission Bay in the following order:
- Restoration of navigable waters within Mission Bay Park
- Wetland expansion and water quality improvements
- Restoration of shoreline treatments within the Mission Bay Park Improvement Zone
- Expansion of endangered or threatened species preserves and upland habitats
- Deferred maintenance projects
San Diego Regional Park Improvement Fund
The following regional parks are eligible for this funding source, per Charter Section 55.2(a)(9) and Ordinances O-20088, O-20311, and O-21372:
- Balboa Park (Charter)
- Beaches and Shoreline Parks (Charter)
- Chicano Park (O-20311)
- Chollas Creek Watershed Parks (O-21372)
- Chollas Lake Park (Charter)
- Mission Trails Regional Park (Charter)
- Open Space Parks (Charter)
- Otay Valley Regional Park (Charter)
- Presidio Park (Charter)
- San Diego River Park (Charter)
- Torrey Pines City Park (O-20088)
On August 3, 2021, the San Diego City Council approved the Parks Master Plan (PMP). While the City’s current park system has resulted in many beautiful and enjoyable parks for some, the system is not equitable across all City communities. Lack of funding and land constraints have widened park shortfalls in typically older, more densely populated neighborhoods, adversely affecting Communities of Concern. The PMP addresses these inequities, ensuring that everyone has equitable access to safe, clean, and thriving park spaces.
Approximately one in four City parks assessed as part of the PMP has a maintenance and capital backlog of 20% or higher. Deferred maintenance increases the reinvestment needed to improve conditions in existing parks. To facilitate specific projects consistent with the PMP, the department considers information from a variety of sources, including but not limited to:
- Community Plans
- Regional Park Plans
- Unfunded Park Improvements List
- Unfulfilled General Development Plans
- Age-Friendly Action Plan
- San Diego City Council Priorities
- Community planning group priorities
- Stakeholder organizations
The Park Amenity Condition Assessment Report identifies potential facility and building improvement projects. Some of this information is provided on the Parks and Recreation Department’s Park Planning Documents page. Projected costs for capital renewal at existing park facilities are captured under the Existing Facilities – General Fund Needs section of the Five-Year Capital Infrastructure Planning Outlook.
The Parks and Recreation Department is also responsible for maintaining shoreline parks. As part of the oversight and management of the City’s shoreline parks, in 1993, 2003, and 2018, the City commissioned Coastal Erosion Assessments (CEAs) of its 14 miles of shoreline from Sunset Cliffs Park to Black’s Beach at Torrey Pines City Park. The studies assessed 71 sites and rated them low, moderate, or high risk based on geological observations and knowledge of conditions that pose the greatest potential threat to the public. The 2018 CEA update used visual observations of the bluff conditions and human use of the sites to provide a priority rating. The priority ratings consider the presence of pedestrian hazards, limitations to pedestrian access, and signs of bluff instability. The 2018 CEA priority rankings, along with the 2003 CEA geologically based risk ratings, are used by the City to identify remedial actions.
Current MBPIF and RPIF Projects
For further information on these projects, please visit the following link: CIP Project Information
MBPIF Projects
- B10163 Mission Bay Navigational Safety Dredging
- B17179 Mission Bay Athletic Comfort Station Modifications
- B18079 Mission Bay Projects Environmental Impact Report
- B18223 Adult Fitness Course East Shore
- B18226 El Carmel Comfort Station Improvements
- B18227 Ventura Comfort Station Improvements
- B18234 North Cove Comfort Station Improvements
- B19021 Crown Point Playground Improvements
- B19022 Crown Point Parking Lot Improvements
- B19130 Beautification of Traffic Island Group 1
- B19133 Robb Field Turf & Irrigation Improvement
- B19156 Hospitality Point Parking Lot Improvements
- B19157 Robb Field Parking Lot Improvements
- B19158 Dusty Rhodes Parking Lot Improvements
- B19159 Sunset Point Parking Lot Improvements
- B19161 Santa Clara Pt South Parking Lot Improvements
- B19162 South De Anza Parking Lot Improvements
- B19163 Rose Marie Starns South Parking Lot Improvements
- B19172 South De Anza Comfort Station
- B19173 South De Anza Basketball Courts and Play Area
- B19174 Robb Field Comfort Station Improvements
- B19175 Robb Field Playground
- B19176 Sunset Point Comfort Station Improvements
- B19179 Hospitality Point Comfort Station Improvement
- B19180 Dusty Rhodes Comfort Station Improvement
- B19181 Dusty Rhodes Playground
- B19187 Robb Field Recreation Center
- B19212 Robb Field Gateway Path
- B20107 DeAnza North East Parking Lot
- L25001 Mission Beach Lifeguard Station
RPIF Projects
- B17110 Bermuda Ave Coastal Access Replacement
- B18026 Narragansett Avenue Access
- B18027 Santa Cruz Ave Access Stairs and Walkway
- B18236 Black Mountain Mine Remediation
- B20054 West Sycamore Staging Area
- B20060 Chicano Park Improvements Phase III
- B20116 Air & Space Museum Roof Replacement
- B21114 Mountain View Sports Courts ADA Improvements
- B22012 Old Salt Pool Access Stairs
- B22047 Dr. Bertha O. Pendleton Park Improvements
- B23122 Quince Drive Runoff & Erosion Control Improvements
- B24101 Southcrest Community Park Lighting Improvements
- L14005 Sunset Cliffs Park Drainage Improvements
- L16001 Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Hillside Improvements
- L18001 Chollas Lake Improvements
- L22001 Ocean Beach Pier Replacement
- L22004 North Chollas Community Park Improvements
- L25000 Balboa Park Comfort Station Improvements
- L26001 Casa Del Prado Improvements
- P23002 Old Mission Dam Dredging
- P24000 Balboa Park International Cottages Study
- P24011 Spindrift Drive Beach Access Walkway
- P24012 Camino De La Costa Stairs
- S13008 Mohnike Adobe and Barn Restoration
- S14006 El Cuervo Adobe Improvements
- S15034 Junipero Serra Museum ADA Improvements
- S15040 Golf Course Drive Improvements
- S25002 Emerald Hills Neighborhood Park Phase 1
- Reports to the Oversight Committee:
- Proposed and Adopted Budgets:
- Audits:
- Performance Audit of the Mission Bay and San Diego Regional Parks Improvement Funds, Fiscal Year 2024: Each year, the City Auditor’s Office performs an audit of both funds to ensure compliance with Charter Section 55.2.
- Lease Revenue Reports:
- Mission Bay Lease Revenue - FY2025: Each year the Department of Finance produces a report that lists lease revenue received by both funds during the previous fiscal year.
MBPIF Oversight Committee:
- For further information and reports related to the MBPIF, visit Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund Oversight Committee.
RPIF Oversight Committee:
- For further information and reports related to the RPIF, please visit Regional Park Improvement Fund Oversight Committee (under the Parks and Recreation Board).