REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
September 28, 2017
FROM: Kristina Chamberlin, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: IRMA YEPEZ-PEREZ, Senior Management Analyst
KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to State of California Department of Parks and Recreation for Youth Soccer improvements to Hinton Park and Frank Romain Playground Park
1. Authorize the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department to accept two grants totaling $628,400 from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation for Youth Soccer improvements to Hinton Park and Frank Romain Playground Park (Districts 3, and 7).
2. ***RESOLUTION - 25th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165 appropriating $628,400 from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation. (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council: (1) authorize Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department (PARCS) to accept two grants from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation totaling $628,400 to improve Hinton and Frank Romain Playground Parks; (2) authorize the PARCS Director or designee to sign all necessary documents to accept and implement the grants, subject to prior approval as to form by the City Attorney’s Office; and, (3) adopt the 25th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2017-165 to appropriate $628,400 for said projects.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
PARCS has been awarded two grants from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Program totaling $628,400. The first grant is for $563,360 for Hinton Park for new field lighting, new smart irrigation controllers, resurfacing a tennis court to a multi-sport court, new restroom, and water-wise landscaping improvements. The second grant is for $65,000 for Romain Park to resurface a basketball court and convert it to a futsal soccer court, install new lighting fixtures, and water conservation improvements.
BACKGROUND
In accordance with Section 5004.5 of the Public Resource Code, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Youth Soccer Competitive Program is designed to foster the development of new youth soccer, baseball, softball and basketball recreation opportunities (in) heavily populated, low-income urban areas with a high youth crime and unemployment rate.
Approximately $16 million was allocated for this competitive grant program, and out of 166 applications submitted, 25 were approved for funding which included two of the three proposals submitted by Fresno PARCS. The grant awards totaling $628,400 represent the following projects.
• Hinton Park (2385 S. Fairview Avenue) - The project will provide new field lighting, new smart irrigation controllers, resurfacing a tennis court to a multi-sport court, new restroom, and water-wise landscaping improvements ($563,360).
• Romain Playground Park (745 N. 1st Street) - The project will resurface a basketball court and convert it to a futsal soccer court, provide new lighting fixtures and water conservation improvements ($65,000.)
The third proposal for Basin XX for field lighting and park furnishings was not awarded.
It should be noted a condition of the grant award requires a Deed Restriction on the title to the property is required for each park site to ensure that the properties are used consistant with the grant for the duration of the contract performance period. The deed restriction must be recorded on the title to the property before the State will approve any grant payment.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has performed a preliminary environmental assessment (EA-16-026) for the project at Hinton Park and has determined it falls within Class 1, 3, and 11 Categorical Exemptions set forth in Sections 15301, 15303, and 15311 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the project will involve negligible expansion of an existing use, construction of a limited number of new, small facilities or structures, and construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the Section 15300.2 of the State CEQA Guidelines apply to this project.
Staff has also performed a preliminary environmental assessment (EA-16-027) for the project at Frank Romain Playground Park and has determined it falls within Class 1 and 3 Categorical Exemptions set forth in Sections 15301 and 15303 of the State CEQA Guidelines because the project will involve negligible expansion of an existing use, and construction of a limited number of new, small facilities or structures. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the Section 15300.2 of the State CEQA Guidelines apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item does not include an award of a construction or consultant contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Hinton Park and Romain Playground Park are maintained by PARCS and Public Works Departments. The proposed park improvements will attract higher usage, and thus may increase annual maintenance costs. The new lighting improvements, water-wise landscaping, and smart irrigation controllers will help reduce utility costs and may provide an overall cost savings.
Attachment: AAR Amendment