REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 3, 2020
FROM: TJ MILLER, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
BY: DIANE PRINTZ-WHITE, Senior Management Analyst
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to authorizing to accept the submission of grant applications through Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (Proposition 68).
1. ***RESOLUTION - To approve the filing of an application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grant funds for new park development at Milburn/Dakota (Council District 1) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
2. ***RESOLUTION - To approve the filing of an application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grant funds for new park development at Church/Orangewood (Council District 5) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
3. ***RESOLUTION - To approve the filing of an application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grant funds for Quigley Park reconstruction (Council District 1) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
4. ***RESOLUTION - To approve the filing of an application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grant funds for Radio Park improvements (Council District 7) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
5. Authorize execution of all application- related documents by the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Director or designee
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council: (1) adopt RESOLUTIONS to authorize application of grant funds through the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program for a new park development at Milburn/Dakota (District 1), a new park development at Church/Orangewood (District 5), Quigley Park Reconstruction Project (District 1), and Radio Park Improvement Project (District 7); (2) authorize execution of all application related documents by the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Director or designee.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff met with each of the Council offices to identify and prioritize significant park improvement projects for the purpose of applying for grants currently available through the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program, aka Prop 68 grant opportunity.
The new park development at Milburn/Dakota is slated for the current round of funding.
Three additional projects are also to be re-submitted in this round including:
1. New Park Construction at Church/Orangewood (District 5)
2. Reconstruction project for Quigley Park (District 1)
3. Miscellaneous improvements and renovation of Radio Park (District 7)
Applications were submitted in 2019 for these three projects and were not selected. Based on the feedback received from the State representative, all three were highly qualified projects in a very competitive environment. The three projects remain as high priorities for PARCS and we are continuing forward with efforts to ensure they are funded.
BACKGROUND
In June 2018, California voters approved Proposition 68, a general obligation bond, authorizing $4.1 billion for creation and rehabilitation of state and local parks, natural resources protection projects, climate adaptation projects, water quality and supply projects, and flood protection projects. The release of funds occurs in cycles and with specific project specifications and criteria.
The current Statewide Park Program has a total of $395,302,155 allocated for grant funding. This competitive program focuses on the creation of new parks and new recreation opportunities in underserved communities across California. The project scope allows for a minimum of $200K per project with a maximum of $8.5M per project with no match requirement and no limit on the number of grants submitted.
In January 2018, the City Council adopted the Parks Master Plan Update. The adoption celebrates the culmination of nearly 18 months of community outreach, stakeholder engagement, staff analysis, and a comprehensive evaluation of parks and amenities. The Plan serves as the visionary guide for improving Fresno’s parks, open space and recreational services. The Plan also provides recommendations and strategies and highlights the community’s priorities for improvements. The overwhelming common goal identifies a focus on making substantial improvements to the city’s existing park system and to seek out alternative funding for new park development. The current Statewide Park Program provides the opportunity to address both.
Staff engaged each council member with identifying park priorities using the two main grant factors as our guide - assuring that proposed projects were located in disadvantaged communities and had deficiencies in park acreage (those with less than 3 acres per 1,000 residents). Staff compiled the results of those priorities and from the list, selected those that most met the overall grant guidelines as well as those that met the construction performance criteria - being fully constructed by March 2025.
Staff also held additional meetings with council to review the process that was utilized to select the four top projects in which to submit a project application for the current Statewide Park Program cycle.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed each resolution and approved as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
A resolution for applying for grant funding is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not implicated because the resolutions do not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact at this time as the above action is authorizing the submission of four grant applications Grant applications are due mid-December 2020 and anticipated notification of award will occur Summer 2021. Should the grant(s) be awarded, funds will be identified through appropriate fiscal year capital budgets.
Attachments:
Resolution - Milburn/Dakota
Resolution - Church/Orangewood
Resolution - Quigley Park
Resolution - Radio Park