REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
MAY 16, 2019
FROM: TJ MILLER, Interim Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
BY: KRISTINA CHAMBERLIN, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to authorizing not 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 Church/Orangewood (Council District 5) (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 Quigley Park reconstruction (Council District 1) (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 Radio Park improvements (Council District 7) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
4. Authorize execution of all application- related documents by the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Interim 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 a new park development at Church/Orangewood (District 5), Quigley Park Reconstruction Project (District 1), and Radio Park Improvement Project (District 7) and; (2) authorize execution of all application related documents by the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Interim 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.
Three projects are slated for the current round of funding 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)
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 $254 million 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 2022.
Staff also held additional meetings with council to review the process that was utilized to select the three 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 three grant applications. Grant applications are due August 2019 and anticipated notification of award will occur early 2020. Should the grant(s) be awarded, funds will be identified through appropriate fiscal year capital budgets.
Attachments:
Resolution - Church / Orangewood
Resolution - Quigley Park
Resolution - Radio Park