REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on the Updated Park Master Plan with Preferred Playground Schematic Design for Henry Schmidt Park, Introduction of an Ordinance to Ensure Compliance with Measure R, and Related Budget Amendments
Report
COUNCIL PILLARS
Enhance Community Sports, Recreation, and Arts Assets
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
In 1965, the City of Santa Clara acquired eight and a half acres of farmland from Martin and Ann Perlenda that had been used as a prune orchard since 1894. Dedicated in 1977, Henry Schmidt Park’s existing master plan (Attachment 1) contains a recreation and restroom building, four tennis courts, a basketball court, a softball field, an open grass play area, a playground, an on-site parking lot, picnic areas, and various park amenities. The park is bounded by Los Padres Boulevard to the west, Saratoga Avenue to the south, and residential properties to the north and east. The Facility Condition Assessment (Kitchell, 2018) indicated that the playground and amenities were in poor condition and the building was in fair condition. The playground condition was downgraded to critical and the train-themed play structures were removed due to their unsafe condition.
On February 7, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with David L. Gates & Associates, Inc. (Consultant) (Attachment 2) for engineering services to develop an updated park master plan and playground schematic design, including site assessment and community input on the preferred park elements.
On July 18, 2023, the Parks & Recreation Commission received a presentation from the Consultant on the Project scope and timeline to develop the schematic design. At this meeting, the Commission initiated public input on the Henry Schmidt Park Playground Rehabilitation Project.
The public engagement process included a community pop-up input session at the Street Dance on August 4, 2023, on Jackson Street, and at the Sunset Cinema event in Henry Schmidt Park on August 11, 2023. In addition to the in-person engagement opportunities, the City hosted an online survey that was available to the public from July 19 - August 14, 2023. Community input was collected from residents regarding their current recreational uses and important priorities. Input was also solicited on “theme” preferences for the new playground area. The themes presented for input were built upon the beloved “train” playground associated with the existing play area. The engagement process ultimately included approximately 850 participants/responses.
Participants stated that the top five (5) activities they engaged in at Henry Schmidt Park were:
1. Walking (52%)
2. Playing on the playground (46%)
3. Picnic in the park (38%)
4. Enjoying nature (36%), and
5. Engaging in group gatherings/celebrations (30%).
Respondents prioritized these five (5) items for park rehabilitation:
1. Adding shade (64%)
2. Renovating and expanding the playground (60%)
3. Adding picnic areas (48%)
4. Providing more seating areas (47%), and
5. Incorporating more lighting (45%).
When asked about what specific features should be included for the rehabilitation, the top five (5) features they want to see are:
1. Playground equipment (57%)
2. A looped walking path (51%)
3. Site furnishings (50%)
4. A large, shaded group picnic area (48%), and
5. Several smaller picnic areas (46%).
As for the theme of the playground, respondents narrowly favored the “Train Depot” theme (35%) over a “Whimsical Train” (34%) or “Woodland Train” (31%) theme. They also identified strong preferences for specific types of play activities, including sensory play (80%), brachiating (65%), sliding (63%), and spinning (62%).
DISCUSSION
The updated Henry Schmidt Park Master Plan (Plan) concept, included in Attachment 3, reflects the City’s guiding principles, with input from the community for incorporating shade, more seating, additional picnic areas, a looped walking path, enhanced fitness stations, and “Train Depot”-themed playground.
The design includes the following:
• Train Depot theme
• A new entry plaza with permeable pavers designed with an orchard grid
• New play area
• New sand play area
• New covered group picnic area
• New small group picnic area
• New drought-tolerant plantings
• New sidewalk
• New pathway (previously constructed)
• New entry node
• New pervious decomposed granite path to the fitness stations
• New group fitness stations (removing aged existing fitness elements)
• Resurfaced and striped parking lot
• Upgraded exterior light pole and fixture
• Preserving existing trees and athletic amenities (tennis courts, ball field)
• Inclusive playground design
• 7 elements of play for both age 2-5 and age 6-12 play areas
• Train engine play element
• Iconic water tower play element
• Train station design with ticket booth play element
• Accessibility to the new play area
• Shade elements (trees and shade canopies)
• Materials are sustainable/durable, and
• PIP (poured-in-place rubberized play surfacing) and engineered wood fiber surfacing.
As proposed, the design will enhance connections between the various park activities. The parking lot will be re-surfaced and two additional parking stalls will be added. The proposed entry plaza, with permeable pavers in the southeast corner of the park, will create a direct path and clear view of the playground from the parking lot and improve the pedestrian connection to the playground and throughout the entire park space. The addition of a looped walking path connects visitors to a new entry node in the northeast corner and playground. This looped walking path links the existing fitness stations along the pathway. A few aged elements of the existing fitness equipment at the park would be removed and replaced with the newly proposed group fitness stations.
The play value assessment table shown in Attachment 4, identifies the level of change, level of skill (beginner, intermediate, and advanced) that each piece of equipment requires, and the number of users each piece can accommodate simultaneously. The assessment evaluates both age groups, 2-5 and 6-12, separately and in combination. Play features are categorized per the City of Santa Clara’s seven (7) elements of play. Inclusive play elements are also quantified.
The “Train Depot”-themed playground has the capacity to accommodate a total of 177 persons, a 520% increase compared to the existing playground, which has the capacity to accommodate only 34 persons.
Once the Phase I design process is complete and Council has approved a revised park site master plan and preferred playground schematic design, the City will undertake Phase II of design of the Project. Phase II of design will include the development of the construction plans according to the approved schematic design, meeting all current regulations and funding nexus requirements.
The design plan does not alter the existing recreation building,restrooms, tennis courts, ball field, basketball courts, or most existing trees.
Measure R Compliance
The recommendation for approval of an update to the Henry Schmidt Park Master Plan may be subject to Measure R. In November 2016, voters passed Measure R, which added Section 714.1 Protection of Parkland and Public Open Space to the City Charter. Measure R prohibits selling, leasing, or otherwise disposing of parkland for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days or more, and also prohibits its use from changing, being abandoned, or discontinued without such sale, lease, disposal or changed use having first been authorized or ratified by a two-thirds majority vote of the electorate during a general municipal election for that purpose. Measure R also prohibits changes in park use for over 180 days without a majority vote of the electorate and substantial building, construction, reconstruction, or development upon dedicated parkland except pursuant to ordinance subject to referendum. The referendum process is set forth in the Elections Code.
The Henry Schmidt Park Master Plan update and the playground schematic design, if approved, will include changes to the existing park that may be considered as “substantial building, construction, reconstruction, or development.” The approval of the proposed site master plan, playground schematic design and subsequent park rehabilitation project will require an ordinance in order to comply with Measure R that will be recommended for the Council’s consideration and introduced by reference. The proposed project does not include a sale, lease, disposal, or change in use requiring a majority vote of the electorate. Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council approve the Henry Schmidt Park Master Plan update with the preferred playground schematic design, and introduce an ordinance (Attachment 5) to ensure compliance with Measure R. The ordinance authorizes the substantial building, construction, reconstruction, and development of Henry Schmidt Park per the Henry Schmidt Park Master Plan. The Ordinance will be presented again to Council for a second reading and adoption at a future meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to the following sections of the CEQA Guidelines:
Section 15302 (Class 2 - Replacement or Reconstruction), in that the project would replace and reconstruct existing facilities on the same site and with substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
Section 1503 (Class 3 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), in that the project will construct limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures and equipment.
Section 15304 (Class 4 - Minor Alterations), and 15304(b) (Class 4(b) - Replacement of Existing Landscaping with Water Efficient Landscaping), in that the project will make minor alterations in the condition of land, water and/or vegetation which do not involve the removal of healthy, mature scenic trees.
FISCAL IMPACT
In the FY 2022/23 CIP budget, $235,000 was appropriated for the Henry Schmidt Park Playground Rehabilitation Project. On February 7, 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with Gates and Associates in the amount of $109,556 to support the development of park concepts and schematic design for the project. While there is no additional fiscal impact associated with the actions in this report related to the update of the Park Master Plan and the adoption of the proposed schematic design, additional funding is needed to complete the remaining scope of design work. This will generally include preparing bid documents (plans, specifications, and engineer’s estimate) for public works bidding, providing assistance to coordinate and secure various permits, and providing services during project advertisement and construction.
Staff recommends a budget amendment to increase the project budget by $275,000 from Mitigation Fee Act funds, for a total budget of $510,000. The amendment includes the remaining amount needed to fully fund the design contract and includes a $2,454 contingency for any unforeseen issues beyond what is provided for in the Agreement. The construction portion of the project is currently unfunded and additional funding in the amount of approximately $4.3 million will neededto complete the project.
Budget Amendment
FY 2023/24
|
|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Parks and Recreation Capital Fund |
|
|
|
|
Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Mitigation Fee Act |
$21,859,302 |
($275,000) |
$21,584,302 |
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Henry Schmidt Playground Rehabilitation |
$235,000 |
$275,000 |
$510,000 |
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Parks & Recreation Department, the Public Works Department, City Attorney’s Office, and the Finance Department.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. Determine that the proposed actions are exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities); Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures); Section 15304 (Minor Alterations to Land); and Section 15304 (Replacement of Existing Landscaping with Water Efficient Landscaping) of Title 14 of California Code of Regulations;
2. Recommend that Council approve the updated Henry Schmidt Park master plan with preferred playground schematic design;
3. Approve the FY 2023/24 budget amendment in the Parks & Recreation Capital Fund to increase the Henry Schmidt Playground rehabilitation project appropriation by $275,000 and decrease the Mitigation Fee Act fund balance by the same amount (five affirmative Council votes required for the use of unused balances); and
4. Waive first reading and introduce an ordinance authorizing the substantial building, construction, reconstruction and development of Henry Schmidt Park in accordance with the Henry Schmidt Park master plan.
Staff
Prepared by: Dale Seale, Deputy Parks & Recreation Director
Review by: Cynthia Bojorquez, Assistant City Manager/Acting Parks & Recreation Director
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Existing Master Plan for Henry Schmidt Park
2. RTC# 23-1532 on February 7, 2023 with Executed Agreement
3. Henry Schmidt Park - Master Plan Update
4. Presentation on Henry Schmidt Park Playground Rehabilitation Project
5. Measure R Draft Ordinance for Henry Schmidt Park