REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an Application for Proposition 68 Per Capita Program for Maywood Park Rehabilitation and approve a related budget amendment in the amount of $256,622 for the Project in the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Sports, Recreational and Arts Assets
BACKGROUND
On June 5, 2018, State of California voters approved Proposition 68 (the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018). In July 2020, the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) announced the Proposition 68 “Per Capita Program” grant funding amounts to local governments for rehabilitation (not maintenance) of existing parks infrastructure and to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to outdoor parks and recreation spaces. The City of Santa Clara is eligible for $177,952 from the General Per Capita Program and an additional $78,670 from the Urban County Per Capita Program, for total funds in the amount of $256,622.
In order to receive Per Capita grant funds, the City must approve and submit an authorizing resolution to the State, followed by a Project application and agreement. The Per Capita grant funds may not supplant existing funds, and a 20% local match is required. The Project grant application is due by January 31, 2021, and Project completion due by December 2023.
One of the City Council Pillars is to “enhance community sports, recreation and arts assets.” In addition, the City’s parks and recreation Facility Condition Assessment (Kitchell, 2018) provided an inventory of existing park buildings and assets in need of rehabilitation/renewal to meet current accessibility, building and safety codes. Over the past several years, Santa Clara has prioritized the rehabilitation of parks and recreation facilities to make them code compliant and accessible while meeting the diverse needs of the increasing resident population by making them more inclusionary, environmentally sustainable, age-friendly, and providing measurably increased play value as well as new desired amenities.
The Parks & Recreation Commission, as part of their Work Plan goals FY2018/19-2019/20, reviewed existing park infrastructure conditions, informed the community about parks and recreation rehabilitation needs, and discussed potential funding opportunities and sources. On August 20, 2019 the Commission (RTC #19-518) recommended a “top ten” list of park playground and/or rehabilitation projects including Maywood Park for potential inclusion in the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) given the parks ages, asset conditions and funding limitations. In 2020, Council approved the FY2020/21 and FY2021/22 Biennial CIP Budget which included the Maywood Park playground rehabilitation project.
The Parks & Recreation Commission makes recommendations to City Council regarding park improvements. Maywood Park dates from 1961; its playground and park site amenities are in poor to critical condition (Kitchell, 2018). The timeline of the Maywood Project works well with the Per Capita Grant timeline since Maywood Park Rehabilitation is one of the next projects to begin community engagement. Given that the Grant funds are insufficient alone to fund a major playground rehabilitation project, using the Grant funds for additional amenities to be identified by the community in the public outreach process would allow them to be included in the final Project scope.
On September 15, 2020, following Commission discussion of the Grant program and Maywood Park needs, the Parks & Recreation Commission recommended that Council adopt a Resolution to apply for Proposition 68 “Per Capita” Grant Funds for the City’s Maywood Park Rehabilitation Project.
DISCUSSION
The Maywood Park Rehabilitation Project is a good match for the Per Capita Grant. It has an estimated cost of $2,493,700, of which $2 million is funded from Quimby Act Fees In Lieu of parkland dedication collected from new residential development. These funds can serve as the local 20% match for the Per Capita Grant. The current funds available will provide an age-appropriate, expanded playground and new park amenities, and meet criteria and guidelines for other grant opportunities. However, the Project is estimated to need additional funding of $493,700 (19.8% of Project total) to be fully funded with an ample Project contingency for unknown site conditions. The Per Capita Grant funding in the amount of $256,622, is a welcome opportunity to reduce the estimated remaining Maywood Project unfunded amount to $237,078 (or 9.5% of Project total), which is anticipated to be funded from other grant sources such as a PlayCore playground matching grant, and potential community contributions. Once other grant opportunities are exhausted and the Schematic Design and cost estimate have been finalized, the Project scope or the Project contingency will be adjusted to reflect the final amount of funds available for the Project.
The Per Capita Grant program requires City adoption of a Resolution (Attachment 1) in order to submit a project application. Grant funds are to be used to rehabilitate City park facilities. The Resolution confirms that the City has the funding to complete, operate and maintain the Project, and, if approved, will authorize the City Manager to administer the Grant.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Proposition 68 Per Capita Program Grant allocates funding in the amount of $256,622 to the approved FY2020/21 and FY2021/22 Biennial CIP Budget for the Maywood Park Rehabilitation Project in the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund as shown in the budget amendment below. The grant requires a 20% match or approximately $51,332, which will be more than met by the current CIP Project appropriation of $2 million.
Budget Amendment
FY 2021/22
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|
Current |
Increase/ (Decrease) |
Revised |
|
Parks and Recreation Capital Fund |
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|
|
|
|
|
Revenue |
|
|
|
|
Grant Funding |
$0 |
$256,622 |
$256,622 |
|
Quimby Act Fees |
$2,000,000 |
$0 |
$2,000,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Maywood Park Playground Rehabilitation Project |
$2,000,000 |
$256,622 |
$2,256,622 |
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
COORDINATION
This agreement has been coordinated with the Finance Department and the City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting 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. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an Application for the Proposition 68 Per Capita Program for the Maywood Park Rehabilitation Project; and
2. Approve a related Fiscal Year 2021/22 budget amendment in the Parks and Recreation Capital Fund to recognize grant revenue and increase the Maywood Park Rehabilitation Project appropriation in the amount of $256,622.
Staff
Reviewed by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution
2. Proposition 68 Procedural Guide