Report Prepared by: Jennifer Arellano, Recreation Supervisor, Parks and Recreation
Title
SUBJECT: Adopt a Motion Selecting the North Merced Park Location, Amenities and Layout and Authorizing the Submission of a Proposition 68 Statewide Park Program Grant Round 3 Grant Application for an Amount Not to Exceed $8.5 Million Dollars ($8,500,000)
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers granting authority for submittal of a grant application for funding of a new park in North Merced and adopting a motion selecting the location, amenities, and layout of the park for an amount not to exceed $8.5 Million ($8,500,000).
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion selecting the North Merced park location, amenities and layout and authorizing the Parks and Recreation Department to submit the Proposition 68 Statewide Park Program Round 3 grant application for an amount not to exceed $8.5 million dollars ($8,500,000).
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Deny; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
4. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
DISCUSSION
On June 5, 2018, California voters passed a $4.1 billion bond measure to fund state and local parks, environmental projects, water infrastructure projects and flood protection projects throughout California. There are several funding streams resulting out of this bond measure, three of which the City of Merced is eligible for, or anticipates being eligible to apply for:
Statewide Park Program-Round 3: $254,942,000 to be awarded
This competitive program will create new parks and new recreation opportunities in underserved communities across California.
Per Capita Program: $185,000,000 to be awarded
Funds are available for local park rehabilitation, creation, and improvement grants to local governments on a per capita basis. Grant recipients are encouraged to utilize awards to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking access to the outdoors.
Recreational Infrastructure Revenue Enhancement: $37,000,000 to be awarded
Upon approval from the Legislature, funds will be made available aimed at improving and enhancing local or regional park infrastructure. Grants will be awarded proportionally based on populations served, and a grant recipient shall receive at least $250,000 for the purposes of the revenue enhancement measure.
Regional Parks Program: Likely not eligible unless partnering with the County
Rural Recreation and Tourism Program: Likely not eligible
Community Access Program (CAP): Program on hold
The Statewide Park Program-Round 3 is the first one the City will be applying for, as the others have not had final guidelines and deadlines released yet. After attending several informational and technical assistance workshops and webinars, staff has concluded that for this grant round, according to grant guidelines, the funder’s census tool, and history of recent spending in Parks improvements, the most underserved area in Merced, and therefore the most competitive application, will be in the North Merced Bellevue Ranch subdivision. Although the median household income is high, there are currently zero to less than three acres of existing parkland per 1,000 residents in this community, which designates the area as critically underserved.
Staff chose three sites in the area that fell within grant guidelines and held 6 community meetings between July 2- July 12 to inform the community of the opportunity and receive their feedback on park selection as well as park design. Potential park sites are:
1. Charles Ogletree Site - 250 Mandeville Ln (at Hutchinson Ln)
2. Fahrens Creek Site - 4325 Freemark Ave (at Heitz Way)
3. Lester K. Yoshida Site - 4355 Bixby Way (at Revelle Dr)
Each community meeting was structured as a design workshop in order to receive very particular feedback from those attending. Meetings opened with allowing residents to vote on their first, second, and third choice for which park was selected. Then, each person was asked to choose the top amenities they would like to see at each site, and asked to fill out a survey. Afterwards there was an activity and discussion about exactly which location inside the park they would like to see those amenities. The last part of the discussion was about desired features to enhance safe public use and park beautification. This information will be summarized and included in a presentation for Council’s consideration.
Staff are seeking direction from the City Council on which park to select for the grant application, the amenities to include and the layout of the proposed park. Pending Council direction, staff will complete the grant application and obtain the necessary letters of support in partnership with Townsend Public Affairs in time to meet the August 5, 2019 deadline.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
None.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposition 68 Info Sheet
2. Proposition 68 Community Meeting Flyer
3. Park Sites
4. Parks Survey