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Home My WebLink AboutLR Land and Water Conservation Fund Application for Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project____________________________________________________________________________________ FOR CITY CLERK ONLY Council Meeting: February 22, 2022 Disposition: Resolution 15038 Agenda Item No: 5.h Meeting Date: February 22, 2022 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: Library & Recreation Prepared by: Catherine Quffa, Assistant Library & Recreation Director City Manager Approval: ______________ TOPIC: LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND APPLICATION FOR PICKLEWEED PARK ENHANCEMENT PROJECT SUBJECT: RESOLUTION APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND FOR THE PICKLEWEED PARK ENHANCEMENT PROJECT RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution approving the application for Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project. BACKGROUND: On February 14, 1963, President Kennedy’s Administration proposed legislation to establish a "Land and Water Conservation Fund" (LWCF) to assist States in planning, acquisition, and development of recreation lands. With bipartisan support, President Johnson signed Public Law 88-578 (the “Act”) into law on September 3, 1964. The National Park Service (NPS) administers the LWCF program at the federal level. Funds allocated to California are administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Outer Continental Shelf mineral receipts, sales of federal surplus real property, federal recreation fees, and federal motorboat fuel taxes all serve as funding sources for the LWCF. When an LWCF project is completed, the land within the boundary map approved under Section 6(f)(3) of the Act is placed under federal protection to preserve the public’s outdoor recreational use of the site in perpetuity for the benefit of our nation’s future generations. The State is currently accepting applications for LWCF funding for park acquisition and development projects. Up to $45 Million in grant requests will be selected from the competitive 2022 application cycle. The maximum grant request is $6,000,000 with a required 50% agency match. To qualify for the grant, park projects must meet at least one of the following criteria: 1.New Park Access a.Create or expand parks in communities that lack sufficient park space. Create new parks within a half mile of underserved communities, or expand existing parks to increase the ratio of park acreage per resident in underserved areas. This may include innovative SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 solutions such as acquiring private land from willing sellers such as vacant lots and blighted buildings, converting streets to create or expand parks, or converting closed schools. b. Acquire private land from willing sellers in natural areas to expand regional parks, or create new open space areas for outdoor recreation while preserving nature. 2. Multi-Use Parks Designed for All Age Groups in New or Existing Parks a. Construct recreation features designed to bring families together by supporting art and music, sports, and multi-generational activities. b. Construct recreation features for all age groups to support different active and passive recreation interests of all ages. c. Incorporate project design ideas from all age groups. 3. Health Design Goals for New or Existing Parks a. Include recreation features resulting from asking community members for their park design ideas for public health. 4. Safety and Beautification for New or Existing Parks a. Construct lighting for night-time use, or restrooms, landscaping, signs, or other enhancements to make the park appear welcoming and support longer hours of use. 5. Preservation a. Through the LWCF, place outdoor open space land under new 6(f)(3) protection for public recreation. Based on these guidelines, Pickleweed Park, located at the Albert J. Boro Community Center and which serves the Canal neighborhood, best qualifies for this grant opportunity. This grant opportunity is consistent with the City’s longstanding goal to convert the soccer fields at Pickleweed Park from natural to synthetic turf, and to enhance the surrounding park amenities. ANALYSIS: The City of San Rafael has applied for state funding previously for different variations of the Pickleweed Park Enhancement project, in 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2021. Converting the Pickleweed Field to synthetic turf has been a critical park priority for the Canal community since 2010 and Pickleweed Park Enhancement project would best qualify under the LFCW priority criteria. Currently, the Pickleweed Fields are closed for six (6) months of the year for maintenance and to provide opportunity for the grass turf to regenerate. Converting the fields to synthetic turf would allow them to remain open year-round, thereby doubling community access to this recreational amenity. In addition to converting the fields to synthetic turf, the project would add new amenities including: fitness equipment, a basketball/sport court, new play structure for children under five, a gazebo, a community mural, backstops for little league on the fields, shaded seating throughout the park, an improved bathroom, and additional parking. These amenities were identified as priorities by Canal residents through a robust community engagement process. The project plan also integrates environmentally friendly design, such as native and drought-tolerant landscaping, additional trees, bioswales and water filtration techniques, and improved LED lighting throughout the park and parking lot. More details on the project amenities and design can be found in Attachment 2. SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 The total funding request for the Pickleweed Park Enhancement project is $4,240,000 from LWCF with a required match of $4,240,00. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: From July through September, 2020, the City conducted a community outreach process to garner input on the design of the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project. Staff presented the project scope to community members and solicited feedback during two virtual meetings, held in partnership with the Canal Alliance and the Multicultural Center of Marin. Additionally, staff went to three community events held in the Canal neighborhood (two food distribution events and one youth event at the Albert J. Boro Community Center) to gather one-on-one feedback on amenities community members would like to see in the project. Finally, staff created an online community survey to gather additional feedback on the project. The survey was sent out through the City’s Canal-specific social media channels, posted on the Pickleweed Park electronic sign, and was also pushed out by community partners, including San Rafael City Schools, the Marin Community Clinic, the Canal Alliance, Parent Services Project, and the Marin Asian Advocacy Project. Additionally, the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project was presented to the Park and Recreation Commission as part of the Measure A work plan on May 16, 2019. During that time, the Commission recommended that Measure A funds be used to support the community engagement and design process. The use of Measure A funds for this purpose was approved by City Council on June 17, 2019. FISCAL IMPACT: The LWCF Grant requires a 50% project match from the agency to be eligible for funding. With a $4,240,000 funding request, the City must provide $4,240,000 in matching funds. By utilizing American Rescue Plan and other grant funds on projects and initiatives normally funded by the General Fund, the City will be able to accumulate and earmark $4,240,000 from the General Fund for the purpose of this matching requirement. OPTIONS: The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter: 1. Adopt the resolution approving the application for Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project. 2. Adopt the resolution with modifications. 3. Direct staff to return with more information. 4. Take no action. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt resolution approving the application for Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Resolution for Land and Water Conservation Fund Application 2. Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project Conceptual Site Plan RESOLUTION NO. 15038 RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND FOR THE PICKLEWEED PARK ENHANCEMENT PROJECT WHEREAS, the Congress under Public Law 88-578 has authorized the establishment of a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant -In-Aid program, providing matching funds to the State of California and its political subdivisions for acquiring lands and developing facilities for public outdoor recreation purposes; and WHEREAS, the California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for administration of the program in the State, setting up necessary rules and procedures governing applications by local agencies under the program; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to apply for Land and Water Conservation Fund assistance for the proposed Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project; and WHEREAS, the applicant must certify by resolution the approval of the application and the availability of eligible matching funds prior to submission of the application to the State; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby: 1. Approves the filing of an Application for Land and Water Conservation Fund assistance for the proposed Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project; 2. Agrees to abide by Section 6(f)(3) of Public Law 88-578 which states “No property acquired or developed with assistance under this section shall, without the approval of the National Secretary of the Interior, be converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses. The Secretary shall approve such conversion only if he finds it to be in accord with the then existing comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation plan and only upon such conditions as he deems necessary to assure the substitution of other recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness and location.” 3. Certifies that said agency has matching funds from eligible source(s) and can finance 100 percent of the Project, up to half of which may be reimbursed; and 4. Appoints the City Manager as agent of the City to conduct all negotiations and execute and submit all documents, including, but not limited to, applications, contracts, amendments, payment requests, and compliance with all applicable current state and federal laws which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned Project. I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Tuesday, the 22nd day of February 2022, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmembers: Bushey, Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Kate NOES: Councilmembers: None ABSENT: Councilmembers: None Lindsay Lara, City Clerk 11.09.2020 PICKLEWEED PARK ENHANCEMENT PROJECT 50 CANAL ST. SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA 94901 CONCEPTUAL PLAN 0 20 40 80 VIEW DECK ALBERT J. BORO COMMUNITY CENTER PICKLEWEED CHILDREN’S CENTER FUTURE TISCORNIA MARSH RESTORATIONCANAL STREET PLAY AREASAN RAF AEL C A N AL FUTURE TISCORNIA MARSH RESTORATION 2 1 3 4 5 6 6 7 8 7 9 10 10 10 7 PICKLEWEED LIBRARY LEGEND 1 MULTI-USE FIELD WITH SYNTHETIC TURF, LINED FOR VARIOUS SPORTS 2 BASKETBALL/SPORT COURT 3 PLAY STRUCTURE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 4 FITNESS EQUIPMENT FOR ADULTS 5 RENOVATED RESTROOM WITH COMMUNITY MURAL 6 SHADED SEATING 7 DROUGHT RESISTANT LANDSCAPING, BIOSWALES, TREES, AND OTHER BENEFICIAL LANDSCAPING 8 GAZEBO 9 ADDITIONAL PARKING 10 ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AND SECURITY CAMERAS FOR IMPROVED SECURITY I ' - .. ,, • • • . - • • .... ..... ,. • CARDUCCI ASSOCIATES