HomeMy WebLinkAboutFinance Committee 2020-11-04 Agenda Packet
CITY COUNCIL FINANCE COMMITTEE
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Meeting held via Conference Call
(669) 900-9128
Meeting ID: 827 4711 2183
1. Public comment
2. Prop 68 per capita grant
3. Election results – Measure R
4. June 30, 2020 preliminary MCERA economic assumptions
5. June 30, 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report results
6. Future topics
7. Adjourn
Any records relating to an agenda item, received by a majority or more of the board or commission less than 72 hours before t he
meeting, shall be available online. Sign Language interpreters may be requested by calling (415) 485-3066 (voice), emailing
Lindsay.lara@cityofsanrafael.org or using the California Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing “711”, at least 72 hours in
advance of the meeting.
____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.: _______________________________
Council Meeting: _______________________
Disposition: ___________________________
Agenda Item No: _____________
Meeting Date: November 16, 2020
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Library & Recreation
Prepared by: Catherine Quffa,
Assistant Library and Recreation
Director
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: PROPOSITION 68 GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
SUBJECT: RESOLUTIONS APPROVING THE SUBMITTAL OF GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THE
PROPOSITION 68 PER CAPITA GRANT, THE PROPOSITION 68 STATEWIDE PARK
DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY REVIT ALIZATION PROGRAM AND APPROVING
THE PICKLEWEED PARK ENHANCEMENT PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING STAFF
TO FILE A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH CEQA GUIDELINES
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt resolutions approving the submittal of grant applications for the Proposition 68 Per Capita Grant,
the Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program and approving
the Pickleweed Park Enhancements Project and authorizing staff to file a Notice of Exemption in
compliance with CEQA guidelines.
BACKGROUND:
In 2018, voters passed Proposition 68 (Prop 68), the “Parks, Environment and Water Bond Act of 2018”.
Prop 68 authorized $4 billion in general obligation bon ds for state and local parks, environmental
protection and restoration projects, water infrastructure projects and flood protection projects. Through
this, Prop 68 provides a variety of funding opportunities for local jurisdictions. Two of those grant
opportunities include the Per Capita Grant Program and a Statewide Park Development and Community
Revitalization Program. The State process for both Prop 68 grants requires that jurisdictions adopt a
specific resolution prior to submitting the appli cation, which verifies the City’s commitment and ability to
implement the project.
The Per Capita Grant program is a non -competitive program made available for local park rehabilitation,
creation, and improvement grants to local governments. Per Capita Grant funds are distributed to local
jurisdictions based on population size.
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The Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) is a highly competitive
funding opportunity with the goal of either creating new parks or enhancing existing parks as well as
implementing new amenities, all of which must occur in critically underserved communities. SPP identifies
underserved communities based on ratio of park space per 1,000 residents, median household income,
and number of people below the poverty level. The maximum award amount for an SPP grant in the
current funding round is $8,500,000 with no local match required.
According to the SPP guidelines, projects must create or renovate at least one recreation feature and
can only include one park per application. In San Rafael, Pickleweed Park, located at the Albert J. Boro
Community Center and which serves the Canal neighborhood, is the only existing park that qualif ies 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. SPP provides a unique opportunity to pursue funding at a level that could otherwise not be
achieved.
ANALYSIS:
Under current Prop 68 funding programs, the City qualifies for the Per Capita Grant program and the
SPP.
Per Capita Grant
In 2019, the City submitted the Per Capita Allocation Questionnaire to determine the City’s allocation
under the grant program. Grant funds are allocated based on population and are one -time funds. On
June 24, 2020, the State notified the City of their allocation amount of $177,952.
According to the Per Capita Grant program guidelines, project s submitted must be for recreational
purposes, either acquisition or development, and are subject to the following:
• Projects must be for capital outlay; that is, acquisition of land, or improvements to existing
property beyond its original condition. Operation, maintenance, repairs are not eligible.
• Acquisition and development projects cannot be combined,
• A project can only have one location. One project serving several parks is not permitted.
• Development projects must be consistent with the park and recreation element of the
grantee’s general or recreation plan.
• Per Capita funds must be used to supplement, not supplant, local revenues inexistence as of
June 5, 2018.
• Contracted work must comply with the provisions of §1771.5 of the State Labor Code.
• Grantee must have adequate liability insurance, performance bond, or other security
necessary to protect the State and Grantee’s interest against poor workmanship, fraud, or
other potential loss associated with the completion of the project.
• Pre-Construction Costs may not exceed 25% of the project amount.
• The primary purpose of any building constructed or improved must be public recreation.
• Projects must be accessible, including an accessible path of travel to the project.
After reviewing the projects that were evaluated as part of the City’s recent 3-Year Capital Improvement
Program process and the applying the above criteria, the Sun Valley Park Playground Replacement
Project was identified as the project that would most benefit from these funds.
The project entails the replacement of the existing play structures with new play structures and parking
and pathway improvements for ADA access. Other park playground replacement projects that were
evaluated include Gerstle, Peacock Gap and Bernard Hoffman parks. Unfortunately, improving the
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
accessible paths of travel for ADA compliance at these three parks would exceed funding available
through the Prop 68 Per Capita Grant program.
All projects not serving a “severely disadvantaged community” require a 20% match of funds. The median
household income in the areas surrounding Sun Valley Park does not qualify as severely disadvantaged,
therefore, a 20% local match is required. Staff recommend using Measure A funds (Fund #241) to provide
the 20% local match.
In order to receive the allocation, the City is required to submit a resolution approving the filing of the
project application. The resolution is due to the State no later than December 31, 202 1, with the full grant
application due no later than June 30, 2021. The deadline by which the City must fulfill all grant
requirements, including installation of new infrastructure, is March 31, 2024.
Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP)
SPP is a highly competitive grant opportunity that focuses on expanding and improving recreation access
and amenities in critically underserved communities. The City of San Rafael has applied for SPP funding
previously for different variations of the Pickleweed Park Enhancement project, in 2010 and 2011, and
for the Prop 84 California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Program Grant in 2016. Converting
the Pickleweed Field to synthetic turf has been a critical park priority for the Canal community since 2010
and Pickleweed is the only park in San Rafael that would qualify as critically underserved per the SPP
guidelines.
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 5, 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 3.
The SPP grant requires local jurisdiction CEQA clearance and a recorded notice as part of the application.
In consultation with an environmental consultant, the project has been reviewed f or compliance with the
CEQA Guidelines and it has been determined that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA. City
Council action would confirm this finding and authorize filing of the Notice of Exemption with the County
of Marin, as well as approve the submittal of the grant application.
The total funding request for the Pickleweed Park Enhancement project is $8,480,000. The SPP
application is due on December 14, 2020. The State will announce award recipients in Summer 2021 ,
with project completion required by June 30, 2025.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
For the Per Capita Grant, staff presented the recommendation to the Park and Recreation Commission,
who approved the selection of Sun Valley Park. Once approved by Council, staff will conduct a community
engagement process to solicit input from resident on what amenities they would like to see in the
playground replacement project.
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The SPP grant requires significant community input for the application to be competitive. For 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 (2 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.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Per Capita Grant program requires a 20% project match from the agency receiving the funds. With
a $177,952 grant allocation, the City must provide $44,488 in matching funds. Staff recommend that the
City designate funds from the FY 2021-2022 Measure A allocation to fulfill the match requirement.
Historically, the City has designated between $110,000 and $140,000 per year of Measure A funds
towards park improvement projects. If approved, staff would include this allocation in the next round of
Measure A funding.
Although the SPP grant does not have a funding match requirement, the City is requesting the maximum
award amount of $8,500,000. If the project should result in additional costs that may include but not
limited to the addition of amenities and/or unanticipated construction costs, staff would recommend that
the City utilize local Measure A funds to cover the shortfall. Staff does not anticipate that this would not
exceed $250,000. If unsuccessful and the City does not receive SPP grant funding, the City will not move
forward with the project.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider on this matter:
1. Adopt the two resolutions approving applications for Prop. 68 grant funds and approving the
Pickleweed Park Enhancements Project and authorizing staff to file a Notice of Exemption in
compliance with CEQA guidelines.
2. Adopt resolution for one of the Prop. 68 funding applications.
3. Direct staff to return with more information.
4. Take no action.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Adopt the resolutions approving the submittal of grant applications for the Proposition 68 (Prop
68) Per Capita Grant; and
2. Adopt the resolution approving the submittal of grant application for the Proposition 68 (Prop 68)
Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Programs; and
3. Adopt the resolution approving the Pickleweed Park Enhancements Project and authorizing staff
to file a Notice of Exemption in compliance with CEQA guidelines.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution for Prop 68 Per Capita Grant Funds
2. Resolution for Prop 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program
Grant Funds
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3. Resolution approving the Pickleweed Park Enhancements Project and authorizing staff to file a
Notice of Exemption in compliance with CEQA guidelines.
4. Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project Conceptual Site Plan