HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 282-10" . City of Palo Alto 7
City Manager's Report
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
DATE: JUNE 21, 2010 CMR: 282:10
SUBJECT: Adoption of Two Resolutions Authorizing the City to Apply for Funds and
Execute Agreements with the State of California Under the Nature
Education Facilities Program of The Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality And
Supply, Flood Control, River And Coastal Protection Bond Act Of 2006 for
Facility and Exhibit Renovations at the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo and
the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Center, Respectively.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council approve the two attached resolutions to:
1. Authorize the submittal of two separate grant applications to the California State Department
of Parks and Recreation for the City to use the funds for the Design and Renovation of
Facilities and Exhibits at the Junior Museum & Zoo and Lucy Evans Nature Center,
respectively. .
2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee, as the person responsible for the administration
of the grants on behalf of the City, inc~uding certifications and any amendments.
BACKGROUND
Grant Program
In November 2006, California voters approved Proposition 84, the "Safe Drinking Water, Water
Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of2006." Funding for
this $93 million grant program was made available through the Parks and Nature Education
Facilities chapter in Proposition 84. This program is administered by the California Department
of Parks and Recreation. This act is intended to facilitate the awarding of grants for development
projects that will increase public understanding and knowledge of California's natural resources.
"
The impacts of climate change and population growth pose significant challenges to California's
environmental resources. The challenges must be addressed and solutions must be provided in
order to protect those resources for future generations. Therefore, facilities that educate visitors
and inspire environmental stewardship are eligible for the grant funding.
CMR:282:1O Page 1 of5
Grant request amounts must be between $25,000 and $7,000,000. Eligible projects are
development, including construction and renovation, of nature education facilities, buildings,
structures, and exhibit galleries that present collections to inspire and educate the pUblic.
DISCUSSION
Grant application 1 for Junior Museum & Zoo
In 1934, Josephine O'Hara founded the Junior Museum in the Art Clubroom of the public
Library and then the existing permanent building was constructed in 1941. The City renovated
the JMZ again in 1969, adding the Zoo, a larger exhibit hall, art and clay and science classrooms
which brought the total square footage of the museum to over 15,000.
Today visitors to the JMZ enjoy 2,200-square feet of indoor exhibition space, offering hands-on
opportunities for discovery that are uniquely tailored for our core audience of children, ages 0-9,
and their caregivers. Exhibits provide concrete, multi-sensorial and kinesthetic learning
experiences that spark curiosity about physics, earth science and the natural world.
This project will renovate three public spaces in the JMZ with the grant funds.
The project scope of work would include:
• The production of a 1,400-square foot exhibit, called Curious by Nature within the
existing footprint. This exhibition will display natural history collections and live animals
with interactive exhibits.
• The renovation of a 400-square foot outdoor exhibition, called Animal Homes, including
repaving, construction of 2-3 small animal enclosures, an observation beehive, a wildlife
garden, and a hands-on water exhibit. This is located in within the existing Zoo courtyard
footprint.
• Renovation of our Science Classroom, SOO-square feet, to become an Animal Program
Space, including new animal housing enclosures, classroom facilities and updated
storage. Within the Animal Program Space, structured classes and facilitated public floor
programs will take place that let visitors interact with live animals and touch collection
objects. The renovation of this classroom will enable us to house all of our animals used
for teaching in a modem facility reflecting best practices in both design for informal
learning and animal care.
• Renovation of existing restrooms to bring them into ADA compliance. Construction of an
additional ADA compliant woman's restroom.
If the grant is awarded, the time line of the project is proposed to be:
Phase 1, Jun. 2011 Open Curious by Nature exhibition (indoors)
Phase 2, Dec. 2012 Open Animal Homes exhibition (outdoors III Zoo), Animal Program
Space, and restrooms
CMR:282: 10 Page 2 of 5
The budget request amount for this grant is currently estimated at $934,210. The final estimate
will be determined by the grant deadline. Additional funds ($50,000) necessary to complete the
project have been raised and will be provided by Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo.
These funds cover ineligible costs such as evaluation, exhibit consumables, software
development and furniture.
Grant application 2 for Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center
The Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Center (LEBNC) was built in 1969. LEBNC is one of the first
nature interpretive centers built next to San Francisco Bay. The 3,600-square foot building is
part of the 1,600-acre Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve and within the 1,940-acre Palo Alto
Baylands Open Space. The City of Palo Alto staffs the Preserve with rangers for maintenance of
the land, a full-time naturalist and hourly staff to conduct fee-based interpretive programming.
This year the staff provided in-depth environmental education to 2,900 elementary school
students and served over 80,000 drop-in visitors at the baylands.
LEBNC sits on piers over a small section of a 135 acre tidal salt marsh. It is one of the largest
tracts of preserved marsh lands in the San Francisco Bay Estuary. The facility, once state-of-the
art, is now in need of renovation and updated displays to support its purpose -education for
preservation of the salt marsh habitat and ecosystems.
The goal of the grant proposal for the Lucy Evans Nature Center and the Baylands Open Space is
to improve access and create a coherent visitor experience between the Nature Center and the
surrounding salt marsh.
The Project Scope would include:
• Improve access by renovating the marsh front boardwalk and interior education spaces
• Re-glaze one exterior wall to provide inspiring views of the marsh from within the
building
• Develop an "interpretive road map" to refocus and reorganize existing exhibits in order to
better communicate key messages
• Modernize the Educational Lab to better engage drop-in visitors and improve access for
school group programs
• Fabricate and install several new exhibits to augment existing ones
j • Renovate existing office and storage to support programs
• Improve storage for classroom materials adjacent to exhibit space
• Add benches to the exterior of the building, pier and along the San Francisquito Trail
CMR:282:10 Page 3 of5
If the grant is awarded, the timeline of the project is proposed to be:
Completion of Design March 2011 -October 2011
Bid January-June 2012
Construction and Fabrication August -April 2013
The budget request amount for this grant is currently estimated at $3,535,200; the final estimate
will be determined by the grant deadline.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Exhibit renovation is necessary to continue to attract and engage visitors in our educational
facilities and is a current ongoing responsibility of the JMZ and LEBNC. To stay competive and
attract customers to participate in our revenue-generatjng educational programs, improvements to
our classroom facilities and exhibits are necessary.
There is no matching funds requirement for this program. For the JMZ project, all eligible costs
(except salaries) have been built into the grant or will be funded by the Friends. Approval of the
grant will not affect other projects or their completion timelines.
The proposed grants would provide over $4,000,000 to inspire enviroinnental stewardship in
Palo Alto. The investments will refurbish or replace existing exhibits and facilities or enhance
exisiting programs; their maintenance and operation will be absorbed by the existing budget and
new FTE's are not required.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This recommendation is consistent with existing City policy and furthers Policy C-24 of the
Community Services element of the Comprehensive Plan in that the project would reinvest in an
aging facility to improve its usefulness and appearance; Policy C-26 by maintaining and
enhancing existing park facilities; and Program C-19 by developing improvement plans for the
maintenance, restoration and enhancement of community facilities, and keep these facilities
viable corru:nunity assets.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The application for a grant is not considered an action subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act; therefore, no environmental assessment is needed at this time. Building and exhibit
improvments will be confined to the existing foot print except where code compliance requires
modification. The Planning Department will reviewed the projects to determined if they are
categorically exempt under Section 15301 [existing facilities] of CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
CMR:282:10
Resolution Authorizing the Filing of the JMZ Application to the California
State Parks under their Nature Education Facilities Program.
Resolution Authorizing the Filing of the LEBNC Application to the
California State Parks under their Nature Education Facilities Program.
Page 4 of5
PREPAREDBY: __ ~~~ __ ~~~~ __________________ __
-./ OHN AIKIN
/ Supervisor, Junior Museum & Zoo ..
~~ DEPARTMENT HEAD:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
CMR:282:1O
Director of Community Services
~LO~bjJ At:.. JAMES KEENE J ~ City Manager
Page 5 of5
· . Attachment A Not Yet Approved
Resolution No.
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving the
Application for Nature Education Facility Program Funds Safe
Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and
Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 For the Benefit of the Palo Alto
Junior Museum and Zoo
WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation (the "State Department") has
been delegated the responsibility by· the Legislature of the State of California for the
administration of the Nature Education Facilities Program, setting up necessary procedures
governing the application for such funds; and
WHEREAS, the State Department's procedures require a grant applicant to certify by
resolution the approval of a grant application before an application may be submitted; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto (the "City") owns and operates the Palo Alto Junior
Museum and Zoo (the "Zoo"), which the City wishes to improve and/or renovate, as follows: (1)
construction of a 1,400 square foot exhibition, Curious by Nature, featuring a display of natural
history collections and live animals with interactive exhibits, (2) construction of a 650 square
foot outdoor exhibition, Animal Homes, including the repaving and construction of several small
animal enclosures, an observation beehive, a wildlife garden, all to be located in the Zoo
courtyard, (3) renovation of the Zoo's Science Classroom, a 500 square foot enclosure, known as
the Animal Program Space, and (4) the renovation of the restrooms to comply with Americans
with Disabilities Act requirements and the construction of a new women's restroom, at a total
cost of approximately $934,210; and
WHEREAS, the City will enter into a contract with the State of California to complete
the Zoo project, referred to above;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE as
follows:
SECTION 1. The Council hereby authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to file a
grant application for Nature Education Facility Program Funds, as follows:
(a) The City certifies that the City has or will have available, prior to commencement
of any, work on the Project included in a grant application to the State
Department, sufficient funds to complete the Project should the grant be awarded;
(b) The City certifies that the City will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain
~~~ .
(c) The City certifies that the City has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the
General Provisions contained in the contract, which is set forth in the Grant
Administration Guide;
(d) The City certifies that the Project is consistent with the applicable City planning
document, as appropriate;
(e) The City delegates authority to the City Manager, or designee, to conduct all
negotiations, sign and submit all documents, including, without limitation,
1006 14 jb 0073385
Not Yet Approved
applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests, which may be
necessary for the completion of the Project; and
(f) The City agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines.
SECTION 2. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution does not constitute a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act and the CEQA Guidelines and, therefore,
no environment assessment is required.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Manager
Senior Asst. City Attorney
Director of Community Services
Director of Administrative Services
100614 jb 0073385
Attachment B Not Yet Approved
Resolution No.
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving. the
Application for Nature Education Facility Program Funds Safe
Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and
Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 For the Benefit of the Lucy
Evans Nature Interpretative Center
. WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation (the "State Department") has
been delegated the responsibility by the Legislature of the State of California for the
administration of the Nature Education Facilities Program, setting up necessary procedures
governing the application for such funds; and
WHEREAS, the State Department's procedures require a grant applicant to certify by
resolution the approval of a grant application before an application may be submitted; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto (the "City") owns the Lucy Evans Nature Center (the
"Center"), which the City wishes to improve and/or renovate, as follows: (1) Improve access by
renovating the board walk and interior education spaces; (2) Re-glaze one exterior wall of the
Center to provide inspiring views of the marsh from within the building; (3) Develop an
"interpretive road map" to refocus and reorganize existing exhibits in order to better
communicate key messages; (4) Modernize the Educational Lab to better engage drop-in visitors
and improve access for school group programs; (5) Fabricate and install several new exhibits to
augment existing ones; (6) Renovate existing office and storage to support programs; (7)
Improve storage for classroom materials adjacent 1'0 exhibit space; and (8) Add benches to the
exterior of the building, pier and along the San Francisquito Trail;
WHEREAS, the City will enter into a contract with the State of California to complete
the Center project, referred to above;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE as
follows:
SECTION 1. The Council hereby authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to file a
grant application for Nature Education Facility Program Funds, as follows:
(a) The City certifies that the City has or will have available, prior to commencement
of any work on the Project included in a grant application to the State
Department, sufficient funds to complete the Project should the grant be awarded;
(b) The City certifies that the City will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain
the Project;
(c) The City certifies that the City has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the
General Provisions contained in the contract, which is set forth in the Grant
Administration Guide;
(d) The City certifies that the Project is consistent with the applicable City planning
document, as appropriate;
(e) The City delegates authority to the City Manager, or designee, to conduct all
negotiations, sign and submit all documents, including, without limitation,
100614 jb 0073386
Not Yet Approved
applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests, which may be
necessary for the completion of the Project; and
(f) The City agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines.
SECTION 2. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution does not constitute a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act and the CEQA Guidelines and, therefore,
no environment assessment is required.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Manager
. Senior Asst. City Attorney
Director of Community Services
Director of Administrative Services
100614 jb 0073386