HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 170-05City of Palo Alto
City Manager's Report
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
DATE: MARCH 21, 2005 CMR: 170:05
SUBJECT: PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FIELDS SUB-COMMITTEE
ADVISORY REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
Staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission recommend Council approval to pursue the
following actions relative to increasing the use and inventory of athletic fields:
• Work to identify funding for athletic field sports turf installations
• Explore incorporating into the City's five-year ClP program installation of sports turf
at Cubberley football field, Greer Park field #3 and El Camino soccer field
• Consider lighting at the above fields, taking into account community and
neighborhood concerns
• Create short, intermediate and long-term execution plans, including time lines and
budget considerations.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Parks and Recreation Commission, as one of its priorities for 2005, established a sub-
committee to follow up on the Palo Alto Fields Advisory Committee task force report of
December 2002. The report stated that there is growing pressure to maintain and provide fields
at an acceptable level as expected by community and others using the fields. The report
recommended increasing athletic field capaCity through use of all-weather synthetic turf, lighting
to extend hours and development of one or more new athletic field facilities. The Parks and
Recreation Commission fully supported the taskforce recommendations including the need to
work cooperatively with other jurisdictions including the Palo Alto Unified School District,
, Stanford and neighboring cities.
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Parks and Recreation Commission fully supports the sub-committee recommendations and
requests Council direction to pursue the alternatives as outlined above.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:
CMR:170:05
Parks & Recreation Commission Sub-Committee Fields Advisory Report
Page 1 of2
PREPAREDBY: ____________ ~~~~~~~~~--------
PAULDIAS
Division Manager, Parks & Golf
DEPARTMENTHEAD: __ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ __
CITY MANAGER APPROV AL: __ ~J-~-"---'-::::".v...==,,-==--___ _
Cc: Parks & Recreation Commission
Palo Alto Fields Advisory Committee
CMR:170:05 Page 2 of2
ATTACHMENT A
City of Palo Alto
Parks and Recreation Commission (P ARC)
Sub-Committee Fields Advisory Report
Members of the PARC Fields Sub-committee: Paul Losch, Jeanette Marquess, Anne Warner-
Cribbs
Presented and Adopted by P ARC: December 14,2004
Reference: Palo Alto Fields Advisory Committee
Report to the Palo Alto City Council
December 10,2002
Statement of the problem: The citizens of Palo Alto are suffering from a serious lack offield
space to conduct recreational activities.
Recommendations: The PARC Fields Sub-committee supports the conclusion of the Palo Alto
Field Advisory Committee report dated December 2002, that any solution to this problem must
include both the extension of playing time available on current fields, and the acquisition of
additional new field space. The Sub-committee hereby makes its recommendation that Council
conduct solution activity in three stages: short, intermediate and long-term activities.
The Sub-committee has obtained support from the Parks & Recreation Commission to
recommend to the City Council the following actions for immediate consideration:
1. Identify funding for athletic field sports turf installations -this could include grants,
impact fees, corporate partner sponsorships, community donations, and increased user
fees.
2. Incorporate into the City'S five-year Capital Improvement Program installation of
sports turf at Cubberley Football Field, Greer Park, Field #3, EI Camino soccer field.
3. After consideration of community and neighborhood concerns, install lighting at the
above fields.
4. Create short, intermediate and long-term execution plans, including time lines and
budgets.
Short-term
Goal: To extend use of current fields
1. Complete the Mayfield site project: The Mayfield site project will also be an ideal test of
sports turf and lights to extend hours of use.
2. Install sports turf: To increase diversity of use and utilization, install sports turf in
priority order listed:
P ARC Fields Sub-Committee Report -Page 1
ATTACHMENT A
a) Cubberley FB: a designated athletic field
b) Greer #3: Greer Park soccer field #3.
c) El Camino Park: Soccer parcel, north side of parking lot.
3. Lights: Adding lights to designated athletic fields, with community input.
4. Partner with Friends of Parks to manage and procure contributions supporting field
improvements.
5. Estimated costs for short -term recommendations:
Preliminary Estimated Costs
Location Cubberley FB Greer Field #3 EI Camino
Sports Turf $750,000 $600,000 $550,000
Lighting 90,000 180,000 150,000
Total Cost $840,000 $780,000 $700,000
Intermediate term
Goal: To renegotiate the CPA / PAUSD and CPA / Stanford use agreement to include
refinement of their playing fields and utiliiation when available.
1. Support sports turf and lights at P AUSD high / middle school sites
2. Negotiate use of Stanford-playing fields / unused areas
Long term
Goal: To secure additional land for athletic use
1. Baylands Nature Preserve
2. Secure additional space by purchasing commercial real estate
3. Work with neighbors to effect a regional community solution
Summary: In summary, the Fields Sub-committee supports the conclusion of the Fields
Advisory Committee that any solution must include both extending the use of current fields
and securing additional space. Our recommendation includes short, intermediate and long-
term activities. We encourage that all activities be pursued in parallel to ensure a
comprehensive solution. Time is of the essence. The problem has been well discussed and
documented. Palo Alto is a community that has always valued outdoor recreational and
athletic activities for adults and children alike, and it is up to the City Council and staff to
ensure, now and for the future, that our children have adequate and safe spaces to play.
END OF REPORT
P ARC Fields Sub-Committee Report -Page 2