HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-20 City Council (7)City of Palo Alto
C ty Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
SEPTEMBER 20, 2004 CMR:426:04
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF A PAR[( IMPROVEMENT
ORDINANCE ASSOCLATED WITH IMPROVEMENTS TO THE
BAYLANDS ATHLETIC CENTER INCLUDING AN UPGRADE TO
THE ELECTRICAL AND FIELD LIGHTING SYSTEM,
RENOVATION OF THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND
INSTALLATION OF ABATTING PRACTICE CAGE -CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT PG-00010
2
RECOMMENDATION
Staffrecommends that Council approve and adopt the attached Park Improvement Ordinance
(Attachment A) for several improvement projects for the Baylands Athletic Center, located
within dedicated parkland known as the John Fletcher Byxbee Recreation area, including:
construct electrical service upgrades, and replace field lighting poles and fix~res; renovation
of the irrigation system, replace park fencing; and installation of a batting practice cage.
BACKGROUND
Palo Alto Municipal Code 22.08.005 requires that prior to approving or commencing "any
substantial build’rag, construction, reconstruction or development" in any dedicated parkland~
the City Council approve and adopt by ordinance a plan showing the improvements. The
plan must show, "as applicable, the nature, function, size, extent and general appearance of
the proposed project." Several projects to improve the Baylands Athletic Center complex
located within dedicated parkland are planned to be constructed within the next two fiscal
years.
DISCUSSION
The Baylands Athletic Center complex is one of very few in the bay region devoted
exclusively to baseball and softball. Each field receives heavy use for both league and
tournament play during the spring and summer months. The center’s electrical se~wice and
field lighting system are thirty-five years old and in significant need of an upgrade. The
existing electrical service enclosure is corroding and the light fixtures are less efficient than
current state of the art equipment in terms of energy efficiency and illumination. The wood
CMR:426:04 Page 1 of 4
poles supporting the light fixtures have also been subject to structural deterioration over the
years and are in need of replacement. The park irrigation system and perimeter fencing also
date from 1968 and need similar upgrades. Complete renovation is required in order to
substantially extend the life of the facility. Staff is also proposing to install a batting practice
cage adjacent to the baseball field that would offer increased opportunities for skill
development to a wider range of field users. The cost of the proposed batting cage would be
shared with the Palo Alto Babe Ruth league, a primary user of the facility each season.
Electrical Renovation & Field Lighting Replacement
The proposed project would replace the existing electrical sea,/ice enclosure and concrete
support pad. The existing 26 wood light poles ranging in height between 60 and 90 feet
would also be removed and replaced with 11 metal poles of the same height supported by
underground concrete footings 4 feet in diameter and 25 feet deep installed around the field
perimeters. The lighting casements will be specifically designed and shielded to minimize
spillage of light and glare beyond the immediate site. Existing security lighting in the
parking lot would also be replaced with flood lights controlled with a photocell and
programmable time clock on the poles adjacent to the left field line of the baseball field.
Both the proposed field light fixtures and the security lights would represent significant
improvements over those currently in use at the facility in terms of energy efficiency,
efficacy of field illumination, and glare and offsite spill factors.
Irrigation System Replacement
The existing original irrigation system consists of galvanized steel pipe and variety of older
automatic control valves and sprinkler heads. The metal pipe is subject to corrosion and the
valves and heads are less efficient and dependable than current state of the art materials . The
proposed project would install all new main and lateral pipelines made of PVC and redesign
the layout of the new valves and heads with greater capacity for surface coverage and water
conservation in mind.
Fencing Replacement
The existing chain link fence at the facility has not been replaced since it was originally
dedicated. The galvanized mesh screen is tom and rusted in some places and significantly
disfigured in general. Several of the galvanized steel poles are bent or otherwise off center.
Most of the fence throughout the park is either 6 or 12 feet high, but in certain locations such
as the backstop areas "it can reach a height of 20 or 30 feet. The proposed project would
replace most of the poles and the virtually all of the existing chain link mesh screen with new
material of similar constitution.
Batting Practice Cage
Most baseball and softball facilities of the same size and caliber as the Baylands Athletic
Center have a dedicated space where batting practice can take place within a confined space
in case the regular field is either occupied or otherwise unusable. The batting practice cage
CMR:426:04 Page 2 of 4
proposed for the Baylands would be a rectangular enclosure made ofgalvanized chain link
mesh supported by galvanized steel poles. Its dimensions would be 84 feet long, 26 feet
wide and 12 feet high with a mesh roof and a mesh divider lengthwise down the center to
create two separate practice areas accessible by lockable gates.
RESOURCE IMPACT
Funds for these projects are included in Park Facilities Improvements Capital Improvement
Program Project - PG-00010 (formerly project #10010).
PROJECT REVIEW
1. An initial funding amount of $220,000 for this project was included inthe FY2002-2003
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project budget. The balance of the funding is
included in FY 2004-2005 CIP project budget and includes funds contributed by the Palo
Alt0 Babe Ruth League.
2. These projects were reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission on June 22,
2004.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The proposed projects are consistent with existing City policy, including N-l: Manage
existing public open space areas and encourage the management of private open space areas
in a manner that meets habitat protection goals, public safety concerns, and low impact
recreation needs; N-11: Preserve the integrity of riparian corridors; N-47: Optimize energy
conservation and efficiency in new and existing residences, businesses and industries in Palo
Alto; N-50: Implement public safety improvements, such as access roads and other
infrastructure, in a manner that is sensitive to the environment; C-17: Continue to support
provisions, funding, and promotion of programs for children and youth; C-24: Reinvest in
aging facilities to improve their usefulness and appearance, and avoid deferred maintenance
of City infrastructure; C-25: Make infrastructure improvements on public open space only
when these improvements are consistent with the goals of protecting and conserving the
natural environment; C-26: Maintain and enhance existing park facilities.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The projects for replacement/reconsWaction of the Baylands Athletic Center irrigation system
and perimeter fencing and the project to install a new batting cage are exempt from review
under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as improvements to existing
facilities and as new construction or conversion of small structures (CEQA Guidelines
Sections 15302, 15303 .and 15323). A Mitigated Negative Declaration has been prepared for
the electrical upgrade and field lighting project which was adopted by the Director of
Planning and Community Environment on September 15, 2004 (03-D-12, 04-EIA-07, 04-
ARB-94) in connection with minor site and design approval.
CMR:426:04 Page 3 of 4
ATTACH~IENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance
PREPARED BY:
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
CHRIS RAFFERTY
Park Planner, Public Works Engineering
GLENN S. ROBERTS
Director of Public Works
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
City Manager
CMR:426:04 Page 4 of 4
NOT YET APPROVED
ATTACHMENT A
follows:
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO APPROVING AND ADOPTING PLANS FOR
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE BAYLANDS ATHLETIC CENTER
LOCATED AT JOHN FLETCHER BYXBEE RECREATION AREA
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as
SECTION i.
declares that:
Findings.The City Council finds and
(a)Article VIII of the Chapter of the City of Palo
Alto and Section 22.08.005 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code
require that, before any substantial building, construction,
reconstruction or development is commenced or approved, upon or
with respect to any land held by the City for park purposes, the
council shall first cause to be prepared and by ordinance
approve and adopt a plan therefore.
(b) The John Fletcher Byxbee
dedicated to park purposes.
Recreation Area is
(c)The City intends to authorize construction of
certain improvement projects in the Baylands Athletic Center
located within the John Fletcher Byxbee Recreation Area, as
shown on the Baylands Athletic Center site plan and irrigation
plans (collectively ~Plans") attached as Exhibits "A-I" and ~A-
2" including, without limitation, the following:
(i) Electrical service renovation and field
lighting replacement including .installation of a new electrical
service enclosure and support pad, and installation of ii metal
light poles 60 to 90 feet tall supported by underground concrete
footings.
(2 Replacement of the underground irrigation
system.
(3 Replacement of the existing fencing.
(4 Installation of a new rectangular batting
practice cage approximately 12 feet tall, 26 feet wide and 84
feet long.
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040914 sm 0100299 "l
NOT YET APPROVED
(d)The improvements at the Baylands Athletic Center
will extend the life of the facility as the existing electrical
service field lighting system, field irrigation system and
perimeter fencing date from 1968 and are in significant need of
upgrades. Installation of a batting practice cage adjacent to
the baseball field will offer increased opportunities for skill
development to a wider range of field users.
(e)These improvements are limited to already
developed areas of the John Fletcher Byxbee Recreation. Area and
will not impact undeveloped surrounding areas. The City Council
accordingly finds that the improvements are consistent with park
and conservation purposes.
(f)The City Council desires to approve the projects
described above and as more specifically described on the Plans
attached hereto as Exhibits "A-I" and "A-2"
SECTION 2. The City Council hereby approves the Plan
for replacement and construction of improvements in the Baylands
Athletic Center within the John Fletcher Byxbee Recreation Area
and hereby adopts the Plans attached hereto as Exhibits "A-I"
and "A-2" as part of the official plan for the construction of
improvements in the Baylands Athletic Center within the John
Fletcher Byxbee Recreation Area.
SECTION 3. The City Council finds that the projects to
replace or reconstruct existing facilities, including the
Baylands Athletic Center irrigation system and perimeter
fencing, and the project for new construction of the proposed
batting cage, are .categorically~ exempt from review under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections
15302, 15303 and 15323 of Title 14 of the California Code of
Regulations. The City Counci! further finds that a Hitigated
Negative Declaration has been prepared for the Baylands Athletic
Center electrical upgrade and field lighting project which was
adopted by the Director of Planning and Community Environment on
September 15, 2004 in connection with minor site and design
approval.
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040914 sm 0100299 2
NOT YET APPROVED
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective
thirty-first day after the date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
on
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORgd:
Mayor
APPROVED:
Sr. Assistant City Attorney City Manager
Director of Community
Services
Director of Administrative
Services
the
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BAYLANDS ATHLETIC CENTER
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Irrigation Plan