HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 8341
City of Palo Alto (ID # 8341)
City Council Staff Report
Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 8/28/2017
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Summary Title: CA Resources Agency Grant Applications
Title: Adoption of Three Resolutions Approving the Submission and
Management of Three Grants to the California Natural Resources Agency for
Junior Museum and Zoo Exhibits, Baylands Boardwalk and Trail Signage and
Interpretation
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Community Services
Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council authorize:
1) Staff to submit an application for an Outdoor Environmental Education Facility
grant through the California Department of Parks and Recreation; and
2) Staff to submit an application for a Habitat Conservation Fund Program “Trails”
grant through the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Habitat
Conservation Fund Program; and
3) Staff to submit an application for a California Museum Grant through the
California Cultural and Historical Endowment; and
4) The City Manager or his designee from the Community Services Department to
manage the grant, including submission of the grant, reports, and requests for
reimbursement.
5) Approval of the attached resolutions to ensure that the applicant has reviewed
the grant application and grant contract and agrees to all language within both
documents.
Executive Summary
If approved, staff intends to submit two grants to the California Department of Parks
and Recreation to fund interpretive signage, interactive exhibits, and public art to bring
Palo Alto residents into the Baylands Nature Preserve and engage them in interpretive
experiences on the reconstructed Baylands Boardwalk and nearby trails. Staff also
intends to submit a California Museum grant to fund a “California Dinosaur Garden”
exhibit at the Junior Museum and Zoo (JMZ).
Background
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Baylands Interpretive Grants
An approval of this request would direct staff to submit grants requesting funds for the
design, fabrication and installation of interpretive exhibits and public art on the
boardwalk and adjacent trails. The signage and exhibits will improve visitor experience
and engagment on the trail between Palo Alto’s Nature Center and East Palo Alto’s
Cooley Landing Education Center.
The Baylands Nature Center and Boardwalk are undergoing renovations and
restoration. Improvements to the Lucy Evans Nature Interpretive Center (Nature
Center) were completed in April 2017. In the winter of 2018, the adjoining 865-foot-
long boardwalk, closed to the public in 2014, will be rebuilt to increase structural
integrity and to improve access for people with disabilities.
Two Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs), approved by Council for the Fiscal Year 2018
budgets, are addressing the structural and code compliance issues with the Nature
Center and boardwalk, and another is providing interpretive signage for the Nature
Center deck. Funds allocated to this project, however, are insufficient to provide
interpretive signage exhibits on the boardwalk and nearby trails.
California Museum Grant
If awarded, funds from the California Museum Grant would support the design and
construction of the California Dinosaur Garden Exhibit plannded for the Junior Museum
and Zoo in 2020. The exhibit will feature cretaceous era plants, sculptures of California
dinosaurs, and examples of local fossil evidence from the era.
The JMZ is a treasured City-operated museum, zoo, and education center uniquely
situated in Rinconada Park to serve Palo Alto families and children. With 184,000 annual
visits, the JMZ engages a child’s curiosity for science and nature through hands-on
inquiry-based exhibits and activities, and inspiring encounters with live animals.
The current JMZ building (built in 1941) and zoo (built in the 1969) are not adequately
sized or designed to accommodate the JMZ’s vibrant programs, current requirements to
support living and non-living collections, expanding educational programs, and current
accessibility and seismic code requirements. The Friends have successfully raised over
$25 million to fund the rebuilding of the facility in partnership with the City. The
California Dinasaur Gardern exhibt, and other planned new exhibits, will ensure that the
re-built JMZ will better serve its current local visitors and schools while still maintaining
its safe and intimate feel that is so popular with this community.
Three Authorizing Resolutions are attached as Attachment A, B, and C. The
Authorizing Resolution serves three purposes: 1) serves as the means by which the
applicant’s Governing Body agrees to all the terms of the contract; 2) provides a
descriptive project title and confirmation that the applicant has the funding to complete
the proposed project if funds are awarded; and, 3) designates a position title to
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represent the Governing Body on all matters regarding the application and project. The
incumbent in this position is referred to as the Authorized Representative.
Discussion
Baylands Nature Center Signage Interpretive Plan
In 2017, the Baylands Nature Center Exhibit CIP funded the consulting firm S2
Associates to develop a concept-level plan for interpretive signage on the Boardwalk
and Adjacent trails and provided a cost estimate for the interpretive elements. The
budget allocation sought for each Baylands Interpretive grant is approximately
$500,000 and the applications describe nearly identical scopes. Only one grant is
required to fund the project and if the City were to be awarded both grants, only one
would be accepted.
This planning effort dovetails with other preserve-wide interpretive planning underway
as part of the Baylands Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan. Future
signage located on the trails would follow the preserve’s standards and be mounted on
posts as called out in the Design Guidelines for the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve.
Interpretation is insufficient along the San Francisquito Creek Trail and the portion of
the Bay Trail north of the San Francisquito Creek Trail to Cooley Landing. These grants
would fund appropriate levels of interpretation for the Boardwalk and adjacent trails, as
called out on the Interpretive Plan. They would also support enhancements to the trails
that link the Cooley Landing Education Center and the Baylands Nature Interpretive
Center, as a means of improving access and relationships between the communities of
East Palo Alto and Palo Alto.
The plan envisions two public art interpretive pieces, one on the Boardwalk and one
near Cooley Landing. Once funded, these installations will be designed to engage the
public in site-specific phenomena similar to installations at the Emeryville Shore Line or
Pier 15 in San Francisco. The Public Art Program, in collaboration with the Community
Services Department, will manage the design and installation of the public art
interpretive elements.
Funds provided by this grant will provide the paths, boardwalk, and surrounding trails
with interpretive signs, small scale sculptures, and interactive exhibits. Interpretive
media is meaningful when placed outdoors in a nature preserve where the visitors can
see, smell, hear, and feel the plants, animals and ecology to which the media refers.
The goal of the interpretive media for this project is to connect what the visitor
experiences in the marsh to the intangible meaning behind the experience so that the
marsh becomes more personally relavent and valuable to them.
The current constituency of the Interpretive Center includes a broad range of
stakeholders. The Interpretive Center is a destination for elementary school classes
who come to learn about the salt marsh through hands-on programimng operated by
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the Junior Mueum & Zoo. The building is also used by community groups for meetings
and special events. Individual families and birders are also frequent visitors to the
preserve and InterpretiveCenter.
The wider Baylands preserve is a popular destination for hikers, bicyclists and joggers
who enjoy its 15 miles of trails. The preserve’s boat dock also serves water lovers by
providing Bay access to small craft boaters, wind surfers, kayakers, canoers and paddle
boarders.
California Museum Grant
The Friends of the Junior Museum & Zoo have allocated $1.5 million to exhibitry for the
new museum, but this funding allocation does not include the California Dinosaur
Garden. The budget allocation sought for the Junior Museum and Zoo’s California
Dinosaur Garden is approximately $100,000.
Resource Impact and Timeline
Two of the grants, the “Trails” grant and the California Museum grant require one-to-
one matching funds. The City’s Baylands Boardwalk CIP, PE-14018, funds would be
used to meet the matching fund requirements for the Trails grant. This CIP has $1
million budgeted toward reconstruction of the Boardwalk and up to $500,000 would be
used to match the grant. The City’s Rinconada Park Improvements CIP, PE-08001,
would be used to meet the matching requirements of Museum Grant and this CIP has
$300,000 budgeted toward park improvements and improvements to the parking lot
that serves the JMZ and Rinconada Park.
The applications are due August 14, September 1, and October 1, 2017 and the awards
will be announced during the spring of 2018. The grant programs allow for submission
of the resolution after the deadline. The City of Palo Alto would have up to seven years
from the appropriation date to implement the complete the projects.
The Baylands Interpretive Signage Project milestone schedule is as follows:
Grant Announcement Spring 2018
Design Bid and Contract April – June 2018
Appropriation date July 1, 2018
Design July – September 2018
Boardwalk Construction October – February 2019
Bid and Fabrication October – January 2019
Installation February 2019
The completion of the Interpretive Plan will increase the number of signs that would
need to be maintained by the City. Currently, signs in the Baylands Preserve are
maintained by Community Service Department Rangers and Naturalists. The
interpretive elements would be designed to be durable in the outdoor environment and
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to resist tampering and vandalism.
The Museum Grant and Dinosaur Garden Project milestone schedule is as follows:
Grant Announcement Spring 2018
Design Bid and Contract April – June 2018
Appropriation date July 1, 2018
Design September 2018 – September 2019
JMZ Construction September 2018 – December 2020
Bid and Fabrication December 2019 – December 2020
Installation February 2020
Policy Implications
Staff will fully comply with the rules and policies for grant submission as outlined in City
Policy 1-12: Grant and Funding Request Applications.
All improvements in the Baylands will conform with the 2004 Baylands Nature Preserve
Site Assessment and Design Guildlines. All exhibits will comply with the Smithsonian
Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design.
Submission of grant applications for the the Baylands and the Junior Museum & Zoo are
consistent with Policy C-19 of the Community Services Element of the City’s
Comprehensive Plan: “Develop improvement plans for the maintenance, restoration and
enhancement of community facilities, and keep these facilities viable community assets
by investing the necessary resources.”
Environmental Review
Submission of a grant proposal is not considered a project under the California
Environmental Quality Act.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Outdoor Education Grant Resolution
Attachment B: HCF Trails Resolution 2015
Attachment C: CA Museum Grant Resolution
Resolution No: _________
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO, SANTA CLARA
COUNTY, DISTRICT 14
Approving the Application for
OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FACILITIES GRANT FUNDS
WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation has been delegated the
responsibility by the Legislature of the State of California for the administration of the Outdoor
Environmental Education Facilities Grant Program, setting up necessary procedures governing
the application; and
WHEREAS, said procedures established by the State Department of Parks and Recreation
require the Applicant to certify by resolution the approval of the application before submission of
said application to the State; and
WHEREAS, successful Applicants will enter into a contract with the State of California to
complete the Grant Scope project;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby:
Approves the filing of an application for the California Dinosaur Garden); and
1. Certifies that said Applicant has or will have available, prior to commencement of any work
on the project included in this application, the sufficient funds to complete the project; and
2. Certifies that if the project is awarded, the Applicant has or will have sufficient funds to
operate and maintain the project, and
3. Certifies that the Applicant has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the General
Provisions contained in the contract shown in the Grant Administration Guide; and
4. Delegates the authority to Community Services Director to conduct all negotiations, sign and
submit all documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments,
and payment requests, which may be necessary for the completion of the Grant Scope; and
5. Agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules,
regulations and guidelines.
Approved and adopted the 14th day of August , 20 20
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution Number _____ was duly
adopted by the City Council following a roll call vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
________________
(Clerk)
Resolution Form
Resolution No: __________________
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO, SANTA CLARA COUNTY
APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE HABITAT CONSERVATION FUND
PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the people of the State of California have enacted the California Wildlife Protection Act of
1990, which provides funds to the State of California for grants to local agencies to acquire, enhance,
restore or develop facilities for public recreation and fish and wildlife habitat protection purposes; and
WHEREAS, the State Department of Parks and Recreation has been delegated the responsibility for the
administration of the HCF Program, setting up necessary procedures governing project application under
the HCF Program; and
WHEREAS, said procedures established by the State Department of Parks and Recreation require the
applicant to certify by resolution the approval of application(s) before submission of said application(s) to
the State; and
WHEREAS, the applicant will enter into a contract with the State of California to complete the project(s);
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of Palo Alto hereby:
1. Approves the filing of an application for the Habitat Conservation Fund Program; and
2. Certifies that said applicant has or will have available, prior to commencement of any work on the
project included in this application, the required match and sufficient funds to complete the project;
and
3. Certifies that the applicant has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project(s), and
4. Certifies that the applicant has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the provisions contained in the
contract shown in the grant administration guide; and
5. Delegates the authority to Community Services Director to conduct all negotiations, execute and
submit all documents, including, but not limited to applications, agreements, amendments, payment
requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the project.
6. Agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and
guidelines.
Approved and Adopted the _____day of ______________, 20_______.
I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution number_____was duly adopted by the City
Council following a roll call vote:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Clerk ______________________________________
Resolution No: _______________________
Resolution of the Palo Alto City Council
Approving the Application for Grant Funds for
The California Cultural and Historical Endowment’s
Museum Grant Program under the
California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, And
Coastal Protection Act Of 2002 (Proposition 40)
WHEREAS, the Legislature and Governor of the State of California have provided funds for the program shown above; and
WHEREAS, the California Cultural and Historical Endowment has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of this grant program,
establishing necessary procedures; and
WHEREAS, said procedures established by the California Cultural and Historical Endowment require a resolution certifying the approval of
application(s) by the Applicants governing board before submission of said application(s) to the State; and
WHEREAS, the applicant, if selected, will enter into an agreement with the State of California to carry out the Project
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council
1. Approves the filing of an application for the (name of the project); and
2. Determines Applicant Is eligible to apply for a State grant due to status as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, government entity, or
Federally Registered tribe; and
3. Certifies that applicant understands the assurances and certification in the application herein, and
4. Certifies applicant organization has long-term control of the property and will provide satisfactory documentation of the long-term
control as part of the grant agreement development process; and
5. Certifies that applicant or title holder will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project consistent with the land tenure
requirements; or will secure the resources to do so; and
6. Certifies the proposed project/organization is free of any legal challenges that could undermine progress on the project; and
7. Gives State permission to publish any provided digital image to its website and to crop or resize the image; and
8. Agrees to acknowledge State’s support in any news media, brochures, articles, publications, seminars, exhibits, buildings, displays,
products, or other promotion materials about the funded project; and
9. Certifies that it will comply with the provisions of Section 1771.5 of the State Labor Code regarding payment of prevailing wages on
Projects awarded Proposition 40 Funds, and
10. Agrees that projects involving construction, renovation, repair, rehabilitation, or ground or visual disturbances must comply with all
current laws and regulations which apply to the Project, including, but not limited to, labor codes related to prevailing wage, legal requirements
for construction contracts, building codes, environmental laws, health and safety codes, disabled access and historic preservation laws and
environmental laws. Grantee will be required to certify that, prior to commencement of construction, all applicable permits and licenses (e.g.,
state contractor’s license) will be obtained; and
11. Agrees to adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design. Title III of the
ADA covers places of public accommodation (such as museums, libraries, and educational institutions) and includes a specific section
regarding new construction and alterations in public accommodations; and
12. Agrees that projects involving construction, renovation, repair, rehabilitation, or ground or visual disturbances must comply with the
National Historic Preservation Act and NAGPRA (Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act); and
13. Waives all rights to privacy and confidentiality of the material submitted to State, and
14. Agrees to execute a grant agreement prior to the encumbrance deadline of June 30, 2019, and will caused work on the project to be
commenced within a reasonable time after encumbering the funds, so that the project will be complete and the final invoice submitted
to the State by May 1 of the stated year; and
15. Agrees that for all property acquired or developed with Museum Grant funds, applicant will accept, sign, notarize and record a
declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions (deed restrictions) which attaches the conditions of the grant, as set forth in the
grant agreement, on the use and enjoyment of the property until the end land tenure date specified in the grant agreement; and
16. Appoints the (designate position, not person occupying position) ______________________ , or designee, as agent to conduct all
negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to applications, agreements, payment requests and so on,
which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project(s).
Approved and adopted the __________day of __________ 20____. I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution Number
__________ was duly adopted by the City Council.
Following Roll Call Vote: Ayes: _________
Nos: _________
Absent: _________
__________________________________________
Clerk/Secretary for the City Council