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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-12-08 City Council (4)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES DATE:DECEMBER 8, 2003 CMR:544:03 SUBJECT:ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR A GRANT AND EXECUTE AN ~AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR A ROBERTI-Z’ BERG-HARRIS URBAN OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $163,825 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A GATEWAY FACILITY AT THE ARASTRADERO PRESERVE RECOMMENDATION Staff recormnends that council approve the attached resolution to: 1. Authorize the submittal of a grant application under the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 for a Roberti-Z’Berg-Harris Urban Open Space and Recreation Grant in the amount of $163,825 for construction of a Gateway Facility at the Arastradero Preserve, and approve the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. 2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee, as the person responsible for the administration of the grant, including certifications and any amendments, on behalf of the City. BACKGROUND In March 2002, California voters approved Proposition 40, the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act. This act is intended to revive State stewardship of natural resources by investing in neighborhood and State parks, clean air and water protection, coastal beaches and scenic areas. This program is administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Funding from the Bond Act was allocated into seven separate programs in order to ensure that the demands of various constituents and environmental needs were met. The City is now seeking grant funds from the Roberti-Z’Berg-Harris Urban Open Space and Recreation Block Grant Program, whose purpose is to fund high priority projects that satisfy the most urgent parks and recreational needs in California. The funds are allocated CMR:544:03 Page 1 of 4 on a population-based formula to cities, counties and open space or recreational districts. Grants from this program are intended to supplement, and not supplant, local expenditures for park and recreation facilities. The City is not required to match the $163,825 grant in order to qualify for the funds. DISCUSSION The Arastradero Preserve provides an array of recreational opportunities for residents of Palo Alto and surrounding communities. Hiking, biking, nature watching, and horseback riding attract more than 90,000 visitors to the Preserve each year. Although by design the Preserve provides limited recreational facilities (e.g. benches, tables or restrooms), a ten- mile multi-use trail system, Arastradero Lake, Sobey Pond and the Bowl Loop area provide a variety of experiences and recreational opportunities for park visitors. The proposed Gateway Facility consists of a cluster of three modestly scaled, single-story structures, approximately 1,200 square feet in area, that would serve visitors, park rangers, and open space stewards using the Arastradero Preserve open space area. The Gateway Facility will provide a meeting and informational place for visitors and students and a work area for the park ranger and steward volunteers. The facility also will provide public restrooms, educational displays and storage facilities for the trail and habitat restoration tools used by volunteers in the Preserve. The Gateway Facility will be located on the 77-acre portion of the Preserve located on the east side of Arastradero adjacent to an existing unpaved public parking lot. This site was chosen because of the amount of sun exposure the site would provide to the photo-voltaic system, sloping of the terrain that would require minimal grading, and in order to cluster all development in one relatively small area of the Preserve. At its April 24, 2000 meeting, Council approved the conceptual design of the facility and necessary building variances. At that time staff was directed to prepared finalized construction plans and specifications for the facility. RESOURCE IMPACT Work covered by the grant application has been included in the work program for Public Works Engineering project management staff. Approval of the grant will not affect other scheduled projects or their completion timelines. The grant application requires the City to certify there are sufficient funds to operate and maintain the project. Staff plans to use funds allocated in the 2003-04 Capital Improvement Project fund (CIP OS- 19812) to provide the balance of funds needed for the construction. A total of $333,446 in CIP funds were provided by a grant from the Arastra Fund of the Peninsula Community Foundation. An additional grant of $25,325 was provided by the City of Palo Alto Utility Department for installation of solar and photo CMR:544:03 Page 2 of 4 voltaic systems on the building. Total available funding for this project, including the proposed grant application, is $522,596. At its December 15, 2003 regular meeting, Council will be asked to approved a construction contract with A & A Construction (CMR:544:03) for $448,000, together with a contingency amount of $67,200, for a total of $515,200. Funds for the on-going maintenance of the facility is currently provided in the Community Services operating budget. As the funded improvements will support and enhance volunteer activities at the Preserve, the minimal operational costs required for this modest building will be off-set by contributions of labor from volunteers working on trail maintenance, habitat restoration and program delivery. Since the Gateway Facility is not intended to be a primary office for park rangers, the operational cost of the center is estimated at less than $5,000 per year for janitorial, safety and office supplies. This cost will be offset by the elimination of rented portable toilets at the Preserve parking lot, which will be replaced by permanent restrooms in the new facility. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This recommendation is consistent with existing City policy. The application for grant funds furthers the goal of Program C-23 of the Community Services element of the Comprehensive Plan: "Study and recommend methods of private and public financing for improved park maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction." ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The application for a grant is not considered an action subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); therefore, no additional environmental assessment is needed at this time. An Initial Study prepared for the project determined that it would not have a significant impact on the environment at its proposed location. In accordance with CEQA, a negative declaration for the construction of the building was prepared and certified by the City Council on April 24, 2000 (CMR:226:00). ATTACHMENTS Attacl-nnent A:Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Application to the State of California Resources Agency from the Roberti-Z’Berg-Harris Urban Open Space and Recreation Program under the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection Act of 2002 for construction of a public gateway facility at the Arastradero Preserve. CMR:544:03 Page 3 of 4 PREPARED BY: GREG BETTS Superintendent, Open Space & Sciences DEPARTMENT HEAD: CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: Assistant City Manager CMR:544:03 Page 4 of 4 ***NOT YET APPROVED*** RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING THE APPLICATION OF THE CITY OF PAL0 ALTO FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR THE ROBERTI- Z’BERG-HARRIS BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM UNDER THE CALIFORNIA CLEAN WATER,CLEAN AIRi SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS, AND COASTAL PROTECTION ACT OF 2002 WHEREAS, the people of the State of California have enacted the CALIFORNIA CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS AND COASTAL PROTECTION ACT OF 2002 which provides funds for the Roberti-Z’Berg-Harris Block Grant Program for grants to eligible Applicants; and WHEREAS, the California Department of Parks and Recreation has been delegated the responsibility for the administration of the program within the State, setting up necessary procedures; and WHEREAS, the procedures established by the California Department of Parks and Recreation require an Applicant’s Governing Body to certify by resolution the approval of the Applicant to apply for the Roberti-Z’Berg-Harris allocation; and WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto ("City") as an Applicant will enter into a contract ("Contract") with the State of California for the project ("Project"), as defined; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i.The Council hereby: A.approves the filing of an Application for local assistance funds from the Roberti-Z’Berg-Harris Block Grant Program under the California Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks and Coastal Protection Act of 2002; and B. certifies that the City has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the Project(s); and C. certifies that the City has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the General Provisions contained in the Contract shown in the Procedural Guide for the 2002 Resources Bond Act; and 031119 cl 0072340 1 ***NOT YET APPROVED*** D. certifies that the Project conforms to the recreation element of any applicable city or county general plan; and E. appoints the City Manager or his 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 Project. SECTION 2. The Council finds that this is not a project under the California Environmenta! Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is necessary. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor APPROVED: Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager Director of Community Services Director of Administrative Services 031119 cl 0072340 2