HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-12-10 City CouncilTO:
ATTN:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE
CITY MANAGER
DECEMBER 10, 2002
TRANSMITTAL OF PARK AND
RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL REGARDING
ATHLETIC FIELDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE REPORT
DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
CMR: 462:02
RECREATION COMMISSION
THE
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is transmitting the following recommendations of the Park and Recreation
Commission (PARC):
The Palo Alto City Council establish and adopt as City policy that sufficient, top
quality, athletic playing fields be provided to fully support the present and future
needs of youth and adult sports organizations in Palo Alto.
o The Palo Alto City Council direct the staff to develop and put in motion a Phase I
action plan to implement near term solutions on the most aggressive time line
possible, consistent with budgetary and other considerations, to deal with the
immediate playing field problems already facing sports organizations.
The Palo Alto City Council direct the staff to begin the process of developing cost
and other data, time lines, issues, and potential approaches for a Phase II program
which would address potential long term playing field solutions.
4.The Palo Alto City Council resolves that resolution of the playing fields problem
is a Council priority.
CMR:462:02 Page 1 of 4
BACKGROUND
While interest and participation in athletic programs in Palo Alto are rapidly growing, the
availability and quality of the playing fields needed to support those programs are
declining. This issue has many dimensions. Use patterns and growing demand have
created an often unpleasant competition between user groups. The supply of available
field space no longer meets demand, and the difficulties associated with maintaining such
heavily used space have seriously impacted the quality of the fields.
At its October 23,2001 meeting, the PARC discussed the concerns of community
members and parents involved with Palo Alto youth sports organizations, as expressed to
both the PARC and Council, regarding the lack of sufficient playing field space and
availability, and the resultant overuse of athletic fields and neighborhood parks. At its
next regular meeting on November 27,2001, the PARC approved the formation of a
Athletic Fields Advisory Committee that would be managed by City staff and composed
of two commissioners, and approximately 20 representatives from interested athletic field
user groups. The committee’s charge was to investigate and develop proposals for
creating and allocating new athletic fields in Palo Alto.
DISCUSSION
Members of the Advisory Committee came together in an extraordinary spirit of unity
and common goals. The committee’s vision was to meet the high expectations of.the
community, by providing a sufficient number of high quality playing fields to fully
satisfy the year-round need of the youth and adult sports organizations.
To attain its vision, the Committee established the following objectives:
o To support all member organizations (users) needs.
o To evaluate the fields supply, both present and future.
~To understand and provide for proper field maintenance.
,To understand the demand for playing fields in order to define potential solutions.
*To develop a strategic plan for resolving the playing fields issue in Palo Alto.
With the development of these specific and overall objectives for its work, the Committee
moved on to determine the need, evaluate the issues and explore the full range of
potential solutions.
A two-phased approach has been proposed to resolve the playing fields issue. The first
phase would apply methods to make the most efficient use of existing field space. The
second phase would consider and pursue long-term solutions for obtaining additional
CMR:462:02 Page 2 of 4
field space. The committee explored a wide range of solutions and sorted through many
suggestions to determine the priorities for action both near and longer term.
In general, the potential solutions fell into one of two categories:
o Near Term Solution
The search for ways to extend and leverage the existing supply of fields came to focus on
two areas: (1) the use of synthetic sports turf., and (2) the use of lights.
Multi-party regional approaches include: City-School relationships, City-Stanford
relationships and other City co-use opportunities.
o Long Term Solution
The long-term potential solutions include development of new facilities for example,
creating at least one new athletic facility at May field, Byxbee/Baylands or elsewhere.
The Athletic Fields Advisory Committee presented the draft report as an informational
item at the PARC meeting on October 22, 2002. A special meeting was held on
November 12, 2002 to take action.
The Parks and Recreation Commission approved the following recommendation to the
City Council.
The Palo Alto City Council establish and adopt as City policy that sufficient, top
quality, athletic playing fields be provided to fully support the present and future
needs of youth and adult sports organizations in Palo Alto.
o The Palo Alto City Council direct the staff to develop and put in motion a Phase I
action plan to implement near term solutions on the most aggessive time line
possible, consistent with budgetary and other considerations, to deal with the
immediate playing field problems already facing sports organizations.
3,The Palo Alto City Council direct the staff to begin the process of developing cost and
other data, time lines, issues, and potential approaches for a Phase II progam which
would address potential long term playing field solutions.
4.The Palo Alto City Council resolves that resolution of the playing fields problem is a
Council priority
CMR:462:02 Page 3 of 4
ATTACHMENTS
The Athletic Fields Advisory Committee Report
PREPARED B "~
DAWN CALVERT
REVIEWED BY:
Superintendent of Recreation
PAUL THILTGEN
Director, Community Services
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Assistant City Manager
CMR:462:02 Page 4 of 4