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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 11976 City of Palo Alto (ID # 11976) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 3/8/2021 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: Ramos Park - Park Improvement Ordinance Title: Adoption of a Park Improvement Ordinance for Renovations at Ramos Park From: City Manager Lead Department: Community Services RECOMMENDATION The Parks and Recreation Commission and Staff recommend that City Council adopt the attached Park Improvement Ordinance (Attachment A) for renovation of the playground and park amenities and installation of a restroom at Ramos Park. BACKGROUND Capital improvement funding of $200,000 for Fiscal Year 2021 was approved by City Council to address park renovation needs at Ramos Park (CIP Project Number PG-14000). The renovation includes infrastructure, accessibility, and maintenance improvements. The existing playground is the main park amenity to be replaced as it has been in use beyond its life expectancy of 15 years. These improvements are anticipated to begin in Summer 2021 with a construction period of 90 days. Additionally, capital improvement funding of $350,000 was approved by City Council to add a restroom to the park (CIP Project Number PG-19000). Installation of a new restroom is anticipated to be in FY 2022, dependent upon the availability of staff to manage the project. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The project primarily focuses on the playground, access, and surrounding park furnishings as diagramed in Exhibit A. (1) Remove and replace existing toddler playground with a playground spanning the age of toddlers through children age five and above; (2) Installation of a new prefabricated restroom building; (3) Expansion of concrete walkway loop path connection; (4) Replace or install site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and drinking fountain; (5) New 42” tall chain link fencing along E. Meadow Drive at the North East City of Palo Alto Page 2 turf area; (6) Addition of new basketball court striping and new basketball hoop at the existing paved area; and (7) Planting of native trees and shrubs. DISCUSSION Two community meetings were held as part of the design review to present the proposed renovation items and receive feedback from the community. An in-person meeting was held on January 29, 2020 and an online virtual meeting was held on August 13, 2020. Additional community input was collected through an online survey, which received input from 198 community members. The response from community members in attendance at the meetings to the proposed renovation plans were positive and supportive. Community input on the design was used to identify the location of the restroom, expand the age-range and type of the playground equipment, develop pathway connections, and to include native habitat plantings. The Ramos Park Renovation Project was also discussed at the February 25, 2020 and August 25, 2020 Park and Recreation Commission (Commission) meetings. The Commission reviewed draft design options, community input, and provided design input. On December 15, 2020, the Commission unanimously recommended approval of the Park Improvement Ordinance as shown in Attachment A. Dog Park Discussion During the first community meeting several community members in attendance brought up off- leash dogs in the park as a long continuing issue. As a result of that community input, a question was added to the on-line community survey concerning the addition of a fenced dog park within Ramos Park. Of the 198 responses received from the on-line survey, 117 were in favor of adding a dog park to the park to control the off-leash activity while 81 opposed. Per the results of the on-line survey, two dog park options were presented at the second community meeting: one for a fenced in dog park and one for an off-leash pilot program that would designate an open turf area in the park for off-leash use per limited morning and afternoon hours. The community preferred the off-leash dog park option as it had minimal impact on the overall park layout and use, the adjacent neighbors, and cost to implement. At the December 15, 2020 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, staff recommended and presented an off-leash pilot program for the Commission to consider. After the discussion, the Commission felt that the off-leash pilot program would not ultimately stop the encounter between park users and off-leash dogs, and that the proximity to the programmed sports field in the park along with the limited hours of proposed off-leash use times (7am-9am & 5pm-7pm or by dark) did not address the issue of off-leash dogs in the park. The Commission requested staff to further explore a fenced dog park in Ramos Park with the community. The first meeting to discuss a fenced dog park in Ramos Park was held on February 10, 2021. Staff presented a City of Palo Alto Page 3 proposed location and layout for the fenced dog park. The community members attending the meeting were not supportive of a fenced dog park area. Due to the continuing discussion on how to proceed, the dog park was separated from the overall CIP project, as funding would come from the separate Dog Park CIP rather than the Ramos Park Improvement CIP. This would ensure the park renovation items associated with this PIO stayed on schedule without being delayed by the dog park discussion. The dog park could be implemented later without any impact to or from the renovation project. The Parks and Recreation Commission plans on discussing the topic again at a future meeting and will determine at that point if they would like to proceed further with the community outreach on the topic. This current Park Improvement Ordinance being requested for Ramos Park excludes any dog park elements. TIMELINE • Second Reading of Ordinance March 22, 2021 • Project Bidding Spring 2021 • Council Approval of Contract Spring/Summer 2021 • Project Construction Summer 2021 • Project Construction Duration 90 days RESOURCE IMPACT Capital Improvement Projects PG-14000 (Ramos Park Improvements) and PG-19000 (Park Restroom Installation) were approved by City Council for funding in Fiscal Year 2021 for approximately $200,000 and $350,000 respectively. PG-14000 is funded by the City’s General Fund and PG-19000 is funded by Parks Development Impact Fees. The funding for both CIPs is sufficient to fund the improvements recommended in this report. Excluding the restroom, ongoing operating and maintenance costs are anticipated to be minimal and absorbed by the existing maintenance funding within the annual operating budget. Cleaning and maintenance for the new restroom will cost approximately $10,000 annually and be brought forward as a budget request in future budget cycles. POLICY IMPLICATIONS Staff is advancing this recommendation as reflected in the City’s adopted budget. Should the City Council wish to defer this capital project in light of the current pandemic and other priorities related to community and economic recovery, this item may be removed from the Consent Calendar. Staff will then return to Council with this and other projects for reconsideration. This project is consistent with the Parks Master Plan: Goal 2: Enhance the capacity, quality and variety of uses of the existing system of parks, recreation and open space facilities and services. Policy 2.A: Sustain the community’s investment in parks and recreation facilities. City of Palo Alto Page 4 Policy 2.E: The City will actively pursue adding park restrooms in parks that are approximately 2 acres or larger, have amenities that encourage visitors to stay in the park, have a high level of use and have no nearby restrooms. This project is also consistent with the City’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan: GOAL L-8: Attractive and safe parks, civic and cultural facilities provided in all neighborhoods and maintained and used in ways that foster and enrich public life. Policy C-3.2: Reinvest in aging facilities to improve their usefulness and appearance. Avoid deferred maintenance of City infrastructure STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Two public outreach meetings were held on January 29, 2020 and August 13, 2020. These meetings were followed by a public survey. Additionally, review of park renovation design was discussed with the Commission at their February 25, 2020 and August 25, 2020 meetings. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This Project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Regulations 15301 for Existing Facilities and 15303 for New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. Attachments: • Attachment A - Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Plan for Facility Improvements at Ramos Park • Exhibit A - Ramos Park Proposed Renovations *NOT YET ADOPTED* 1 215_20201130_ts_24 ORDINANCE NO. Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Approving and Adopting a Plan for Facility Improvements at Ramos Park The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows: SECTION 1. Findings and Improvements. The City Council finds and declares that: (a) Article VIII of the Charter 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 therefor. (b) Ramos Park (the “Park”) is dedicated to park purposes. (See Municipal Code section 22.08.170 et seq.) (c) The City intends to authorize the renovation of various facilities at the Park. (d) The plan of improvements shall comprise as follows: (1) Remove and replace existing toddler playground with a playground spanning the age of toddlers through children age five and above; (2) Installation of a new pre-fabricated restroom building; (3) Expansion of concrete walkway loop path connection; (4) Replace or install site furnishings such as benches, trash receptacles, and drinking fountain; (5) New 42” tall chain link fencing along E. Meadow Drive at the North East turf area; (6) Addition of new basketball court striping and new basketball hoop at the existing paved area; and (7) Planting of native trees and shrubs. (e) Exhibit A depicts the expected implementation of the plan of improvements. (f) The plan of improvements described above is consistent with park, playground, recreation, and conservation purposes. (g) The City Council desires to approve the plan of improvements described above. *NOT YET ADOPTED* 2 215_20201130_ts_24 SECTION 2. The City Council hereby approves the plan of improvements in the Park described in this Ordinance. SECTION 3. The City Council finds that this ordinance falls under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions found in Title 14 California Code of Regulations Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15303 (New Construction of Small Facilities or Structures). SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date of its adoption. INTRODUCED: PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED: Deputy City Attorney City Manager Director of Community Services Director of Public Works *NOT YET ADOPTED* 3 215_20201130_ts_24 Exhibit A (see diagram on following page) Exhibit 'A' ative Planting Loop Path Extension Restroom 42" Tall Chainlink Fence Stripe Existing Paved Area tilltit !t+ .- --_4-i, ': 11-0 Ramos Park Renovation Exhibit Exhibit 'A' ative Planting Loop Path Extension Restroom 42" Tall Chainlink Fence Stripe Existing Paved Area tilltit !t+ .- --_4-i, ': 11-0 Ramos Park Renovation Exhibit