Cathedral City Page 1 of 3 Printed on 3/22/2023
Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 3.I
Meeting Date: March 22, 2023
From: John Corella, Director of Engineering/Public Works Title: Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Application Services for Downtown Dog Park
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
To approve a task order for MVR Consulting to provide Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Application Services for the proposed Downtown Dog Park not to exceed $30,000; authorize the Director of Engineering/Public Works to execute the task order if it is determined the location of the Downtown Dog Park is eligible for the LWCF Grant; and authorize a $30,000 General Fund Budget Amendment to the Engineering Professional and Technical Services 100-8601 fund.
BACKGROUND:
On November 9, 2022, the City Council approved an agreement with Verde Design, Inc. (Verde) in the amount of $13,340 to produce a Conceptual Design Plan (Plan) for the Downtown Dog Park (Project). The location for the Project is at the former Second Street Park on the north side of Buddy Rodgers west and adjacent to City Fire Station 411.
City Council Downtown Dog Park March 8, 2023 Study Session discussion:
At the March 8, 2023 City Council Study Session, Staff presented the latest draft Plan for City Council to review (most recent Plan is attached to this Staff Report). This draft Plan shows the following key elements:
•Large dog park
•Small dog park
•Four (4) pickleball courts
•Parking lot
•Existing restroom building to be remodeled.
•Various landscape elements
Note: Additional elements will be added to the plan as well as a more refined budget estimate.
Cathedral City Page 2 of 3 Printed on 3/22/2023
Staff highlighted that the existing Buddy Rogers frontage improvements were recently constructed including a new driveway and there may be the potential to remodel the existing onsite restroom building pending further investigation. It was specifically pointed out that adding the four (4) pickleball courts was very important, not only as an additional amenity, but also as an added community amenity feature that would be more favorable to potential grant reviewers.
The current budget for the construction of the Project was also reviewed. The FY 2021/22 and 2022/23 Parks Improvement Maintenance Program provided for $250K in Project seed money (funding amount to attract grant participation assistance). A preliminary estimate for the overall Project cost estimated actual construction costs at $2.0 mil. with soft costs estimated at $500k more for a total potential cost of $2.5 mil.
Additionally, Staff pointed out the State Parks Land and Water Conservation Grant (LWCF) was recently opened for applications, closing on June 1, 2023. The LWCF provides an opportunity to provide 50% of the funding for the Project if applied for and accepted (this is the same grant the City secured for the Cathedral City Community Amphitheater). Further, Staff cited they were working with State Parks on clarification if this Project location is eligible (researching past grant obligations on title) to receive the LWCF Grant. State Parks indicated they should be able to provide that information the week of March 20th.
Staff emphasized that if the City was to pursue the LWCF Grant, time was of the essence. The LWCF Grant requires a significant amount of work including, environmental processing, compilation of information and a public outreach meeting. If State Parks provided the City with a positive answer the location is eligible, then the City would have to initiate actions quickly, including retaining our consultant immediately to proceed with compiling the LWCF Grant application requirements to meet the deadline.
Even though the City Council’s Project budget discussion was not concluded, with various construction management scenarios and budget numbers discussed, Council opted for this LWCF Grant cycle and Staff was instructed to proceed with getting a LWCF Grant application ready to submit, if State Parks provides us with the conclusion that this site is eligible, or can be made eligible, by the time the application is due. The question of final budget and funding (50% match) for the Project would be another discussion for Staff and the City Council to have in the upcoming months.
DISCUSSION:
At the same Study Session cited above, Staff discussed working on the preliminary aspects of the LWCF Grant for the Project location with the City’s on call grant consultant, MVR Consulting (MVR). MVR has been the main contact with State Parks to determine the current eligibility for the City to submit an application.
MVR has submitted a $30,000 Task Order proposal to perform the required services needed to submit an application by June 1, 2023. The tasks MVR will perform are as follows (proposal attached):
•LWCF Grant Application Development
Cathedral City Page 3 of 3 Printed on 3/22/2023
oIdentify and coordinate items needed with Staff for application. •National Park Service (NPS) Section 6F3 Map
oProvide oversight and subcontract work with mapping professional. •CEQA Coordination and LWCF Environmental Forms
oWork with City on final CEQA clearance document and Grant forms. •LWCF Grant Services
•LWCF Grant Related Public Outreach Meeting
Staff has reviewed MVR’s proposal and has determined the proposed costs reflect the work to be completed are in line with other grant work MVR has performed for the City in the past.
Staff is requesting City Council approve a task order for MVR Consulting to provide Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Application Services for the proposed Downtown Dog Park not to exceed $30,000; and authorize the Director of Engineering/Public Works to execute the task order if State Parks provides us with the conclusion this site is eligible, or can be made eligible, by the time the application is due.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The FY 2022/23 Engineering Professional and Technical Services Budget does not have available funding for these LWCF Grant application services. If initiated as outline in the Staff Report Staff, request City Council approve a budget amendment of $30,000 to the 100-8601 professional services budget to fund these services.
ATTACHMENTS:
2023.03.14 Preliminary Concept
MVR Consulting Proposal - CC LWCF Downtown Dog Park 3-6-2023