CITY OF COMMERCE
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: City of Commerce Parks and Open Space Master Plan MEETING DATE: July 25, 2023
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council will consider:
Receiving and filing a presentation on the City’s Parks and Open Space Master Plan by RJM Design Group, Inc., the Project Consultant; and Adopting a Resolution approving the City’s Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Commerce includes approximately 6.54 square miles of land consisting of various uses with a vibrant yet intimate downtown core, a wide range of large and small businesses, prime residential neighborhoods, quality schools, and amenities. The City’s population of around 13,000 is increasing and demographics are shifting. Such changes require certain parks to be upgraded or improved in order to meet the recreational demands of parks’ visitors. Further changes are also required to ensure that parks’ deficiencies are addressed so that visitors have a pleasant experience, whether they are there for active or passive recreational use. The city is continuously looking to improve its facilities and infrastructure for its residents, in order to provide them with a high-caliber lifestyle. This effort includes improving the City’s parks to meet the current needs of residents as well as ensuring that the parks will meet the City’s future demands.
In order to properly plan for a parks system that adequately serves its current and future population, the City worked to develop a Park and Open Space Master Plan.
On November 1, 2021, the City Council authorized staff to release an RFP to solicit proposals for a comprehensive Master Plan of the City’s Parks and Open Spaces. On January 12, 2022, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for professional services for the preparation of the Master Plan with a due date of February 24, 2022. RJM Design Group, Inc. received the highest ranking of the proposals received.
ANALYSIS:
On July 12, 2022, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with RJM. On August 10, 2022, RJM commenced development of the Master Plan and completed it in April 2023.
The Commerce Parks and Open Space Master Plan which is accessible through Commerce Parks and Open Space Master Plan, serves as a guide and implementation tool for the management and development of parks and recreation facilities throughout the city. This document represents a summary of the extensive community outreach, research, and professional site analysis. The culminating result is a community inspired plan for the future of parks and recreation in Commerce. The process began with a review of pertinent planning documents, existing park resources, and recreation opportunities. Following the initial inventory, an extensive community outreach campaign was developed. In-person workshops, live streamed video presentations, one-on-one stakeholder interviews, public online surveys, direct website feedback, and a statistically valid multimodal survey were conducted to clearly analyze the community recreation demand in the city. Throughout the process, project updates and summary results were posted to the project website. This website enabled community members to review updates and provide immediate feedback at any point in time. This resource allowed anyone in the community to have a voice in the process regardless of when and where meetings were held. The following are key strategies developed to balance the available inventory with the community’s recreational desires.
Provide a High Quality, State of the Art Parks & Recreation System by Renovating Existing Facilities and Developing New Facilities Focus on Supporting & Encouraging Healthy Lifestyles for All Expand Existing Sports Programs, Explore New Sports, and Plan for Maintenance of Sports Fields and Courts Explore Opportunities to Increase Park Land and Green Spaces Encourage Multimodal Transportation Opportunities by Providing Safe Access and Routes to Parks, Facilities, and Schools Provide Diverse Recreation Programs for All Ages and Abilities.
The Master Plan recommends approximately $15.5 Million in improvements at various parks and facilities. The plan also recommends resources for managing various programs as well as maintenance of parks facilities and funding opportunities to cover the City’s needs. The Master Plan is complete and is scheduled to be presented by RJM at this very City Council meeting.
On May 4, 2023, the Master plan was presented to the Parks and Recreation, Youth Advisory and Disability Access and Opportunity Commissions (Commissions). Upon conclusion of the presentation by RJM and staff the Commissions recommended that City Council approve the Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
Staff recommends that upon RJM presentation City Council consider adopting the attached Resolution approving the Parks and Open Space Master Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Master Plan has no impact to the City’s General Fund.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS:
This agenda item relates to the 2016 Strategic Plan, Community Quality of Life Guiding Principle 3: Maintain and prioritize improvements to city facilities and infrastructure in accordance with adopted master planning documents including the Green Zone Implementation Plan to accomplish achievable annual and long-term goals.
Guiding Principle 4:
Support and evaluate community services, programs and events that promote healthy and quality lifestyles for our residents. Enhance public safety and social services through innovative programs that meet the needs of the residential and business communities.
Approved and recommended by: Gina Nila, Director of Public Works Greg Alaniz, Director of Parks and Recreation
Fiscal Impact reviewed by: Vilko Domic, Finance Director and Asst City Manager Approved as to form by: Noel Tapia, City Attorney
Respectfully submitted: Edgar P. Cisneros, City Manager ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution