CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: September 6, 2022
Subject
Consider accepting $1,000,000 in grant funding from the State of California for construction of the Jollyman All-Inclusive Playground project.
Recommended Action
Adopt Resolution No. 22-XXX accepting $1,000,000 in grant funding from the State of California for construction of the Jollyman All-Inclusive Playground project and authorize the City Manager to execute all documentation necessary to accept the grant funding.
Background
In 2018, a Feasibility Study was undertaken to assess the City of Cupertino’s park sites to determine which ones would be suitable for a playground. The Study identified and evaluated feasible sites, concluding that Jollyman Park was the top choice for this location. The Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously agreed with this conclusion. The completed study included potential concepts to create a playground at Jollyman Park by replacing the existing play area.
The County of Santa Clara (County) created a matching grant program -- the “All-Inclusive Playground Grant” (AIPG) Program -- to help fund the creation of All-Inclusive Playgrounds in our County. In October 2018, the City Council authorized staff to apply for the AIPG grant funding for a playground at Jollyman Park. The City’s application scored highly and was selected for a $1.448 million AIPG grant award. In May 2019, the City Council authorized staff to:
Accept the grant award
Execute associated documents, including a Funding Agreement Allocate $1.2 million in City funds toward the project
Conduct fundraising for the balance of the cost
The Funding Agreement was executed thereafter, and the associated Capital Improvement Project (CIP) was included in the adopted Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 CIP.
Discussion
A Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued in December 2019 for professional fundraising services for the Jollyman Park Playground, and the City selected Netzel Grigsby Associates to aid with these efforts. Upon evaluation of the fundraising goal, the consultant concluded that the original $2 million goal for the Playground was too high. The City then modified the project by reducing the scope to reduce the fundraising goal to $1 million. A revised budget for the project was approved in March by the City Council as part of the FY 2021-22 Mid-Year Financial Report.
The City’s fundraising consultant indicated that the $1 million fundraising effort would be difficult to achieve through community donations alone, therefore the City sought other opportunities to help bridge the estimated funding gap. The grant secured by Assemblymember Low is a significant achievement towards the City exceeding the fundraising goal. These funds will be utilized to help complete the All-Inclusive Playground project in a timely manner, and to achieve the fundraising campaign efforts.
Sustainability Impact
Implementation of the Playground is consistent with the City’s sustainability goals. The project increases the level and diversity of services within walking distance of many homes. Increasing amenities that are accessed by walkers, people with strollers, and having wheelchair access is consistent with the Climate Action Plan Goal 2 – Encourage Alternative Transportation.
Fiscal Impact
The total budgeted cost of the project is $4,532,235. The City spent $230,495 to date, leaving a remaining budget of $4,301,740 in the current fiscal year. The City is the recipient of $1,448,201 in grant funds for Jollyman All-Inclusive Playground from a Santa Clara County AIPG grant. The City has also budgeted $2,084,034 for the project. With approval of the recommended action, the City would receive an additional $1,000,000 for construction of the playground.
SOURCE
AMOUNT
City funds
$2,084,034
County of Santa Clara AIPG
$1,448,201
State Allocation – Assemblymember Low
$1,000,000
TOTAL
$4,532,235
The City anticipates the project completion costs to increase due to increases in construction costs. Increased project costs will be brought to City Council for approval and these increases will have no net fiscal impacts. It is anticipated that the remaining fundraising efforts will be enough to cover the increased project costs. _____________________________________
Prepared by: Evelyn Moran, Public Works Project Manager Reviewed by: Matt Morley, Director of Public Works
Approved for Submission by: Pamela Wu, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Draft Resolution