CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: January 17, 2023
Subject
Consider adopting Resolution No. 23-XXX authorizing the City of Cupertino to take all necessary steps to accept $1,000,000 in specified grant funds from the Budget Act of 2022-2023 for the Jollyman Park All-Inclusive Playground.
Recommended Action
Adopt Resolution No. 23-XXX (Attachment A) authorizing the City of Cupertino to take all necessary steps to accept $1,000,000 in specified grant funds from the Budget Act of 2022-2023 for the Jollyman Park All-Inclusive Playground; and Adopt Resolution No. 23-XXX (Attachment B) approving budget modification no. 2223-251 increasing revenue for Jollyman All-Inclusive Playground (420-99-051, PVAR 007) by $1,000,000.
Background
In 2018, the City conducted a feasibility study to determine which park sites would be suitable for an all-inclusive playground. The completed study selected Jollyman Park as the top location.
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 this 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.
A Request for Proposals 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 2021 by the City Council as part of the FY 2021-22 Mid-Year Financial Report.
Discussion
The City sought multiple opportunities to help bridge the estimated funding gap. The grant secured with assistance of Assemblymember Low was a significant achievement towards exceeding the fundraising goal. In September, Resolution No. 22-115 was approved for accepting a $1 million in State funding.
The State Legislature has delegated the responsibility to the State Parks and Recreation Department for administering the grant and assigning the necessary documentation and procedures. As a procedural step to acquire the specified grant funds, the State Parks and Recreation Department requires that City Council adopt a Resolution delegating authority to the Public Works Director to sign and submit all documents, including applications, agreements, amendments, and payment requests. A resolution in the form required by the State Parks and Recreation Department is provided as Attachment A.
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. Improving amenities that walkers, people with strollers, and wheelchair users' access are consistent with the Climate Action Plan Goal 2 – Encourage Alternative Transportation.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The project is categorically exempt from CEQA per CA type and section numbers: 15301(c), 15302(c), and 15304(a), (b), (e), and (f).
Fiscal Impact
The Project Budget (budget unit 420-99-051) has $4,532,235. The City spent $278,071 to date, leaving a remaining budget of $4,254,164 in the current fiscal year. The City will be 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 the approval of the recommended actions, the City would receive $1,000,000 for construction of the playground and modify the budget by increasing the revenue by $1,000,000.
SOURCE
AMOUNT
City funds
$2,084,034
County of Santa Clara AIPG
$1,448,201
State Allocation (Specified Grant Funds)
$1,000,000
TOTAL
$4,532,235
_____________________________________
Prepared by: Evelyn Moran, Project Manager
Reviewed by: Susan Michael, Capital Improvement Programs Manager Reviewed by: Matt Morley, Director of Public Works
Approved for Submission by: Pamela Wu, City Manager
Attachments:
A – Draft Resolution (Specified Grant Funds)
B – Draft Resolution (Capital Budget Amendment)