CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: April 3, 2024
Subject
Memorial Park Specific Plan Design and the Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Addendum.
Recommended Action
Adopt Resolution No. 24-XXX, Addendum to the Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration; and Approve the Memorial Park Specific Plan Design.
Reasons for Recommendation
Background
As the next step to implement the City of Cupertino’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Gates and Associates (Gates) was retained in July 2022 to develop the Memorial Park Specific Plan. The project team identified a five-step implementation project schedule as outlined below:
Research and Analysis
Initial Community Engagement
Conceptual Design and Community Engagement
Schematic Design and Community Engagement
Environmental Assessment
After two years of extensive design, research, and community engagement, these efforts to “Revitalize Memorial Park” have resulted in a new plan for the park, as well as an Addendum to the Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND).
The purpose of the Memorial Park Specific Plan (MPSP) is to determine how to best meet the future recreation, community gathering, event, and open space needs for residents. The Parks and Recreation System Master Plan’s (PRSMP) vision for the park highlights the expansion of the civic event space and community gathering space, while providing a unifying focus to the existing City facilities through enhanced natural site features. The MPSP proposes features that will enhance Memorial Park’s unique identity, create a sense of place, and grow a unique expression of the park to achieve a balance between the built and natural environments.
Memorial Park is a popular 22-acre facility, located on the northeast corner of Mary Avenue and Stevens Creek Boulevard which includes acres of lawn, walking paths, a gazebo, two playgrounds, an amphitheater, a lighted softball field, and six lighted tennis courts. It is centrally located with onsite parking at the Cupertino Senior Center and Quinlan Community Center and is adjacent to the Cupertino Sports Center. Memorial Park also houses the Cupertino Veterans Memorial which honors local veterans. The park serves the entire community and hosts a variety of large community and civic-focused events.
In July 2022, the City hired Gates and Associates to create the MPSP. Development of the design included research and analysis, community engagement, conceptual design, schematic design, and environmental assessment. The project team completed the design, following community input and PRSMP guidance. More information on the process can be found on the EngageCupertino.org webpage: https://engagecupertino.org/memorial-park-specific-plan The MPSP is a conceptual level plan, akin to a master plan, to guide future improvements at Memorial Park. On March 7, the Parks and Recreation Commission forwarded the following recommendations to the City Council for consideration:
(1) adopt the Addendum to the Parks & Recreation System Master Plan initial study/mitigated negative declaration and (2) approve the Memorial Park Specific Plan design with the recommendation to consider two bocce courts when implementation of the design moves forward.” The Parks and Recreation Commissioners and the public expressed appreciation for the community-centric collaborative design process, exalted the final design, and praised the project team for the accomplishment.
Next Steps: Design and Construction
This concludes the conceptual design phase of Memorial Park. Should the Council allocate additional funding to advance the final design and construction, the MPSP outlines the design intent of the future park improvements. The final report (Attachment A) includes the final plan, phasing suggestions, preliminary cost estimates, and information about the community’s vision. The final plan is conceptual, memorializing the design direction determined after extensive site research, analysis, and public input. The specific plan confirms adjacencies and relative sizes of the features but does not define specifics like the amount of equipment within a playground, the number of fixtures within a restroom facility, or the seating capacity of a renovated amphitheater. Future projects will use the MPSP as the starting point, however, more design development and site-specific due diligence will be required in all cases.
The size of the park requires consideration of phasing for future projects. The recommended phasing strategy for the MPSP is to be used for planning purposes and may change based on funding, community needs, and site conditions. The phasing process divides the overall project into distinct, manageable stages for implementation. Phasing ensures that the project remains adaptable, manageable, and achievable while providing tangible benefits to the community throughout the construction process. Additionally, phasing allows for each improvement to occur with the foresight to minimize the need to rework prior phases. The order and magnitude of construction phases will be determined by several factors, including the availability of funds and overall priorities. Once funds are available to develop the design, careful attention must be given to how park elements are connected throughout the planning and construction phases.
Sustainability Impact
This project aligns with multiple objectives outlined within the City’s Climate Action Plan 2.0. In particular, the development of the Memorial Park site will enhance bicycle and pedestrian paths (Measure TR-1) and create new natural areas in existing parklands (Measure CS2.1).
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The proposed addendum to the IS/MND is attached for adoption. There are no substantial changes in project scope, site conditions, or available information to the original IS/MND. The MPSP does not create new or substantially more severe impacts beyond those discussed in the 2019 IS/MND and as such, does not revise or add new mitigation measures. The addendum for the IS/MND is therefore appropriate under CEQA Guidelines section 15164. For reference, the 2020 PRSMP Mitigation Measures are:
Mitigation Measure AES-1: New exterior lighting in proximity to adjacent property will be shielded as necessary to ensure that exterior light sources do not create a significant light or glare impact on adjacent land use.
Mitigation Measure BIO-1: The Capital Improvement Program for Parks and Recreation improvements shall be reviewed annually by staff to identify projects that could potentially affect special-status species, sensitive natural communities, wetlands, wildlife corridors, and/or native wildlife nursery sites.
Mitigation Measure CULT-1: Upon discovery of possible buried prehistoric or historic cultural materials, work within 25 feet of the find must be halted and the City must be notified.
Fiscal Impact
The MPSP project is funded for $650,000 (Budget unit 420-99-255). Current contracts and expenses total $515,725, leaving $134,275 currently unspent. Funds that are unused at project close-out will be returned to the Capital Reserve (Fund 429). _____________________________________
Prepared by: Susan Michael, Capital Improvement Programs Manager Reviewed by: Chad Mosley, Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Matt Morley, Assistant City Manager
Approved for Submission by: Pamela Wu, City Manager
A – MPSP Report
B – MPSP Report Appendices
C – PRSMP IS-MND Addendum - MPSP
D – PRSMP IS-MND Addendum – MPSP Appendices B-F
E – Draft Resolution