EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: February 7, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Melvin Gaines, City Manager
BY: Maurice Baker, Acting Community Services Manager
Patrick Heisinger, Assistant City Manager
Azalea Renfield, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Final Design of Bell Street Park in partnership with Magical Bridge Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution (Attachment 1):
1. Accepting the final conceptual design for Bell Street Park and findings that the project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15301,15303 and 15304; and
2. Directing staff to return to the City Council in March or April with a proposal on how the City and the Magical Bridge Foundation may partner to further advance the proposal Bell Street Park project.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 7: Enhance Community Services and Parks
Background
On July 19, 2022, City Council received a report from staff and Magical Bridge to pursue a proposed specific design for Bell Street Park. The Council gave direction to update the plan which reflected the desire of residents for Bell Street Park to remain a center for cultural connection and celebration. To provide adequate design to accommodate these requests, Magical Bridge was informed that there should be adequate parking as well as more organic access to the surrounding developments. This and other requests were incorporated by Magical Bridge in the version currently before the Council. For reference, it was the desire of Council for the updated design to receive:
· Additional parking for events;
· Reinforced fencing for proper delineation from adjacent properties; and · Expanded outreach with surrounding neighborhoods and interested parties.
This project is in alignment with the Council’s desire to complete the Parks Master Plan (“Master Plan”). City staff has been made aware that completion of Bell Street Park master plan would allow for CEQA exemption according to submitted design.
Analysis
Proposed Final Conceptual Design of Bell Street Park
Following the presentation for City Council, Magical Bridge received comments and adjusted the plan currently before the Council to address the concerns presented. The desire to increase parking availability presented an opportunity for Magical Bridge to communicate with surrounding developers for collaboration on significant city celebrations. Staff offers this report to the Council that updates the July 2022 design draft with the additional features, noted below.
Staff recommends an extension to the current contract with Magical Bridge to accept the following renderings accounting for the adjusted amendments:
1. Revise the parking strategy for large events (Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, etc.) through projected parking availability and surrounding developments associated with city sites adjacent to the park.
2. Expand outreach opportunities for residents to provide feedback on proposed plan. To date, the following outreach methods have been utilized:
a. Surveys
b. Community meetings (virtual)
c. Pop-Up Events
d. Focus groups (Seniors, youth, etc.)
e. Key stakeholder conversations
3. Inclusion of a bus bay along University Avenue and adjacent entry plaza to provide opportunities for visitor entry/exit through public transit.
Magical Bridge will present the final conceptual draft design at the February 7, 2023 City Council meeting. Please see Attachment 1 for the revised design of Bell Street Park with the included amendments.
Next Steps
Staff recommends the City and the Magical Bridge Foundation further partner to advance the Bell Street Park project. To do this, staff would work with the Magical Bridge Foundation on a scope and return to the City Council in March or April to seek approval.
Finally, it is worth noting that the City Council will have to approve the final Plans, Specifications, and Estimates (PS&E’s) before the project is advertised to potential contractors. This will give the City Council a final chance to review the plans.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact to the current budget by accepting the conceptual design for Bell Street Park.
Public Notice
The City was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo County Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The proposed park improvements qualify for a categorical exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15301, 15303 and 15304 (Class 1, 3 and 4) because the project consists of the maintenance and minor alteration of existing public park facilities, including the construction and location of limited numbers of new facilities and structures; and the minor public alteration in the condition of land and vegetation. The existing parking will be renovated to meet public recreational needs with modern accessible amenities that meet public safety standards. The project will be located on the same site, will have the same purpose and capacity, and will result in a negligible expansion of use. The site is not inhabited by protected wildlife or other resources and the project has no potential to have significant effect on the environment.
Section 15301 of the CEQA guidelines provides for “the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.” Projects eligible for this exemption include “Restoration or rehabilitation of deteriorated or damaged structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment to meet current standards of public health and safety. (14 Cal. Code Regulations § 15301(d).) Because the Project seeks to improve an existing park, as noted below, the Project will not result in the expansion of existing uses, and thus, Project is exempt under this provision.
Section 15303 of the CEQA guidelines provides for a categorical exemption for “construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made in the exterior of the structure.” Projects eligible for this exemption include “Accessory (appurtenant) structures including garages, carports, patios, swimming pools, and fences.” (14 Cal. Code Regulations § 15301(e).) Agenda Report Page 2
The proposed will include new amenities such as new pedestrian entries and walking paths/sidewalks, new bike racks, new outdoor gathering plaza, new outdoor gym, new landscaping, shade structure, a new amphitheater, new skate court, new BBQ and picnic area, new accessible bathrooms, seating, plaza and donor wall, a turn around, and storm water facility improvements. These are all accessory structures consistent with the example provided in example (e) of Section 15303 of the CEQA guidelines.
Section 15304 of the CEQA guidelines provides for a categorical exemption for “minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and/or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes.” Projects eligible for this exemption include new gardening or landscaping, including the replacement of existing conventional landscaping with water efficient or fire resistant landscaping. (14 Cal. Code Regulations § 15304(a), (b).) Because the Project proposes to install landscaping for the picnic area, new gardening, and landscaping the Project qualifies for the exemption.
In sum, due to the facts that: (a) the Project site serves as an existing City park, and the Project would not change the site’s existing park use, nor result in the expansion or intensification of the use; (b) The Project proposes to install a new bathroom (and other small structures), various outdoor recreational equipment, and install landscaping, and accordingly, there is no cumulative impact and there is no reasonable probability of a significant effect on the environment; (c) There will be a geotechnical report and structural engineers involved in the development of the foundation design of the restroom building, but not for the minimal regrading being undertaken for the play structures; accordingly, there is no evidence that there will be a significant effect on the environment; and (d) There is no substantial evidence that any exception to the Class 3 Categorical Exemption applies to this project, specifically including the unusual circumstances exception, Staff recommends that the Council adopt the attached resolution finding that the Project is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Attachments
1. Resolution
2. Updated Conceptual Design
3. NOE Bell Street Park