Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/09/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Community Services
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Public Projects
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5194) DOC ID: 5194 A
Updated: 7/3/2024 3:13 PM by Dina Lewis A Page 1
CENTRAL PARK COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT - Receive Presentation on Status of the Central Park Community Center Project (PWC9087); Approve an Initial Construction Phase Based on Currently Secured Funding; and Make Findings of CEQA Exemption
Contact Persons:
Name: Kim Beranek Hans Larsen
Title: Community Services Director Public Works Director Div/Dept: Community Services Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4330 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate continued progress in the development of a new community center complex at Fremont’s Central Park. Using currently secured funding in the amount of $35.5 million, a Phase 1 project is recommended to construct a new Community Center building that replaces the functionality of the permanently closed Fremont Community Center and deteriorating Teen Center buildings.
Additional funding is needed to construct a proposed Event Hall, Gymnasium, and Outdoor Amphitheatre. It is anticipated that Phase 1 construction will begin in 2025 and be completed in 2027.
BACKGROUND: In March 2022, the City Council adopted a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. A high priority identified, based on extensive public outreach, was the need to modernize and expand facilities for recreation and community activities. As originally envisioned, the Central Park Community Center (CPCC) project would include an exercise/fitness studio, classrooms for art, recreation and education programs, a banquet hall for larger indoor events and celebrations, a full-service kitchen, outdoor plaza spaces, and improvements to access and parking. The CPCC will be a signature building with views of Lake Elizabeth, Mission Peak and the surrounding hills. The proposed project is located adjacent to the Fremont Main Library, at the corner of Stevenson Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway. The CPCC will replace two existing buildings in Central Park, the permanently closed Fremont Community Center and deteriorating Teen Center.
On July 18, 2023, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Group 4 Architecture Research + Planning (Group 4) to complete the project planning, community outreach, environmental clearance, and final design phases of the project. The planning and community outreach activities are now complete. The proposed scope of the “build -out” improvements for the CPCC is represented in the attached three exhibits: Conceptual Site Plan (Exhibit A), Conceptual Building Plan (Exhibit B), Conceptual Building Architecture (Exhibit C).
It is noted that many new features beyond what was initially envisioned for the project in 2023 have arisen for consideration over the course of planning and outreach. The “original scope” included fitness and enrichment rooms, a 320-seat event hall, and a gymnasium.
New or enhanced features now include a larger event hall (with room to accommodate Council Staff Report (ID # 5194) Meeting of July 9, 2024 Updated: 7/3/2024 3:13 PM by Dina Lewis A Page 2
indoor seated dining for 400 people, plus 200 seats outdoors), an outdoor living room, outdoor amphitheater, and expanded parking.
A future action to approve a long-range master plan for the new community center complex and related improvements to Central Park will be scheduled for consideration by the Recreation Commission and City Council, after environmental clearance studies are completed. This is planned to occur in Fall 2024.
Summary of Community Outreach
During the time-period from late February through April 2024, an extensive level of outreach was conducted with the community that reached 2,600 participants. Input opportunities were provided through MyFremont (on-line) and at these in-person locations/events/meetings: Main Library Kiosk, Age Well Center, Youth Commission, STEAM Event, Central Park Intercept Survey, Earth Day Kiosk, Community Meeting, and Recreation Commission. Input from the community included the following priorities and preferences:
• Support for programs and activities related to health and fitness, community gatherings, and arts and crafts.
• Preferred site amenities included: markets and fairs, walking paths, and social spaces. • Preferred architectural and design character was strongly oriented towards a reflection of nature, blending spaces between indoor/outdoor, fitting into the park context, being timeless and enduring, and use of natural/earthy materials like wood and stone.
Recreation Commission Review and Recommendation
The Recreation Commission has been actively engaged in the development of the CPCC Project. Four meetings with the Commission were held on: February 21, March 6, April 17, and June 5, 2024. On June 5th, the Recreation Commission received a presentation on the project scope, cost estimate and status, and they took the following actions for consideration by the City Council:
• By unanimous vote (5-0), confirmed the Concept Master Plan reflects the needs of the community for the new community/recreation center in size and scope, including a Community Center Building, Event Hall, Gymnasium Building, and Outdoor Community Spaces, and recommended the City Council approve the proposed concept plans shown on Exhibits A, B, and C. (Formal approval of the Concept Master Plan will be considered once environmental clearance documentation is completed; proposed for Fall 2024) • Provided general input to the City Council on scope options for the project that includes:
“high support” for the community center having an Enhanced Event Hall (with indoor- seated dining capacity for 400 people, plus additional capacity on Event Terrace); “high support” for seeking funding to include Green Energy Elements (includes solar panels, electric vehicle charging, and back-up battery power units) with the Phase 1 project; “medium support” for an Indoor Lobby Café; “low support” for Downsizing the Community Center Building by 10%; and
• By a unanimous vote (5-0), recommended the City Council determine that the project concept planning actions are exempt from CEQA review.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The desired plan for the community center complex has a higher cost than what can be implemented with the funding currently secured for the project. The funding currently available for the project is $35.5 million from the following sources: City General Fund ($21 million); City Park CIP ($5 million); State grants ($9 million); and a federal grant ($0.5 million). An additional federal grant is currently being Council Staff Report (ID # 5194) Meeting of July 9, 2024 Updated: 7/3/2024 3:13 PM by Dina Lewis A Page 3
pursued in the amount of $3 million. Accordingly, the project is recommended for implementation in several phases as discussed below.
Phase 1 – Project Development; Community Center and Outdoor Living Room Construction
Cost: $33 million, fully funded. Cost is based on construction bidding in 2025.
Source of Funds: State ($9 million), Federal ($0.5 million), City General Fund ($20.5 million), Park CIP ($3 million)
Scope: Provides planning, public outreach, and environmental clearance for the “full build” project (all three phases). Completes final design for Phase 1 and Phase 2. Constructs 11,800 square foot Community Center building with a flexible fitness and dance room; flexible program rooms for arts, crafts, enrichment and STEM learning; exterior patios for expanding programs to outdoors; and a community meeting room. Includes furnishings, fixtures, equipment and public art in the Community Center. Constructs site work involving demolition of the Teen Center, grading, and providing site utility services (power, water, and sewer). Upgrades the existing Teen Center parking lot from 125 to 225 spaces, provides a landscaped circular entryway, and creates new access to Paseo Padre Parkway.
Installs patios, furnishings, and shade features to create an Outdoor Living Room supporting outside social and relaxation spaces in the area between the Community Center and the future Gymnasium. Food, beverage and snack services for the Community Center lobby and Outdoor Living Room will be accommodated with provisions for a mobile coffee/snack cart and food trucks with electrical power hook-ups (including a fixed café and kitchenette within the Community Center Lobby is not considered to be cost effective).
Phase 2 – Event Hall and Event Terrace/Lawn Construction Cost: $14 million, partially funded ($2.5 million). Cost is based on construction bidding in 2025.
Source of Funds: City General Fund ($0.5 million), Park CIP ($2 million) Scope: Expands the Community Center building by 9,400 square feet providing a large event space supporting an indoor seated table capacity for 400 people. Constructs an outdoor terrace and canopy for an added table-seating capacity of 200 persons; and includes an adjoining ceremonial lawn area. The Event Hall can be flexibly partitioned into three spaces to accommodate multiple smaller events or recreation activities. Installs a commercial kitchen to support events up to 600 people and can be used for cooking classes.
Provides furnishings, fixtures, and equipment for the Event Hall, terrace and kitchen.
Phase 3 – Gymnasium and Outdoor Amphitheatre Construction Cost: To be determined, unfunded. Cost is dependent on year of construction bidding.
Scope: Provides a 13,500 square foot building with flexible use for basketball, volleyball, badminton and pickle ball. Constructs a new outdoor amphitheater in the area between the Main Library and the new Community Center. Includes expansion of the parking lot from 225 to 295 spaces to accommodate increased use of the community center area.
It is noted that the overall project scope includes implementation of green energy elements including solar panels, electric vehicle charging, and back-up battery power systems having an estimated value of $3.3 million. These features are proposed to be funded from other sources through grants and/or in partnership with Ava Community Energy. The project will be designed in accordance with Fremont’s sustainability policies adopted as part of “Climate Ready Fremont.”
Council Staff Report (ID # 5194) Meeting of July 9, 2024 Updated: 7/3/2024 3:13 PM by Dina Lewis A Page 4
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended action identifies a Phase 1 project scope for the CPCC project that can be delivered with the currently available funding amount of $35.5 million.
A proposed Phase 2 project scope has an estimated cost of $14 million and an available funding source of $2.5 million (leaving an $11.5 million shortfall, based on 2025 construction costs). Efforts to seek additional funding for the project are being pursued through grants and private contributions.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The recommended actions are not a project within the meaning of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b), as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that approval of planning actions will result in an effect on the physical environment. Appropriate environmental review will be prepared for the Project during the design phase and is planned for consideration by the Recreation Commission and City Council in Fall 2024.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Exhibit A - Conceptual Site Plan
• Exhibit B - Conceptual Building Plan
• Exhibit C - Architectural Design Concept
RECOMMENDATION: Approval of the following actions related to the Central Park Community Center Project (PWC9087):
1. Receive presentation on project status.
2. Approve an initial construction phase based on currently secured funding.
3. Find that the actions are exempt from environmental review as a separate and independent base for CEQA compliance, under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061 (no possibility the activity may have significant effect on the environment) and Section 15378 (project planning is not a “project” under CEQA).