Fremont City Council Meeting: 12/09/25 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Landscape Architecture
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Acceptance of Donations
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5565) DOC ID: 5565 B
Updated: 12/3/2025 2:24 PM by Dina Lewis B Page 1
ACCEPTANCE OF DONATION FOR PALM AVENUE COMMUNITY PARK - Acceptance of Donation for Palm Avenue Community Park to Design, Construct, and Possibly Maintain a Succulent Garden
Contact Persons:
Name: Tara Bhuthimethee Kim Beranek
Title: Parks Planning and Design Manager Community Services Director Div/Dept: Landscape Architecture Community Services
Phone: 510-494-4738 510-494-4330
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: Staff recommends the City Council accept and appropriate a donation to the City of Fremont and authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to execute a donation agreement with Mr. Gregory W. Blatnik in the amount of $899,000 for the design, construction, and possibly the maintenance of a new succulent garden at Palm Avenue Community Park.
BACKGROUND: On May 25, 1999, the City Council approved the purchase of the parkland at Palm Avenue for community park purposes. On July 1, 2024, funding for park development at the site was completed through the 2023/24-2027/28 Capital Improvement Plan and efforts to evaluate potential park development began.
In June 2025, the City began a community engagement process involving residents, stakeholders, and local organizations in shaping the vision for the new park which identified community priorities, gathered feedback on desired amenities, and developed the character of the park.
During this time, Gregory Blatnik approached the City with a desire to fund a new succulent garden in memory of his late wife, Thelma Blatnik, who had a passion for succulent plants.
After consideration, staff and Mr. Blatnik agreed that Palm Avenue Community Park would be the ideal location for a new succulent garden, whose location will be just down the road from his home. The park design phase is currently underway, so the timing is appropriate for the succulent garden to be integrated.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Mr. Blatnik has agreed to donate $899,000 and has requested to pay in two installments. The donation will support design, construction, and possibly maintenance of the garden. Below is the deadline schedule of the donation payments:
Payment Amount Deadline for
payment
Milestone
1 $400,000 February 1, 2026 Following City Council acceptance of the Donation in mid-December
2 $499,000 June 1, 2026
Following City Council adoption of
the Palm Ave Community Park
Master Plan planned for 1st Quarter
of 2026
Council Staff Report (ID # 5565) Meeting of December 9, 2025 Updated: 12/3/2025 2:24 PM by Dina Lewis B Page 2
The donation will be memorialized through a donation agreement, which will include recognition of the donor by installing a plaque at the succulent garden with the donor’s name for thirty years.
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended actions would increase the estimated revenues and appropriations for the Palm Avenue Community Park by $899,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The acceptance of a donation and executing a donation agreement to supplement funding for the succulent garden at the Palm Avenue Community Park are exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per, without limitation, each on a separate and independent basis, (1) CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that acceptance of the donation and execution of the donation agreement will have a significant effect on the environment, and (2) CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b) as acceptance of a donation and execution of a donation agreement are administrative and funding activities that will not result in physical changes in the environment and not “projects” under CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to accept the donation, execute an agreement with Gregory W. Blatnik in the amount of $899,000 for the design, construction, and possible maintenance of a succulent garden at Palm Avenue Community Park, and deposit and appropriate the donated funds to the Palm Avenue Park Project (PWC8813-502).
2. Find that accepting a donation to fund a new succulent garden at the Palm Avenue Community Park is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per, without limitation, each on a separate and independent basis, (1) CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b).