Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: JUNE 20, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: DAISY PEREZ, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
PREPARED BY: ALICE LOYA, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND
RECREATION
SUBJECT: GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR UNION PACIFIC PARK
IMPROVEMENTS
SUMMARY
Request for City Council ratification of two grant applications. City Council directed staff to work with a community ad-hoc committee for re-design of Union Pacific Park on August 17, 2021. Parks and Recreation staff subsequently applied for two grants to potentially fund the re-construction of Union Pacific Park. The City has not yet received grants award.
RECOMMENDATION
Ratify authorization to apply for the following State and Federal grants submitted for re- construction of Union Pacific Park.
Clean California Local Grant Program: $2.26 million
Land and Water Conservation Fund Program: $1.15 million.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
Based on timing the City submitted two grant applications for Union Pacific Park. If both grants awarded they will serve as matches for the other grant. However, if one grant is not awarded and the other grant is awarded, to accept the grant the City would be obligated to $1 million or more.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Public Safety
Infrastructure and City Assets.
Ratification of Grant Applications for Union Pacific Park June 20, 2023 - Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff estimates re-construction of Union Pacific Park would cost $2.3 to $2.6 million. Both grants require matching funds. The Clean CA grant requires a 12.5% match which could total $ 270,000 to $320,000. The Land and Water Conservation Fund requires a 50% match which could total $1.15 to $1.3 million. The City would need to use Park Dwelling funds to complete the project if it receives only one grant award. The City would need no additional funding if it receives both grants since the grant funds would serve as a match.
However, the City would need to identify matching funds if it only receives one of the grants.
DISCUSSION
The Union Pacific Park is a 1.4-acre site constructed in 2003 as a traditional park with parking lot, restrooms, playground, picnic area, basketball courts and the first section of the Union Pacific Trail. The City received notification from the Department and Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) in late 2003, just before park dedication, that the park most likely had contamination. The DTSC confirmed PAH and VOC contamination. DTSC began their clean-up plan after several years of litigation to determine the responsible party. DTSC completed clean-up in 2014.
The City actively sought grant funding and partners to develop and potentially operate the site between 2014 and 2021. The property experienced illicit activity and unpermitted uses while the park and trail remained closed.
City Council created the Union Pacific Park Ad-hoc Committee in 2021. Each Council Member appointed an ad-hoc committee member from the surrounding to community to work with staff to seek community input and determine a new design for the park. The Ad-hoc Committee held two meetings to discuss whether the park should become a neighborhood park or a commercial park. The Ad-hoc Committee decided to restore the park as a neighborhood park with amenities that encourage positive use all day and discourage illicit uses.
The Ad-hoc Committee has not finalized the proposed park design. Staff will invite the Ad-hoc Committee and residents to a community meeting on June 29, 2023 to further discuss the design and amenities of Union Pacific Park. The Parks and Recreation Commission will review the completed conceptual design prior to recommendation to City Council.
Staff applied for two grants to fund the engineering and construction of the park based on Ad-Hoc Committee preference for a neighborhood park. . Staff estimates the project would cost $ 2.3 to $ 2.6 million. Staff applied for $ 2.26 million from the State Clean California Local Grant Program and $ 1.15 million from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Program. Both grants require matching funds and the can City can use the grant funds to match each other. The project will not require City funds if the City receives both grants. The City would need to use Park Dwelling funds if it receives only one of the grants. Staff would to continue to look for grant funding to move forward with this project if the City does not receive either grant. cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt