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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services grant funds for “Casey Stengel Baseball Field Restoration” and “Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition” approved in the 2022-2023 State Budget.
1. Resolution to authorize filing of a grant application for Casey Stengel Baseball Field Restoration through California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) and accept grant funds in the amount of $2,000,000 from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026 through a Legislatively specified grant in the 2022-2023 State Budget; and authorize the City Manager, or a designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute all agreements, certifications, and documents necessary to accept and implement the funding;
2. Resolution to authorize filing of a grant application for Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition through California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) and accept grant funds in the amount of $2,500,000 from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026 through a Legislatively specified grant in the 2022-2023 State Budget; and authorize the City Manager, or a designee, to conduct all negotiations, execute all agreements, certifications, and documents necessary to accept and implement the funding; and
3. Resolution of Appropriation to appropriate the Legislatively Specified Grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) in the amount of $2,000,000 to the Stengel Field Restoration project.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Consent Calendar
Approved for December 19, 2023 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) awarded the City of Glendale Legislatively Specified Grant funds in the amount of $2,000,000 for “Casey Stengel Baseball Field Restoration” and $2,500,000 for “Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition” from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026 as approved in the 2022-2023 State Budget.
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The grant funds identified for the historic Casey Stengel Baseball Field (Stengel Field) will provide critical improvements to a field that has served Glendale families and youth for decades. The City owns and operates Stengel Field with address of 1601 Canada Blvd, Glendale, CA 91208, and has established specific requirements governing use, maintenance, repair, and management of Stengel Field with Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) in September 2013. The grant requires that City Council approve a Resolution authorizing submission of an application for the Stengel Field Restoration project.
Staff is also requesting to appropriate the $2 million in grant funds to the Stengel Field Restoration Project to begin planning for the project as soon as the contract is executed with OGALS.
In addition, $2.5 million was identified for the Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition, since initially the City planned to purchase available land in the Mountain Oaks Open Space area in North Glendale. It is part of the grant requirements to submit a Resolution authorizing filing an application for this project to secure the grant funding, but OGALS is aware that although the City will submit a grant application for the original proposed project, Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition. The City is working with Assemblymember Laura Friedman’s office to request re-prioritizing the funds to a different project in North Glendale, the Glorietta Nature Park project. Since staff is requesting to re-allocate the funds to the Glorietta Nature Park project, we will return to Council to appropriate the funds after OGALS approves the request to reallocate the funds.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council should authorize submission of a grant application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) for “Casey Stengel Baseball Field Restoration” in the amount of $2,000,000 and for “Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition” in the amount of $2,500,000 and authorize the City Manager or a designee to conduct all negotiations, execute all agreements, certifications, and documents necessary to accept and appropriate the Legislatively Specified Grant Funds from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026. Council should also appropriate the $2 million for the Stengel Field Restoration project.
ANALYSIS
Approximately 3.5 acres, the Casey Stengel Field is a historic baseball facility in Glendale.
Originally named the Verdugo Park Municipal Baseball Field, it was first opened in 1949.
On November 12, 1952, the field was renamed "Stengel Field" to honor the baseball giant and Glendale resident. Casey Stengel was a Major League Baseball right fielder and manager, best known as the manager of the championship New York Yankees of the 1950s and later, the expansion New York Mets. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966.
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Home of the Glendale Community College – Glendale Vaqueros Baseball, Crescenta Valley High School Baseball, and youth baseball leagues in Glendale and surrounding areas, Stengel Field has served as a baseball haven since 1949. Its scenic setting and rich history boast visits from University of Southern California, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Youth Area Tournaments, and Spring Training for the Chicago Cubs and other teams. The field is owned and operated by the City of Glendale, and it is included in the list of facilities under the Community Services & Parks (CSP) department.
In September 2013, the City and the Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to transfer responsibility for field maintenance and programming of the field from the City to GUSD. An updated MOU effective March 7, 2018 extended the renewal terms for a period of twenty (20) years ending on March 30, 2038 and Amendment No. 1 effective December 1, 2020 included the Musco Control Link Service Fee as a utility expense.
The Stengel Field facility consists of several elements including the baseball field with sports field lighting, warm-up cages/bull pens, access/service roads, and adjacent shared parking with Verdugo Park. There are aluminum bleachers, seating approximately 1,000 spectators. Restrooms are shared with the south end of the park. There are temporary modular buildings serving as clubhouses for both the Crescenta Valley High School and Glendale Community College with electricity, but no water/gas utilities. There are also temporary storage units adjacent to the field for equipment storage.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) awarded the City of Glendale Legislatively Specified Grant funds as approved in the 2022-2023 State Budget in the amount of $2,000,000 for the restoration of the landmark Casey Stengel Baseball Field (Stengel Field) from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026. The funds will provide critical improvements to the historic field that has served Glendale families and youth for decades. The work on the restoration of Stengel Field is still in discussion with the project partners with GUSD, Glendale Community College and Save Stengel Foundation. Renovation requests from all the groups were noted as follows:
covered batting cages, lighting upgrades, field grass and irrigation upgrades, new potable water and sewer line, roof over dugouts, existing restroom renovation, field netting, overhang over bleachers, install a press box, grandstand shading, score booth, and turf mound and infield. Per some initial estimates provided by GUSD, the estimated total cost of the project including permits and inspection is about $7.3 million. The City along with the groups mentioned above are working together to finalize the top renovation priorities with a consensus from all groups involved.
In addition, OGALS awarded the City of Glendale Legislatively Specified Grant funds as approved in the 2022-2023 State Budget in the amount of $2,500,000 for Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2026. It is part of the grant requirements to submit a Resolution authorizing filing an application for this project to secure the grant funding. OGALS is aware that the City will submit a grant application for the original proposed project, Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition since initially the City planned to purchase available land in the Mountain Oaks Open Space area in North 4{{section.number}}b
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Glendale, but the City is working with Assemblymember Laura Friedman’s office to re- prioritize the funds to a different project in North Glendale, the Glorietta Nature Park project.
On May 23, 2023, City Council authorized the City Manager, or his designee, to negotiate and execute a lease agreement between the City of Glendale and Southern California Edison (SCE) for SCE-owned real property for the purpose of developing a passive park, the Glorietta Nature Park. The lease agreement will be effective as of January 1, 2024.
As of December 2023, SCE is reviewing the initial Concept Site Plan and will advise the City for any updates. CSP is anticipating park development costs of approximately $1.5- $1.7 million from the initial Concept Site Plan but may increase due to updates on the site plan from SCE.
The City will work with both OGALS and Assemblymember Friedman’s office to reallocate the funds to the Glorietta Nature Park project, so staff is not asking to appropriate the funds at this time and will return to Council once the reallocation of the funds are approved.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
In this dynamic ecosystem, the baseball field serves as a hub for athletic development, community bonding, and educational experiences, uniting diverse stakeholders in a shared passion for the game. Stengel Field has been the home field for the Crescenta Valley High School (CVHS) and Glendale Community College (GCC) baseball teams. In between CVHS and GCC use of the field, youth baseball leagues like the Glendale Little League and Babe Ruth league, along with other local little league teams rent the field for their baseball games. Community members, encompassing families, neighbors/residents, and local sports enthusiasts, contribute to the overall vitality of the baseball field through attendance, volunteerism, and community events.
FISCAL IMPACT
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services awarded the City of Glendale grant funds the amount of $2,000,000 for the Stengel Field Restoration project, which was not included as a part of the FY 2023-24 budget. Therefore, staff is requesting for an appropriation of $2,000,000 from grant revenue.
The appropriation request is outlined below:
Requesting Appropriation
Amount From (Account
String)
To (Account String) Funding Source
$2,000,000 GL: 32610-4090-CSP-
0020-P0000
PL: CSP01125AG
GL: 43110-4090-
CSP-0020-P0000
PL: CSP01125AG
CIP
Reimbursement
Fund
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In addition, the City was awarded grant funds in the amount of $2,500,000 for the Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition, but staff is working with Assemblymember Laura Friedman’s office to re-prioritize the funds to the Glorietta Nature Park project. Staff will return to Council to appropriate the grant when OGALS approves the request to reallocate the funds.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
Because no possibility exists that the activity in question (approval of OGALS funds for Casey Stengel Baseball Field Restoration and Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition) may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA review under the commonsense exemption set forth in 14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15061(b)(3).
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
This item is exempt from campaign disclosure requirements.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Alternative 1: Do not authorize submitting a grant application in the amount of $2,000,000 from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS), which means planning for restoration or improvements on Stengel Field cannot begin, and do not authorize submitting a grant application in the amount of $2,500,000 for Mountain Oaks Open Space Acquisition, which risks losing the grant funds that are being requested to reallocate to a different project.
Alternative 2: The City Council may consider any other alternative not proposed by staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Onnig Bulanikian, Director of Community Services & Parks Prepared by:
Amirah Limayo, Senior Administrative Analyst
Tereza Aleksanian, Deputy Director of Community Services & Parks Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
N/A