Agenda Item No. 6
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: December 9, 2024 FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
Kristin Eriksson, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project Update and Community Donation Program
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an update on the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project and Community Donation Program and adopt a resolution to approve the Ramona Garden Park Community Donation Policy.
BACKGROUND
Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project
Ramona Garden Park (“Park”) is a multi-use park, bounded by North 9th and North 10th Streets on the west and east, and Ramona Avenue and Brighton Avenue on the south and north, respectively. The Park is the focal point for activities in Grover Beach and the South County, in general. Many public and private functions are held at the park such as the Stone Soup Music Festival and Street Fair and the City’s Summer Concert Series.
After extensive community outreach beginning in 2019, the Council adopted the Ramona Garden Park Master Plan (“Master Plan”) in November 2020, which provides a vision or “road map” for the City to guide future park improvements over a multi-year period along with implementation and construction of these improvements. These improvements have long been envisioned at Ramona Park including a playground facility. The Master Plan has been further refined with a consultant-led effort on the design and construction phasing of this project (see Attachment 1).
The Master Plan is divided into four phases, to assist in identifying and obtaining funding as shown in the Phasing Plan in Attachment 2. Phase 1 of the project encompasses the playground and restroom while Phase 2 features the amphitheater and bandshell with renderings of these elements shown in Attachments 3-5. The project bidding process will begin this month with a construction award anticipated in February 2025 and construction beginning in April/May 2025.
The Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project represents a pivotal step forward in enriching the Grover Beach community and enhancing its regional appeal and brings transformative benefits to the community, residents, and visitors. The improvements will create an inviting, functional, and inclusive environment for a multitude of users. Revitalization of the park will support a wide range of community events and activities which fosters a strong sense of connection and engagement among residents. Upgraded park facilities will provide residents with improved recreational opportunities, and this phased approach ensures a fiscally responsible development process, allowing thoughtful improvements that align with the City’s long-term vision for the park.
Staff Report: Ramona Garden Park Project Update and Community Donation Program Page 2 December 9, 2024
Community Development Block Grant Funding
Funding for the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project was not identified in prior Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs). However, in 2023, staff identified a significant opportunity to secure funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program through the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to accelerate the implementation of Phases 1 and 2 of the project. On February 13, 2024, the Council conducted a public hearing to review the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds and approved an Over-the-Counter (OTC) application for $3.3 million in funding for the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project, Phases 1 and 2.
Subsequently, on March 21, 2024, HCD recommended the City’s application for approval, and on May 24, 2024, HCD provided notice of conditional approval.
The CDBG funding award will cover nearly 90% of the total $3.7 million project cost leaving a gap of approximately $400,000 to fully fund project construction. In the short term, the funding gap will be covered by General Fund reserves to allow staff to begin necessary purchases of equipment, including equipment referenced in an accompanying item on this agenda, and to enter into construction and construction management agreements for the project. However, as discussed with the Council at the August 26, 2024 meeting, staff recommends seeking community support to help offset this funding gap as described below.
Community Donations Program and Policy
Staff is proposing to begin a Ramona Garden Park Community Donation Program to help close the funding gap for the project and to allow the public to support these improvements to Grover Beach’s “Central Park.” Community donations efforts are common for park and open space projects where the public can use and enjoy the facilities and there are tangible items for naming opportunities.
Staff had been working with the Grover Beach Community Foundation, a non-profit community organization dedicated to providing funding for community needs, to implement this program. The Community Foundation has agreed to manage community donations for the project and will collect donation funding and transfer these funds to the City which will be held in a special account to ensure the donations are applied only to the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project.
Donation opportunities will include pavers to be installed near the playground ($250/$500 based on size), benches ($5,000), tables ($7,000), and other items under consideration such as bike racks and drinking fountains. Attachment 7 shows examples of these donation opportunities with the Community Foundation also talking with prospective donors regarding naming rights for the amphitheater bandshell. The Community Donation Program will start in mid-December and run through April prior to the beginning of construction.
Staff has also developed a Ramona Garden Park Community Donation Policy for the Council’s consideration, as shown in Attachment 6. The policy governs the process for making donations; the requirements and rules for purchasing recognition items, such as park benches, tables and a bike rack, as well as language that may be used on recognition items. The policy also guides the possible naming of the amphitheater bandshell for a period of up to 25 years for a substantial donation. Staff recommends the Council adopt a resolution to approve this policy to guide staff and the public in the donation process.
Staff Report: Ramona Garden Park Project Update and Community Donation Program Page 3 December 9, 2024
FISCAL IMPACT
The City has secured a $3.3 million award through the CDBG program for the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project Phases 1 and 2 with a total projected cost of $3.7 million. Upon receipt of the grant funding, the project will have an estimated funding shortfall of approximately $400,000.
The proposed community giving effort described above is intended to help close this gap with General Fund reserves proposed to be used initially to ensure necessary funding upfront for the project to begin.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1) Receive an update on the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project and Community Donation Program and adopt a resolution to approve the Ramona Garden Park Community Donation Policy; or
2) Provide alternative direction to staff.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Attachments
1. Ramona Garden Park Master Plan Diagram
2. Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project Phasing Plan
3. Playground Rendering
4. Bandshell Rendering
5. Restroom Rendering
6. Resolution and Ramona Garden Park Community Donation Policy
7. Donation Opportunities Examples
Attachment 2 Attachment 1
Playground
Amphitheater Park Entry
Pickleball or
Adult Fitness
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
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Attachment 4
PROJECT REF#: 11558-5/17/2024-1
COPYRIGHT 2024, PUBLICRESTROOM COMPANY
THIS MATERIAL IS THE
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF
PUBLIC RESTROOMCOMPANY AND SHALL
NOT BE REPRODUCED,USED OR DISCLOSED TO
OTHERS EXCEPT AS
AUTHORIZED BY THEWRITTEN PERMISSION OFPUBLIC RESTROOMCOMPANY.
GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA
RESTROOM BUILDING
2587 BUSINESS PARKWAY
MINDEN NEVADA 89423
P: 888-888-2060 F: 888-888-1448
www.PublicRestroomCompany.com
ROMANA
GARDEN PARK
FLOOR PLAN
SCALE: NOT TO SCALE
THIS CONCEPTUAL/ PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND THE 3D
RENDERING IS AN ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE DESIGN.
IT IS NOT MEANT TO BE AN EXACT RENDITION OF THE FINISH
PRODUCT. SOME ITEMS MAY NOT BE STANDARD AND/OR
SUBJECT TO CHANGE DURING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Attachment 5
RESOLUTION NO. 24-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH,
CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE RAMONA GARDEN PARK COMMUNITY
DONATION POLICY
WHEREAS, the City of Grover Beach adopted the Ramona Garden Park Master Plan in November 2020 to guide future park improvements; and
WHEREAS, the City has secured $3.3 million in Community Development Block Grant funding through the California Department of Housing and Community Development for Phases 1 and 2 of the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project; and WHEREAS, the total projected cost of Phases 1 and 2 is approximately $3.7 million, leaving a funding gap of approximately $400,000.00; and WHEREAS, the City desires to establish a formal policy to govern community donations to help bridge this funding gap while ensuring consistent and appropriate recognition of donors and recognizing the City’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and prudent management; and WHEREAS, the Grover Beach Community Foundation has agreed to partner with the City to manage the collection and transfer of community donations for the project as part of a Ramona Garden Park Community Donation Program; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds that establishing clear guidelines for donations and donor recognition will benefit both the City and potential donors.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DOES DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Ramona Garden Park Community Donation Policy (“Policy”), attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit A, is adopted.
SECTION 2. The City Manager or designee is authorized to carry out any actions reasonably necessary to implement or administer the Policy, execute agreements with donors consistent with the Policy, approve recognition text that meets Policy guidelines, accept donations and recognition item purchases, and coordinate with the Grover Beach Community Foundation regarding the collection and transfer of donations.
SECTION 3. All donations received under this Policy shall be held in a special account designated solely for the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project.
SECTION 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon approval.
Attachment 6
Resolution No. 24- Page 2
On motion by Council Member _____, seconded by Council Member ____, and on the following roll-call vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members –
NOES: Council Members –
ABSENT: Council Members –
ABSTAIN: Council Members –
RECUSED: Council Members –
the foregoing Resolution was PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Grover Beach, California this 9th day of December 2024.
KAREN BRIGHT, MAYOR
Attest:
WENDI B. SIMS, CITY CLERK
**DRAFT**
City of Grover Beach
Ramona Garden Park
Community Donation Policy
As Approved by City Council Resolution 2024-XX
Date:
December 9, 2024
Exhibit A
1 Table of Contents
SECTION 1 – OVERVIEW......................................................................................................... 2
1.1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 2
1.2 Administration of Policy .............................................................................................. 2
1.3 Role of the Grover Beach Community Foundation...................................................... 2 SECTION 2 – DONATIONS PROCESS..................................................................................... 2
2.1 Donations Processing................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Accounting of Donations............................................................................................. 2 SECTION 3 – RECOGNITION ITEMS AND DONATION LEVELS............................................. 2
3.1 Donation Levels.......................................................................................................... 2
3.2 First-Come First-Served ............................................................................................. 3
3.3 City Discretion and Approval for Recognition Items .................................................... 3
3.4 Other Donations ......................................................................................................... 3 SECTION 4 – MAINTENANCE OF DONATED ITEMS .............................................................. 3
4.1 Amphitheater Bandshell Naming Rights.................................................................... 3
4.2 Picnic Tables and Benches......................................................................................... 4
4.3 Bike Racks ................................................................................................................. 4
4.4 City Website Acknowledgement ................................................................................. 4 SECTION 5 – LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS........................................................................... 4 2 SECTION 1 – OVERVIEW
1.1 Introduction
The purpose of this policy is to guide City staff, the Grover Beach Community Foundation and community members who wish to support the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project in managing donations for the project. The City values the support of the community and seeks to incentivize and acknowledge community generosity with appropriate recognition. The policy is intended to protect park resources and to assure the goals of Ramona Park Master Plan are adhered to.
Guidelines established by this policy will apply to all donations made after the effective date of this policy. Standards established by this policy will apply to purchased equipment, installation techniques, donation acknowledgements, and long-term care of all donations made after the adoption of this policy.
1.2 Administration of Policy
The City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Community Services Supervisor are authorized to administer and adjust this policy, including adjustment to the donation items and methods. Adjustments to the levels of acknowledgement and recognition requires City Council approval.
1.3 Role of the Grover Beach Community Foundation
The Grover Beach Community Foundation has partnered with the City to manage the Ramona Park Community Donation Program. The Foundation is authorized to accept donations on behalf of the City and to work with City staff to provide acknowledgements/recognition as specified by this policy.
SECTION 2 – DONATIONS PROCESS
2.1 Donations Processing
The Community Foundation will set up a webpage to process donations from the community. The Community Foundation will communicate with donors who will receive recognition items to coordinate language for plaques and/or pavers.
2.2 Accounting of Donations
All donations collected for this program will be placed in a designated account and will be tracked to ensure all donations are directly applied to the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project.
SECTION 3 – RECOGNITION ITEMS AND DONATION LEVELS
3.1 Donation Levels
The following are levels of donations under the Ramona Park Community Donation program and their respective recognition or items funded by each donation level. 3 Recognition Item Donation Level Number
Available
Picnic Tables $7,000 6
Park Benches $5,000 4
Bike Rack $3,000 1
Dedicated Pavers (Large – 8”x8”) $500
200
Dedicated Pavers (Small – 4”x8”) $250
Letter of Appreciation/Feature on Website $50 or more Unlimited
3.2 First-Come First-Served
Recognition items listed in Section 3.1 will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the time a donation is completed.
3.3 City Discretion and Approval for Recognition Items
3.3.1 – City Discretion. The City shall have sole discretion on the site placement, style and material of recognition items, in compliance with the Ramona Park Master Plan and design plans approved by the City Council.
3.3.2 – City Approval. Naming or other language featured on recognition items must receive prior approval from the City prior to installation to ensure it meets community standards and aligns with the park’s intended atmosphere. See Section 5 for language requirements.
3.4 Other Donations
3.2.1 - There may be additional donations of items possible other than those expressly listed or contained within this policy. The City may accept those donations subject to a review by the City Manager or designee. Additionally, the City may elect to seek additional donations to sponsor replacement recognition items after expiration of the maintenance period specified in Section 4.
3.2.2 – The City will accept donations in any amount, provided that they may not qualify for recognition as noted in Section 3.1.
SECTION 4 – MAINTENANCE OF DONATED ITEMS
4.1 Amphitheater Bandshell Naming Rights
The City may consider naming the amphitheater bandshell to be installed at Ramona Garden Park. Should the City approve naming the bandshell following a substantial donation, it shall remain for a period of twenty-five (25) years or the useful lifespan of the bandshell, whichever comes first.
4 4.2 Picnic Tables and Benches
Picnic tables and benches, along with the commemorative donor plaques, will be maintained by the City for ten (10) years or the useful lifespan of the items, whichever comes first. Upon removal of these items after this term, the City will contact the donor, if possible, to return plaques to the donor.
4.3 Bike Racks
Bike racks will be maintained by the City for ten (10) years or the useful lifespan of the item, whichever comes first.
4.4 City Website Acknowledgement
The City will maintain a list of donors on its website for a period of five (5) years.
SECTION 5 – LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Language and names applied to plaques and pavers listed in Section 3.1 must comply with the following:
• No profanity or derogatory language.
• Plaques should avoid language that may be offensive, divisive, or inflammatory. Words and phrases must be respectful and inclusive.
• Statements that advocate for specific political, religious, or social causes are not permitted. Dedications should reflect a positive and inclusive tone without specific ideological or religious language.
• Plaques should not include purely commercial content or advertisements. Recognition should be limited to the donor's name and, if appropriate, a brief dedication statement that aligns with the park's public mission.
• All language must comply with the text length determined by the City. • This list is not exhaustive and the City reserves the right to reject any language deemed inappropriate or inconsistent with community standards or the City’s desired atmosphere for City parks.
RAMONA GARDEN PARK
IMPROVEMENTS
COMMUNITY DONATION PROGRAM
Attachment 7
Ramona Park Improvements
Project Overview
• Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project is
multi-phase project to enhance the use and
appeal of Grover Beach’s “Central Park”.
• Improvements to the park will create an inviting,
functional, and inclusive environment for a
multitude of users.
• The reimagined and enhanced space will
support a wide range of community events and
activities to foster greater connection and
engagement among residents.
• Phase 1 of the project adds a playground and
new restroom facility while Phase 2 adds an
amphitheater and bandshell (see area in blue box of
park rendering on opposite page).
• Total cost of Phases 1 and 2 is $3.7 million with
grant funding of $3.3 million from federal
Community Development Block Grant funds.
• Construction scheduled to begin in April/May
2025 with completion by end of 2025.
• Currently a $400,000 funding gap remains to
complete Phase 1 & 2 of the project.
Help Us Close the Gap:
RAMONA GARDEN PARK
Needs YOU!
The Grover Beach Community Foundation is on a
mission to raise $400,000 to ensure our community
thrives. Right now, we’re facing a funding gap, but
with your support, we can bridge it together!
Through our Community Donation Program,
we’re asking for your support to transform Ramona
Garden Park into a vibrant, welcoming space for all.
Your contribution will help create a park that fosters
recreation, relaxation, and community engagement
for generations to come. Every contribution, big or
small, brings us one step closer to closing the gap
and empowering our local initiatives.
Now is the time to make a difference! Join us in
shaping the future of our community and help us
meet this crucial goal. Together, we can turn this
challenge into an opportunity for growth and
success.
Let’s do it for Grover Beach!
Donation Opportunities:
• Dedicated Engraved Pavers
o $250 (4” x 4”)
o $500 (8” x 8”)
• Dedicated Park Benches
o $5,000
• Dedicated Picnic Tables
o $7,000
• Dedicated Bandshell (see rendering on opposite page)
o Cost TBD
Please note: Bench and picnic table models may vary slightly from the photos shown. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us!