DATE:
May 9, 2023
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Public Works
TITLE: Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve
Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make
Findings
RECOMMENDATION
1. Approve the recommended conceptual plan for Evelyn Park, Project 21-60.
2. Select Evelyn Park as the name for the new park.
3. Find that in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements, the project is categorically exempt as Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land, under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304.
BACKGROUND
The 0.68 -acre park site located on Evelyn Avenue , near the border of Mountain View and Sunnyvale, was dedicated to the City for park use by the 525 East Evelyn Avenue development project (see Figure 1—Project Location). On January 25, 2022, Council authorized a professional services agreement with Callander Associates Landscape Architecture in the amount of $251,800 for the design phase of the park.
The project site was used a s a staging area by the developer of the 525 East Evelyn Avenue development project during its construction and is now a vacant area. The developer is installing temporary irrigation and grass on the site for the community to use as open space while the park project is in development. The developer will maintain the site at no cost to the City , and the temporary improvements will be removed prior to the start of construction.
Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make Findings May 9, 2023
Figure 1: Project Location
ANALYSIS
Community Meetings
Two community meetings were held for the future park to obtain community input on the design and amenities of the new park. A notice for each meeting was sent to property owners and residents within a 750’ radius from the project site. Meeting information was also posted on the City website and Nextdoor.
At Community Meeting No. 1 , held on July 19, 2022 , approximately six people attended the in-person meeting and provided input on the park design. Staff and the consultant team received feedback based on a discussion of the existing conditions of the site and conducted a dot sticker voting poll. The poll gauge d the features the attendees desired for the park, which included a habitat garden, a flexible-use plaza, and a labyrinth.
Community Meeting No. 2, held on September 26, 2022, reviewed three conceptual plans for the new park, which included features and amenities voiced at the first meeting (see Attachment 1).
The amenities included both play and fitness equipment as well as open lawn space, a habitat garden, a labyrinth, bicycle racks, a drinki ng fountain, a pet litter station, picnic tables, and benches. Three members of the community attended this second in-person meeting.
Following a presentation of each concept, the attendees voted using different colored dot stickers indicating their leve l of preference. Overall, Concept A obtained the most favorable votes with specific modifications suggested to make the park feel more public. The suggested
Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make Findings May 9, 2023
modifications included a widened transverse pathway and more generous connectivity between the park and the public sidewalk to improve access and make it feel more like a public park.
In response to the feedback received in the second community meeting, a Revised Concept A (Figure 2) was developed to present to the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) for review.
Figure 2: Revised Concept A
Parks and Recreation Commission
At the November 9, 2022, PRC meeting, staff presented Revised Concept A as the recommended conceptual plan based on community feedback. The PRC provided comments and feedback to further develop the concepts and requested staff to return with additional options. The general direction from the PRC was to relate the park design to the surrounding development’s architecture, utilize more of the adjacent circulation, and provide better visual screening of Evelyn Avenue . The PRC also suggested relocating the play area , incorporating a central gathering area, removing the fitness equipment, and avoiding fragmented spaces within the park.
Attachment 2 summarizes the PRC’s comments and how each comment was addressed in subsequent concepts later presented to the PRC.
Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make Findings May 9, 2023
On March 8, 2023, staff presented two revised concepts to the PRC (see Attachment 3). The PRC selected Concept E and suggested staff make the following additional modifications before bringing a revised version to Council for approval:
• Add fencing along Evelyn Avenue;
• Within the lawn space, provide a low-raised mound close to Evelyn Avenue; • Provide large specimen oak trees;
• Include paver plazas on the northwest and northeast sections of the park; • Provide a curved concrete pathway across the park;
• Integrate the play area with the picnic areas;
• Use natural play elements and naturally colored resilient surfacing; and • Remove the path and stairs connecting to the development at the south end of the park.
The PRC also expressed interest in incorporating a native plant palette that supports pollinators, which the design team will incorporate during the detailed design phase.
The recommended Modified Concept E, shown in Figure 3 below, reflects the feedback staff received from both the November 2022 and March 2023 PRC meetings.
Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make Findings May 9, 2023
Figure 3: Recommended Modified Concept E
1. Pavers/Plaza 8. Log Stepper
2. Lawn with Mound 9. Trees (typ.)
3. Raised Seat Wall Planter with Specimen Oak 10. Planting/Groundcover (typ.)
4. Concrete Pathway 11. Bicycle Rack
5. Log Piling Climbing Structure 12. Existing 20’ Wide EVA Access Road
6. Raised Hut Play Structure 13. Existing Leasing Office
7. Picnic Tables and Benches 14. Park Boundary
Staff recommends that Council approve the modified Concept E as the conceptual plan for the park site.
Park Naming
Staff initiated the park naming process at the second community meeting and sent a mailer to the surrounding property owners/residents soliciting responses through October 28, 2022. City Council Policy K-17 states that a park may be named for a school on which it is located, a street
2 4
7 5
6 9
3 1
12 14
11 8
10 13
Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make Findings May 9, 2023
it is adjacent to, a local landmark, or a historical figure. Other park names will be considered only if one of the above criteria does not provide a name suitable for the park.
Table 1 provides the park names received that meet the Council Policy K-17 naming criteria and were presented at the November 9, 2022 PRC meeting . Additional park name suggestions received that did not meet the criteria are included in the November 9, 2022 PRC meeting memo.
Table 1: Suggested Park Names
Suggested Park Name Council Policy K-17 Relevance
Flower Mart Park Site of development used to include a flower market Dorothy Vaughn Park “Notable African American mathematician and human computer”
Robert Noyce Park Credited with inventing the first commercially practical integrated circuit
Rosemary Stasek Park Former City Councilmember and Mayor Lakeina Francis Park Specialist seaman
Yñigo Park Historical figure
Evelyn Park Street name adjacent to park
Dali Park Street name close to park
At the PRC meeting , staff recommended the consideration of the following two names: Evelyn Park and Flower Mart Park. At this mee ting, the PRC did not select a name and asked staff to check into the suggestion of Yñigo Park with a local historical association to determine if there may be any concerns about use of this name. With assistance from the Mountain View Historical Association, staff discussed the name nomination with the senior archaeologist and ethno- historian for the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. Based on the discussion, there were no concerns in naming the park in honor of Lopé Yñigo. The representatives of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe suggested that, if this name were to be chosen, that park signage should be included to recognize and educate the public about Lopé Yñigo’s legacy and the linkages to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe.
On March 8, 2023, t he PRC discussed the naming options and recommended the following two naming options for City Council consideration:
1. Evelyn Park—Based on the street where the future park is located. This option was strongly recommended by the PRC.
2. Flower Mart Park —Based on the long -standing location of a flower mart on part of the property now being developed with the park site.
Evelyn Park is recommended by the PRC and staff because it meets the City Council Policy for Park Naming and is consistent with many recent new parks named after the streets they are Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make Findings May 9, 2023
located on or near. In their deliberations, the PRC expressed that the Yñigo name may not be fitting for this particular location because it is not sufficiently clos e to the areas relevant to the individual and tribe referenced, and the size of the park was also not conducive to honor regional tribal heritage.
Public Art
Pursuant to Council Policy K -5, with a construction budget in excess of $1 million, 2% of the construction budget is allocated for public art. At the March 8 , 2023 PRC meeting, the PRC requested consideration to have the public art be a part of the park frontage fencing, integrated into the park elements, and support the thematic concept of the park.
After Council approves a conceptual design, staff will initiate the public art selection process with the Visual Arts Committee and bring a recommendation for the public art in fall 2023 for Council’s consideration.
Next Steps
If Council approve s the recommended conceptual plan for the park, staff will work with the design consultants to complete final design of the project by early 2024. At that time, staff will return to Council for approval of the construction documents and authorization to bid the project. P ark construction is anticipated to begin by summer 2024 and be completed in early 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
Evelyn Park, Project 21-60, is currently funded in the amount of $2,395,000 from the Park Land Dedication Fund. The estimated construction cost for the recommended concept is within the construction budget of $1.5 million. No additional appropriation is requested at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), staff has reviewed the scope of this project and determined that it meets the classification for categorically exempt as a Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land. The proposed site is a vacant parcel that has no environmentally sensitive elements and is being developed into a small public park. Staff recommends that Council make findings that in accordance with the CEQA requirements, the project is categorically exempt as Class 4, Minor Alterations to Land, under CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3 of the California Code of Regulations) Section 15304.
Evelyn Park, Project 21-60—Approve Conceptual Plan, Select Name, and Make Findings May 9, 2023
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve a different conceptual plan or modify the recommended conceptual plan.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING
In addition to the standard agenda posting, notices were sent to property owners and residents within 750’ of the project site. A notice was also posted on the City’s website.
Prepared by:
Marichrisse Hoang
Associate Civil Engineer
Reviewed by:
David O. Printy
Principal Project Manager
Edward Arango
Assistant Public Works Director/
City Engineer
Approved by:
Dawn S. Cameron
Public Works Director
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
MH/LL/1/CAM
921-05-09-23CR
202883
Attachments: 1. Conceptual Plans Presented in the November 9, 2022 PRC Meeting
2. November 9, 2022 PRC Comments to the Concepts
3. Conceptual Plans Presented in the March 8, 2023 PRC Meeting