City Council
November 4th, 2025
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Jestin D. Johnson FROM: Josh Rowan
City Administrator Interim Director, Oakland
Public Works
SUBJECT: Accept And Appropriate Community
Champions GameTime Grant 2025
For San Antonio Park
DATE: September 19, 2025
City Administrator Approval Date:
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To:
1. Accept And Appropriate Community Champions Playground Grant Funding In An Amount Not-To-Exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00) For The Purchase Of Playground Equipment For San Antonio Park From GameTime, A Playground Equipment Supplier;
2. Commit Matching Funds In An Amount Not-To-Exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00);
3. Enter Into A New Cooperative Purchasing Agreement With GameTime For The Acquisition Of Play Structures For San Antonio Park And Additional City Parks In A Not-To-Exceed Amount Of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) From November 28, 2025, To June 30, 2026; and
4. Make Appropriate California Environmental Quality Act Findings (CEQA)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of this proposed resolution will authorize the City Administrator to accept and appropriate Community Champions Playground Grant funding in the amount not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00) for the San Antonio Park Playground Project (Project) to procure playground equipment from GameTime.
The Project was determined to be a high priority park project with a score of 103 per the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget adopted by Council per Resolution 89981 C.M.S. The site is located on a 10.7-acre parcel at 1701 E. 19 th Street in District 2. (See
Jestin Johnson (Oct 30, 2025 15:19:44 PDT)
10/30/2025
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Accept and Appropriate Community Champions GameTime Grant for San Antonio Park Date: September 19, 2025 Page 2
City Council
November 4th, 2025
Attachment A – San Antonio Park Location Map) The improvements anticipated include an expansion of the playground and replacement of outdated equipment to accommodate inclusive play for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12 years of age, new site furniture, lighting, fencing, accessible pathways, and landscaping. The Project is anticipated to start construction in the Fall of 2026. Approval of the cooperative purchasing agreement over a three year duration with GameTime will provide a necessary mechanism to allow the City to procure playground equipment prior to construction, which will offset escalatory costs, mitigate long lead times for fabrication of play equipment and eliminate overhead costs borne by the City during construction of the Project and for other City parks when need and funding are identified.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
GameTime provides annual grant opportunities to various public and private agencies for play structures to promote equitable and inclusive playgrounds. They are a leading playground equipment supplier with a long history of designing innovative play spaces that promote healthy childhood development and community well-being. GameTime emphasizes universal design principles that remove barriers, foster belonging, and encourage intergenerational play.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
Staff reviewed a list of projects identified under the Council-approved Capital Improvement Program, and determined that the Project was currently the only park project with sufficient funds that allowed for the integration of the GameTime play structure into the Project design.
The City has an opportunity to leverage a grant from GameTime, a nationally recognized playground equipment supplier, to obtain a play structure for the playground at San Antonio Park. Under the terms of the grant, the City is required to purchase the equipment directly from GameTime and will subsequently be reimbursed for the full eligible amount. This purchase-then- reimbursement structure ensures that the City can maximize external funding without reducing existing budget allocations, allowing for the immediate advancement of much-needed park improvements.
The Finance Department’s Purchasing Unit is responsible for procuring commodity goods and services contracts that support the operations of City departments. These commodity goods and services are commonly procured through cooperative agreements, as provided for under Oakland Municipal Code (OMC) section 2.04.080, which authorizes the City Administrator to efficiently procure goods and services through cooperative agreement contracts. Also referred to as “piggyback contracts”, cooperative purchasing agreements enable the City to take advantage of other government agencies’ competitive procurements and secure volume discounts because the vendor offers its bid price to multiple public agencies. This contracting approach is designed to provide cost-effective pricing while reducing the City’s procurement timelines and administrative requirements. OMC section 2.04.080 sets no limit on the size of cooperative agreements that may be entered into by the City Administrator, and section
2.04.020 authorizes the City Administrator to enter into contracts up to $250,000. Changes to cooperative agreements and contracts in excess of this amount are presented to the City Council for approval.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Accept and Appropriate Community Champions GameTime Grant for San Antonio Park Date: September 19, 2025 Page 3
City Council
November 4th, 2025
The County of Mecklenburg, State of North Carolina, approved Contract No. 2017001134 with GameTime to provide playground and outdoor fitness equipment, site accessories, surfacing, and related products and services. This contract was competitively bid on January 25, 2017, and GameTime was determined to be the lowest, most responsive, and responsible vendor.
The City’s use of this agreement as a cooperative purchasing contract complies with OMC
2.04.080 and incorporates all required terms, pricing schedules, and insurance provisions (see Attachment B – County of Mecklenburg Executed and Signed Contract). Utilizing this contract will allow the City to secure the lowest available pricing for the acquisition of GameTime play structures. This contract has been continuously renewed since 2017 and is set to expire on June 30, 2026. (See Attachment B, Gametime Contract Documentation)
Gametime has provided and installed playground equipment across Oakland’s public parks— especially in historically underserved neighborhoods. Children now enjoy high-quality, accessible play spaces that help bridge the recreational equity gap, nurturing physical activity, social connection, and community pride in areas long deprived of investment.
City staff anticipates similar additional grant opportunities from Game Time, and by entering into an active cooperative purchasing agreement, the City will have a mechanism to streamline procurement of play structures for other City parks. City staff will seek Council approval to apply for future GameTime grants as matching funding becomes available for appropriate projects.
Due to grant rules and regulations, equipment must be bought by November 28, 2025. The play structure will be stored at a City Facility located at 2960 Peralta Oaks Court until the Project contractor can mobilize to relocate and install it at San Antonio Park. Approval of this proposed resolution advances the Citywide priorities to support holistic community equity. These projects will rehabilitate existing park public spaces to address deficiencies in neighborhoods lacking outdoor access. The projects also encourage more access to safe outdoor space, increase social cohesion, and boost outdoor activities among children and adults.
Passage of this resolution will enable the City to provide vibrant, sustainable infrastructure by replacing the outdated playground and installing new and inclusive recreation equipment.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this proposed resolution will authorize the City Administrator to accept, and appropriate $350,000.00 in grant funding from GameTime for the Project using a purchase- then-reimbursement structure. Funding for this project is contingent upon the successful carry- forward of funds from FY24-25 into FY25-26.
If carry-forward is successful, the allocated funds for projects will come from the following sources:
• $350,000.00 - Measure KK: Infrastructure Series 2022C-1 (Tax Exempt) Fund (5335), Engineer Design: Project Management Organization (92270), Head Start CIP – San Antonio Project (1004863), and Project Delivery Program (IN06)
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Accept and Appropriate Community Champions GameTime Grant for San Antonio Park Date: September 19, 2025 Page 4
City Council
November 4th, 2025
GameTime will provide matching payment and return back to the City, where a new series of award numbers are generated under:
• $350,000.00 – General Purpose Fund (1010), Engineer Design: Project Management Organization (92270), Head Start CIP – San Antonio Project (1004863), and Project Delivery Program (IN06)
• City will not proceed with equipment purchase until a fully executed grant award and reimbursement agreement are in place.
Other projects utilizing this cooperative purchasing agreement will provide the necessary funding as specific needs arise from project-specific funds only. The approval of this resolution will not result in additional appropriation of funds. Augmentation or reallocation from the General Fund is not needed, and grant proceeds will be used solely for eligible costs. Supplemental funds are not being requested at this time. There is no minimum commitment to the cooperative purchasing agreement, and funds will not be committed beforehand unless funding is identified.
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
The community has been engaged pertaining the interest in the grant, and it was very well received as it will open up funds to be utilized across different aspects of the project.
Additionally, there has been extensive community engagement efforts during the master planning and designing of the playground and park improvements for the Project. The Project’s grassroot participation allowed for a community-led-visioning process into the master plan and subsequent request for procurement of a fully accessible and inclusive play structure. The playground design has had at a minimum four stakeholder meetings with the community and two large outdoor community engagement meetings. The Project was determined to be a high priority park project with a score of 103 per the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget adopted by Council per Resolution 89981 C.M.S. (See Attachment D - Resolution 89981 CMS).
COORDINATION
This report was prepared and reviewed in coordination with OPRYD. The proposed recommendations and report have been reviewed by the Budget Bureau and the Office of the City Attorney. (See Attachment C - City of Oakland Business License and GameTime Certificate, and Liability Insurance)
SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES
Economic: The application for the grant has no immediate economic impact. However, businesses associated with the implementation of the projects will receive economic opportunities through contracting for services, construction, materials, and supplies.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Accept and Appropriate Community Champions GameTime Grant for San Antonio Park Date: September 19, 2025 Page 5
City Council
November 4th, 2025
Environmental: As part of the City’s policies and mandates, capital improvement projects must meet various environmental and sustainable programs, such as the City of Oakland Green Infrastructure Guide, Bay Friendly Landscaping, etc. New play equipment obtained through the grant will improve the aesthetics and physical conditions of the existing parks and provide continued opportunities for healthy play activity for the community.
Race and Equity: The Project seeks to improve safety and accessibility for an underserved and disadvantaged neighborhood with a population that is 54% low income and 88% people of color. The Project will be developed to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements through design and construction, and will enhance the enjoyment of these parks for all ages and abilities. GameTime structures will make the entire playground area accessible, and the new play equipment will feature play components upholding the City’s inclusive policies. New play equipment will increase activation of our parks, thereby providing increased opportunities for Oakland youth.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
As part of the Park Master Plan preparation and approval process, a CEQA checklist was prepared and the Project was determined to be exempt from CEQA pursuant to the following CEQA Guidelines Sections: Section 15162 and 15163 (no further environmental review required); Section 15060(c)(2) (no direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment); Section 15061(b)(3) (no significant effect on the environment); Section 15183 (projects consistent with a community plan, general plan, or zoning), Section 15301 (existing facilities), Section 15302 (replacement or reconstruction), and Section 15309 (inspections), each of which provides a separate and independent basis for CEQA clearance and when viewed collectively provide an overall basis for CEQA clearance. The CEQA exemption determination was adopted per Council Resolution 90011 C.M.S.
Jestin D. Johnson, City Administrator
Subject: Accept and Appropriate Community Champions GameTime Grant for San Antonio Park Date: September 19, 2025 Page 6
City Council
November 4th, 2025
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The City Administrator To 1. Accept And Appropriate Community Champions Playground Grant Funding In An Amount Not-To-Exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00) For The Purchase Of Playground Equipment For San Antonio Park From GameTime, A Playground Equipment Supplier; 2. Commit Matching Funds In An Amount Not-To-Exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00);
3. Enter Into A New Cooperative Purchasing Agreement With GameTime For The Acquisition Of Play Structures For San Antonio Park And Additional City Parks In A Not-To-Exceed Amount Of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) From November 28, 2025 To June 30, 2026; and 4. Make Appropriate California Environmental Quality Act Findings (CEQA)
Respectfully submitted,
Josh Rowan
Interim, Oakland Public Works Director
Reviewed by:
Liam Garland, Interim Assistant Director
Bureau of Design and Construction
Tess Kavanagh, Acting Division Manager
Project & Grant Management Division
Prepared by:
Diego Gonzalez, CIP Coordinator
Project & Grant Management Division
Attachments (4):
A. Location Map
B. County of Mecklenburg Executed And Signed Contract From January 22, 2025 to June 30, 2026
C. City of Oakland Business License and GameTime Certificate of Insurance D. Resolution 89981 CMS
Josh Rowan (Oct 30, 2025 14:57:26 PDT)