CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
3/28/2022
1 SUBJECT:
Consider Approval of a Preliminary Concept of a Bike Park at Lower Frontierland Park RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve the preliminary concept of a Bike Park in Pacifica at the lower Frontierland Park site.
STAFF CONTACT:
Michael Perez, Director, Parks, Beaches and Recreation
(650) 738-7382
[email protected]
Anthony Schriver, Acting Assistant Recreation Supervisor (650) 738-7461
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
At the 2019 Council Goal Setting, several citizens came forth to speak in support of a bike park in Pacifica and Council agreed to add having a Bike Park Study Session to their 2019/2020 Work Plan. The full work plan description is as follows:
Work in this priority will begin by conducting a PB&R Commission study session to discuss the feasibility of a bike park in Pacifica, including potential locations, associated costs, operational concerns, legal issues and funding possibilities. Efforts will also engage local advocates, the Pacifica Bike Park Committee, as well as residents in neighborhoods where a bike park might be located. Once staff and advocates have researched and analyzed information based on Commission direction, a study session will be scheduled with City Council to receive direction on next steps.
Following Council Goal Setting, the Pacifica Bike Park Committee (PBPC) made a presentation of their plans and an initial proposal during a Parks, Beaches and Recreation (PB&R) Commission study session in June of 2019. Following the presentation, Commissioners asked questions and gave feedback to the group for follow up. The PBPC became a 501c3 non-profit that year and returned to the PB&R Commission for a second presentation in August 2020.
BPAC highlighted activities since the Council Goal Setting include:
· June 2019, held a pre-study session with Parks, Beaches, and Recreation staff and PBPC members
· June 2019, held a study session with the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission; PBPC made a presentation, covering topics that included:
o History of Bike Park efforts in Pacifica
o Location criteria/info, and preference for Frontierland Park o Commissioners wanted to hear more about community support and specifically regarding the preferred location
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· Effective June 2019, Pacifica Bike Park became a 501(c) 3, and elected board members · In September 2019, PBPC participated in the Fog Fest, hosting a booth to collect signatures for support and gather information via a survey
· September 2019 through January 2020, surveys continued · In February 2020, PBPC members met with PB&R staff for an update and to discuss next steps
· August 26, 2020, the Pacifica PBPC gave a presentation at a second study session with the PB&R Commission engaged in discussion and received input Both the PBPC and past bike park advocates have considered a long list of potential sites for a bike park location. Many were eliminated from consideration based on failure to meet some of the basic criteria, such as whether the site was City-owned. The PBPC then looked more specifically at and highlighted three sites for evaluation - Fairmont Park, the Sharp Park Rifle Range, and lower Frontierland Park. The criteria considered for the evaluation of these sites included:
· Whether or not it was of adequate size - 30,000sf or greater · Desirable existing slope, terrain, and contour
· Existing infrastructure - bathrooms, irrigation/drainage, parking · Location - ease of access, public transportation, proximity to neighbors · Minimal anticipated environmental impact
· Whether or not it is City-owned
The outcome of this evaluation resulted in a list of pros and cons for each site and an ultimate recommendation of lower Frontierland Park as their preferred location.
Fairmont Park is an established existing City-owned park and the site is home to one of our Child Care Services preschool facilities. There is limited unused space available, very close to neighboring houses and any bike park development would take away from existing park features.
The Rifle Range property is very remote and not owned by Pacifica. Staff communicated with Dana Ketcham, the Director of Property Management, Permits and Reservations for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department and were informed that the rifle range location could not be used for a bike park. It was contaminated by lead throughout the area and the remediation done was to cap the land - a seal was placed over the lead to isolate it. The area is fenced off and public access is prohibited in the specific area being considered for the bike park.
Lower Frontierland Park was determined to be the most desirable location based on several factors. It is part of an existing park, but the specific area is underutilized. There is infrastructure for restrooms, the size is very good with excellent slop/contour and there is a paved parking lot adjacent to the upper park.
On November 19, 2020, a joint study session with City Council and PB&R Commission was held to discuss the Bike Park concept. The Council and Commission gave input regarding the PBPC’s recommendation of lower Fronteirland Park as a preferred location to help the Committee more thoroughly define the project. They asked the PBPC to gather more specific information regarding the chosen location and to engage the local neighborhood.
This process was delayed due to continued set-backs caused by COVID-19 restrictions. In October and November of 2021, staff along with PBPC, with feedback from the PB&R Commission developed a survey using the City-wide FlashVote system for Pacifica residents.
To include more people and increase the opportunity for engagement, the survey was extended through the end of December.
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At the February 23, 2022 PB&R Commission meeting, the PBPC presented an overview of their progress. Their presentation included information on considered locations as well as their discussions with a non-profit group with experience in developing, designing, maintaining, and fundraising to build a bike park. They also shared information regarding the survey results.
A total of 1,382 participants took the survey between November 16th- 18th and December 1st- 31st. Results indicated that most of the people taking the survey thought that a bike park would be a good addition for Pacifica. Most respondents said their families would utilize the bike park if it were built at Lower Frontierland Park. There was also a difference in responses regarding funding with almost 60% supporting funding the park with private funds/grants and almost 50% supporting the park being built with City funds.
Concerns that participants expressed and included not enough parking, that the location is too hard to get to, too noisy, too dangerous for riders, not a safe place for kids, and not enough features for beginners/younger kids. However, more than half of participants said that none of the above were concerns to them.
Of the five questions that were asked, three of the questions had open ended/unfiltered response options where participants could express anything that they felt was important. While totaling a small percentage of the comments, some common opposition concerns expressed were related to wanting the space to be left “as is,” environmental impact, funding, liability/safety, litter, crime and vandalism, opening and closing of the park, and drug/alcohol use. Common trends in comments supportive of a bike park included responders saying they loved the idea, that it would be great for the youth and families/all ages, highlighted the importance of providing fun, safe outdoor recreation for youth, that it would provide fun for entire families, pointed out the community building nature of the project as positive, as well as comments about the positive impacts for local business.
PBPC also shared ideas to address the feedback, suggestions, and comments received from the survey. Following the presentation, discussion and questions, the Commission voted to recommend to Council approval of the concept of a bike park in Pacifica at the lower Frontierland Park location. Staff is in agreement in recommending this as the preferred site based on available locations and the site selection process.
Should Council approve the recommendation by the Commission, it will allow the PBPC to move forward. Identifying a preliminary location will allow for the raising of funds and help with further feasibility studies regarding park location, design, and environmental studies.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Council may direct staff to consider alternative locations.
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
This action helps to support youth services, which is a component of A Healthy and Compassionate Community. It also promotes An Engaged Community, taking actions to restore trust in City government, expanding communication and building community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with approving the concept of a bike park. City support of an actual project and expending staff resources, including City funding would be contingent on the fundraising and other efforts of the Pacifica Bike Park Committee.
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ORIGINATED BY:
Parks, Beaches & Recreation Department
ATTACHMENT LIST: