CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Ken Irwin, City Manager
BY: Bryan Stice, Community Development Director
Joel Andrews, City Planner
MEETING DATE: November 7, 2023
ITEM NO: ____________
SUBJECT: Approve the CEQA Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PRMP) and adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the CEQA Addendum to the 2010 General Plan EIR for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan and adopt the Parks and Recreation Master Plan
BACKGROUND
In 2011, the City embarked on a process of updating existing Master Plans and creation of new Master Plans that would help guide how and where necessary facilities could be built in response to planned future growth. These master plans would address public safety, parks and recreation, roadways and circulation, water, wastewater and storm drainage. If the General Plan can be considered the bones of the city, providing a framework for how the city should develop, the master plans add a muscular system, which provides more definition to their respective subjects.
The master plans were undertaken concurrently, so that – as much as possible – each plan could be integrated with the others. For instance, the bicycle and pedestrian system was based, in part, upon information from both the Transportation Infrastructure Master Plan and the PRMP to ensure that individuals and families would be able to use that system to access key locations throughout the city, including public recreation venues.
Around 2015, as the master plans neared completion, two changes occurred: First, the City Council directed staff to more closely scrutinize the master plans to ensure the recommendations were fiscally responsible and reasonable; and second, a series of laws were passed at the state level that required some changes to the master plans, particularly related to water issues, but that had impacts on other master plans. During the intervening period, staff and consultants have worked to address issues presented by a continually shifting State legal landscape.
The City’s consultant on the PRMP, Gates and Associates, have completed work on the draft of the Master Plan. The Master Plan is now complete and ready for adoption by City Council.
On September 8, 2022, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the master plan to the City Council with a 4-0 vote.
ANALYSIS
The PRMP serves as a long-term vision to guide the future of the City’s park system and provides standards and policies to direct day-to-day decisions.
Specifically, the PRMP provides:
• background and context for evaluating the existing parks system; • an inventory of existing parks and recreation facilities and programs; • an analysis of the appropriate standards that will meet the needs of the current and future population;
• recommendations for improving and maintaining the existing park system; • recommendations for acquiring or obtaining access to additional properties for future park uses;
• a strategy for addressing recreation needs, as well as managing and maintaining recreational facilities;
• an approach for implementation of improvements and long-term maintenance; and • a record of the community involvement in developing the plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
N/A
ATTACHMENTS
Parks and Recreation Master Plan
CEQA Addendum to 2010 General Plan EIR for Parks and Recreation Master Plan