City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JANUARY 18, 2022 FROM: PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY WARD: 1
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION APPROVING SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION FOR LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM – FUNDS FOR CAMP EVANS MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENTS AT FAIRMOUNT PARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,000,000 – SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION ISSUE:
Adopt a resolution approving the submission of application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program for Camp Evans Master Plan improvements at Fairmount Park and approve a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $6,000,000 to be recorded upon grant award.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Adopt the attached resolution approving the submission of application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program for Camp Evans Master Plan Improvements at Fairmount Park; and With at least five affirmative votes, and upon receipt of the grant award, authorize the Chief Financial Officer, or his designee, to record a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $6,000,000 or the actual amount awarded and record an increase in revenues in the same amount to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Camp Evans Master Plan Improvements project; and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to accept the amount awarded, including lesser or greater than the amount applied for, and execute all grant documents, including making minor and non-substantive changes associated with the grant.
BACKGROUND:
On February 14, 1963, President Kennedy’s Administration proposed legislation to establish a "Land and Water Conservation Fund" (LWCF) to assist States in planning, acquisition, and development of recreation lands. With bipartisan support, President Johnson signed it into law on September 3, 1964, as Public Law 88- 578, 16 U.S.C.460l-4. The National Park Service (NPS) administers the LWCF program at the federal level. Previously, the federal Bureau of Outdoor Recreation administered the LWCF program from 1964 to 1978 and the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service administered it from 1978 to 1981. Funds allocated to California are administered by the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation under the provisions of the California Outdoor Recreation Resources Plan Act of 1967, (Public Resources Code §5099 et seq.). Outer Continental Shelf mineral receipts, sales of federal surplus real property, federal recreation fees, and federal motorboat fuel taxes all serve as funding sources for the LWCF; $40 million is available during this round of the program; $6 million is the maximum grant request amount per application.
In 2003, the Santa Ana River Task Force developed a vision and concept plan for developing a parkway along the river in Riverside. The plan recommends nature trails, a boardwalk, and a nature center with programming in the area now proposed for Camp Evans at Fairmount Park.
In 2009, the Santa Ana River Task Force reconvened to review and update their prior recommendations based on work accomplished and other changes since 2003.
In 2014, through Senate Bill 1390, the California state legislature created the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program within the State Coastal Conservancy. The program addresses the resource and recreational goals of the Santa Ana River region, including open space, trails, wildlife habitat, agricultural land protection, water quality protection, educational use, and public access. The Conservancy makes grant funding available to help agencies and non-profit organizations move forward with projects to meet these resource and recreational goals.
On May 21, 2019, City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the California Coastal Conservancy for a grant amount of $2,358,500 to: acquire one property, to develop park master plans, and complete California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) analysis and documentation for nine project sites along the Santa Ana River corridor.
On December 26, 2019, the City of Riverside entered into a grant agreement with the California Coastal Conservancy for the River-side Gateway Project Suite Design and CEQA project in the amount of $1,960,000.
On May 11, 2021, the City Council approved a Professional Consultant Services Agreement with MLA Green, Inc. dba Studio-MLA (Consultant) of Los Angeles, California, for the River-side Gateway Project Suite – Planning & Design for Park Master Plan and California Environmental Quality Act Services for Park, Trail and Greenway Improvements at Nine Sites through June 30, 2023, in the amount not to exceed $1,963,681.79.
On September 19, 2021, Technical Advisory Committee meeting #1 for the Riverside Gateway Parks project was held.
On October 27, 2021, Community Workshop #1 for the Riverside Gateway Parks Project was held.
DISCUSSION:
The LWCF grant program is currently accepting applications, and an application will be submitted for Camp Evans construction funding. Camp Evans at Fairmount Park is part of the River-side Gateway project suite (Project), which supports the Santa Ana River Task Force’s vision and concept for developing park, trail, and open space resources along the Santa Ana River. Studio-MLA, a planning and design consultant, has been hired to perform the following scope of work for nine park sites that make up the Riverside Gateway project suite: site and environmental inventory, analysis, community outreach, development of master plans and project-level CEQA documentation for each site. By completing the planning and environmental scope of work for these projects, the City will be prepared to submit competitive applications for construction grants.
The draft master plan for Camp Evans has been prepared and will be reviewed by the Park and Recreation Commission on December 20, 2021, and will be forwarded to the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee in February 2022 before being brought in final draft to City Council in April 2022 for adoption. Master Plans for the other park sites will follow Camp Evans and are all scheduled to be completed by spring of 2023.
Site inventory and analysis has been completed for all the project sites, and community outreach and conceptual design for the other Riverside Gateway Parks sites will continue through early 2022. Community input and ideas can be provided to the design team for all sites except Camp Evans using the online survey and input map on the project website at https://riversidegatewayparks.com/, by calling (951) 228-0022, or sending email to [email protected].
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The Project contributes to the Strategic Priority 1 – Arts, Culture and Recreation, which aims to provide diverse community experiences and personal enrichment opportunities for people of all ages.
The Project also supports goal 1.3, to improve parks, recreational amenities, open space, and trail development, to fulfill critical lifecycle and facility maintenance needs, and goal 1.4, to prioritize safety at parks, trails, arts, cultural and recreational facilities.
The project aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – The planning process for the River-side Gateway Project Suite will rely on community engagement, including: four advisory committee meetings, three community workshops, four pop-up outreach events, an online survey, an interactive mapping tool, and a project website to distribute information and collect input from the community.
Equity – Staff and the design consultant team are working together to reach into Riverside’s diverse community during outreach efforts for the Project. Consideration has been given to providing multiple opportunities and modes for community input using multiple tools and platforms for advertising the opportunities to engage a broad spectrum of Riverside’s diverse population. These outreach and engagement efforts will be advertised using social media posts, e-blasts, newspaper ads, a press release, postcards/flyers, signs posted at the project sites, sidewalk decals, digital reader board/billboard and a Riverside Monthly television segment.
Fiscal Responsibility – Construction of Camp Evans is proposed to be accomplished with grant funds from the LWCF and California Coastal Conservancy and without the use of the City’s General Fund.
Innovation – Through the Riverside Gateway Parks Project, the City is responding to the community’s changing recreational, social, and health and wellness needs. The Project will also integrate preservation and enhancement of natural resources and agricultural land with park development. Collaborative partnerships with agencies such as the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District and other stakeholders will help the design team prepare relevant, holistic, and meaningful solutions to meet the community’s needs and to prepare for the future.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The Project seeks to increase park and recreational resources to meet the needs of the present community, without compromising the needs of the future by finding solutions that help Riverside adapt to climate change and resource depletion through actions such as planting more trees, using native and low-water landscaping, implementing on-site stormwater infiltration, and supporting active transportation. The Project also seeks to protect and enhance natural resources and habitat as well as potentially increasing agricultural opportunities which allows for more locally grown food.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated fiscal impact of this action is $6,000,000 in LWCF grant funding, with $6,000,000 required in matching funds. Dollar-for-dollar matching funds are required for the LWCF grant, however, the PRCSD is seeking grant funds from the Coastal Conservancy for the match. The application to the LWCF grant will be submitted contingent upon receiving matching grant funds from the Coastal Conservancy. If the Coastal Conservancy matching funds are not confirmed prior to the LWCF grant application deadline, the PRCSD will not submit an application to the LWCF program at this time but will continue to seek future funding opportunities for construction. Upon receipt of the grant award, an amount equal to the grant award will be recorded to the Grants and Restricted Programs Fund, Camp Evans Master Plan Improvements project revenue account 9409900-334300 and expenditure account 9409900-440120.
Prepared by: Pamela M. Galera, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Grant Resolution
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant – Camp Evans ● Page 2