City of Sacramento
City Council - 2PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2024-00461 8/20/2024 Public Hearing Item 20.
Parks Plan 2040 [Noticed 08/09/2024]
File ID: 2024-00461
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion: 1) adopt a Resolution approving the Parks Plan 2040 as a Subsequent Project under the Master Environmental Impact Report for the 2040 General Plan and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan; and 2) adopt a Resolution adopting the Parks Plan 2040.
Contact: Dana Repan, Senior Planner, (916) 808-2762, [email protected]; Jason Wiesemann, Parks Planning, Design and Development Manager, (916) 808-7634, [email protected]; Department of Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment Presenter: Jason Wiesemann, Parks Planning, Design and Development Manager, (916) 808-7634, [email protected]; Dana Repan, Senior Planner, (916) 808-2762, [email protected]
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Final Draft Parks Plan 2040 Major Revisions
3-Parks Plan Amendment
4-Resolution Approving Environmental Review for Parks Plan 2040 5-Comment letters from Caltrans and SMAQMD
6-Resolution Adopting the Parks Plan 2040
Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment (YPCE) has completed a multi-year process to update the 2005-2010 Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The Parks Plan 2040 is a subsequent project under the city’s 2040 General Plan and Master Environmental Impact Report and has been developed in conjunction with the 2040 General Plan Update. The Parks Plan 2040 will
File ID: 2024-00461 8/20/2024 Public Hearing Item 20.
replace the 2005-2010 Sacramento Parks and Recreation Master Plan and will serve as a 20-year guiding document for YPCE’s annual work planning.
On August 1, 2024, staff held a public meeting with the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission for the Parks Plan 2040. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission passed a motion to forward to City Council a recommendation to adopt the Parks Plan 2040.
The public hearing for City Council is held for staff to present the final 2040 Parks Plan. This is the culmination of five years of community outreach, policy development, as well as cross-departmental and inter-agency coordination. At the end of this public hearing, staff will be recommending the approval of the Environmental Review for the Parks Plan 2040 and the adoption of the Parks Plan 2040.
Policy Considerations: The Parks Plan 2040 is consistent with the 2040 General Plan and serves to guide Sacramento in its long-term growth and development. One of the subsequent projects of the 2040 General Plan is the Parks Plan 2040.
YPRO-A.1: Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment (YPCE) Parks Plan Update. The Parks Plan 2040 shall provide policy recommendations toward meeting the City’s parkland and facility level of service goals; incorporate design guideline standards for park and recreation facilities; and strengthen access to parks and recreational facilities. The update should incorporate key priorities, implementation actions, and funding mechanisms and be undertaken with robust community engagement.
Economic Impacts: Not Applicable.
Environmental Considerations: The proposed Parks Plan 2040 implements, and is consistent with, the 2040 General Plan and Master Environmental Impact Report (EIR). An initial study was completed, and the Environmental Planning Services Manager has determined that the plan would not result in any new significant effects not identified and evaluated in the 2040 Master EIR. A notice to this effect was provided for public review as required by the CEQA Guidelines. Two comments were received, from Caltrans dated June 19, 2024, and from the Sacramento Air Quality Management District dated July 17, 2024. No changes to the analysis or conclusions of the initial study are required. The comment letters are included as an attachment (Attachment 5). The Initial Study for Subsequent Projects under the 2040 General Plan Master EIR can be found here:
https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/community-development/planning/environmental/impact-reports The above actions satisfy CEQA review requirements for the Parks Plan 2040. No further CEQA review is required.
File ID: 2024-00461 8/20/2024 Public Hearing Item 20.
Sustainability: The Draft Parks Plan 2040 incorporates policy guidelines that ensure new park development and existing park improvements address the principle of Sustainability. Specifically, to incorporate sustainable landscaping and facilities that limit water usage and energy consumption, such as drought tolerant landscaping and low impact development.
Policy 4.7: Support the reuse and wise use of resources in parks.
Policy 4.8: Reduce water use and support water conservation in parks.
Commission/Committee Action: The Draft Parks Plan 2040 Public Review Timeline and Kickoff was received by the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission on March 7, 2024. During the months of March and April 2024, staff provided information about how to access the draft Parks Plan 2040, provide comment through comment form, and requests to share the information with the Sacramento Youth Commission, Sacramento Children's Fund Oversight and Planning Commission, Disability Advisory Commission, Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Commission, Planning and Design Commission, Preservation Commission, Active Transportation Commission, and the Racial Equity Committee. The Draft Parks Plan 2040 Overview and Comments was received by the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission on May 2, 2040. On August 1, 2024, staff held a public meeting with the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission for the Parks Plan 2040. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission passed a motion to forward to City Council a recommendation to adopt the Parks Plan 2040.
Rationale for Recommendation: The Draft Parks Plan 2040 is consistent with the 2040 General Plan’s Vision and Guiding Principles. The Parks Plan 2040 is a guiding and policy document that will serve to direct the Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment’s growth and work planning in a sustainable manner for the next 20 years.
Financial Considerations: Not applicable.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
Attachment 2-Background
The Draft Parks Plan 2040 updates the prior Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2005-2010. Updates include: (1) reflecting the recent changes in the department with the new department name of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment (YPCE); (2) incorporation of the 2018 Strategic Plan’s new vision and mission for YPCE and how each YPCE division is unified under that vision and mission; (3) discussion of the needs and priorities of the city’s communities currently and into the next 20 years; (4) an analysis of the park and recreation system through an equity lens; and (5) feasible,
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sustainable, and implementable directions, guidelines and policies for the next 20 years.
The multi-year, four phased approach to plan development included extensive public engagement, diverse community outreach, and the involvement of advisory and stakeholder input and feedback.
Concurrent with the 2040 General Plan update and Climate Action and Adaption Plan, the planning process had regular check points with interdepartmental working groups and nine advisory groups, as well as guidance and advice from the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission (PCEC), councilmember briefings, and department leadership during plan development at critical touchpoints, the feedback helped inform the draft Parks Plan 2040.
Including the 2040 General Plan, the Parks Plan 2040 aligns with other essential city plans and initiatives, such as the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, the Age-Friendly Community Action Plan, the proposed Urban Forest Plan and Streets for People Transportation Plan. The Parks Plan 2040 supports these concurrent plans and initiatives by incorporating overlapping policy statements and guidelines from each of these documents.
The Parks Plan 2040 stands out from the other planning documents in that it reflects the six divisions of YPCE operating to best serve the citizens and youth of our community. The Parks Plan 2040 has been developed to capture the city’s extensive park and recreation system, including over 4,300 acres of parkland, citywide recreation amenities and facilities that support year-round sports, swimming, outdoor recreation, programs and services that address the needs of all ages, while creating opportunities for children, youth, older adults to play, learn, grow. YPCE provides critical opportunities for people to connect with each other, with nature, and with our cultural heritage. Also importantly, YPCE provides the most essential services to our city’s residents during our most challenging times, such as outdoor access to nature, cooling centers and warming centers, food services and water, health services, childcare, and climate change resiliency. YPCE’s mission to continue to empower our youth, strengthen neighborhoods, and provide life-enriching programs for a beautiful, livable community to meet the needs of the community is dependent on the infrastructure and resources within these six divisions of YPCE. The Parks Plan 2040 brings all of these resources together within one guiding document.
The Parks Plan consists of eight chapters with topics that discuss specific focus areas for YPCE. The document begins the discussion by stating the purpose of the update to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan 2005-2010 and the concurrent efforts this plan represents. The Planning Context is the background of the Department’s history from the early days of city formation to today’s trends. The Parks Plan 2040 inventories the existing parks and facilities, programmatic assets and service providers to set the baseline for analysis going forward. Through comprehensive and extensive outreach efforts to reach as many communities as possible, the needs and priorities for recreation, health and social services are reflected in the community voices from over 1,500 residents who participated and key themes that were uncovered from those insightful conversations. The Parks Plan 2040 youth outreach earned the city the 2021 California Park & Recreation Society’s (CPRS)
File ID: 2024-00461 8/20/2024 Public Hearing Item 20.
Awards Program’s Marketing & Communications Award of Excellence for the “Summer Youth Outreach in the Marketing & Communications Award of Excellence” category. The nine Key Directions carry forward YPCE’s values, vision, and mission through key directions and strategies for providing infrastructure and services. The document concludes the foundational analysis by introducing an implementation framework to set achievable standards for the provision of parks, recreation facilities, programs, events, and services.
The Draft Parks Plan 2040 and Executive Summary were made available to the public for comment from March 8 through April 8, 2024. To aid in the collection and processing of feedback on the public draft plan, the Parks Plan project team created a Plan Review Toolkit. The Plan Review Toolkit included flyers that were posted at community centers, libraries, and 4 th R locations with instructions
on where to review the Parks Plan 2040 and the three ways to submit comments. Printed copies of the draft Parks Plan 2040 were made available at each of YPCE’s community centers and City libraries. The Plan Review Toolkit included marketing material for YPCE’s marketing team to post on social media sites, such as YPCE’s Instagram account, the Come out and Play catalog, press release material for City Minute and City Express, and SacVibes. The Parks Plan project team directly emailed contacts and ActiveNet customers. The Parks Plan project team made announcements on the availability of the draft Parks Plan and how to access the document for review and comment at nine city commissions and the Sacramento County Recreation and Park Commission. The Parks Plan project team was available at public and city-lead meetings, events, and local television broadcasts for questions.
Upon conclusion of the public comment period, the Parks Plan project team presented the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission on May 2, 2024, with an overview of the key highlights of the Parks Plan 2040 including the park and program inventory and park system analysis, which described park gap areas and underdeveloped park sites; the proposed park and facility level of service changes; the nine Key Directions with direct policy and implementation actions; and the use of new and revised tools to help the department prioritize and fund projects equitably.
The Parks Plan project team provided an overview of the 200 public comments that were received during the public comment period and overall impressions of the draft Parks Plan 2040. All comments were reviewed and analyzed equally, vetted across all sections of the draft plan for feasibility and consistency. Some comments had ripple effects on the plan, such that they may have effects on Key Directions, level of service, policies, guidelines, and some were noted in the Parks Plan Amendment.
The Parks Plan project team received requests for new projects for land acquisition that are not currently identified as proposed parks in the inventory, requests for new facilities that are not existing in the park inventory system, requests for new project amenities at existing parks, and requests for new programmatic and services. The purpose of the document was not to analyze each of the city’s 235 parks’ site plans, or make recommendations to develop a specific project improvement, or add new programs to the park and recreation system. However, the Parks Plan 2040 is a policy and guiding document that addresses the city’s current park and recreation system as a whole and gives
File ID: 2024-00461 8/20/2024 Public Hearing Item 20.
direction to YPCE to implement the key directions. Proposed individual projects as a result of approval of the Parks Plan 2040 will be brought forward for consideration and review by YPCE.
The project team received feedback at the PCEC meeting on the draft Parks Plan and incorporated that feedback into the Final Draft Parks Plan. Comments received after the meeting have been considered for the Parks Plan 2040. The Final Draft Parks Plan 2040 addresses a majority of the comments through direct edits to the document and in an amendment to the Parks Plan 2040.
Attached to this staff report is the synopsis of the edits that were made in the Draft Parks Plan 2040 Major Revisions document (Attachment 3). The document is organized by Chapters in bold with section headers underlined and page numbers in parenthesis, as shown in the Final Draft Parks Plan 2040. Red type is the edited text found in the Final Draft Parks Plan. Strikethrough text shows what has been removed. Grammatical edits made (i.e. capitalizations) are not included but have been made to the document. The Parks Plan Amendment (Attachment 4) addresses revisions that are made to the entire document, however not reflected in the Final Draft. The revisions are primarily due to mapping updates, while not substantive as to affect the analysis. The final addition to the Parks Plan 2040 will be a Letter from the Director.
The Parks Plan 2040, Executive Summary in both English and Spanish, and the revisions document are located online at:
https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/ypce/parks/planning---development/park-plan
Final Draft Parks Plan 2040 Major Revisions
T
his document outlines the major revisions or edits made in response to comments. The document is organized by Chapters in bold with section headers underlined and page numbers in parenthesis, as shown in the Final Draft Parks Plan 2040. Red type is the edited text found in the Final Draft Parks Plan.
Strikethrough text shows what has been removed. Grammatical edits made (i.e. capitalizations) are not outlined below.
C
hapter 2
Key Moments in Sacramento’s Park History
(
page 19) 1990 The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed by U.S. Congress.
Our Community
(
page 26)
(page 26)
Relevant City Initiatives
(page 30)
Trends Affecting Parks and Recreation
(page 34)
Equity and Access
(page 40)
(page 41)
(page 42)
Universal Design
(page 47)
Operational Sustainability and Resource Resiliency
(page 54)
Chapter 5
Population Density
(page 116)
Homelessness In Parks
(page 125)
Chapter 6
Recreation Facility Needs
(page 149)
Chapter 7
Parks Plan Key Directions
(page 184)
Key Direction # 3 : Apply the Sacramento Equity Explore Design (SEED) tool in scoring priority projects.
(page 190)
Key Direction #6:
COLLABORATE TO IMPROVE TRAIL CONNECTIONS
As noted in Appendix D, YPCE will continue to coordinate and collaborate with Public Works, other City departments, Sacramento County, and other agency partners to improve trail connections to parks, parkway use, and recreation via trails. While YPCE is not the primary provider of the City’s shared use paths, the Department brings an important perspective to conversations regarding priorities for shared use paths that support recreation and park access in addition to active transportation. Going forward, YPCE will proceed with the development of planned future parkways, especially where these provide access to rivers, coordinate with the Department of Public Works' Streets for People: Active Transportation Plan to connect missing trail links and encourage the use of off-street shared use paths to access parks and parkways, and provide access to new parks and neighborhoods.
DESIGNATE NATURAL AREAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTION AND BEST PRACTICE MAINTENANCE PLANNING. Define and inventory designated natural areas, separate from undeveloped and developed parkland, for the purpose of protection and best practice maintenance planning. Explore approaches of designating natural areas via City Council through an environmental impact report, or conservation easement, or State Fish and Wildlife. YPCE will continue to seek out opportunities for nature appreciation and study, environmental education, restoration ecology, and land stewardship offered through public programs with the goal toward becoming a model of engaged environmental conservation and stewardship.
(page 191)
Key Direction #7: PROMOTE URBAN COOLING
As summer temperatures continue to climb, YPCE will play a supportive role in increasing the urban tree canopy in city parks while supporting urban cooling. YPCE will continue to provide shade and plant trees in parks to help minimize the heat island effect. It will provide other types of shade sails, structures, umbrellas, and canopies in parks and especially over playgrounds. It will strategically change its approach to waterplay to make spray areas more accessible to all (see Key Directions #4, #5, and #9).
Appendix B
(page B-4)
Appendix D
Policy Sources and Integration
(page D-3)
1: Parks, Parkways, and Open Space
(pages D-5,6)
Park Acquisition, Design, and Development Section.
1.8 e. Explore opportunities to acquire new parkland in flood prone and repetitive loss areas of the city, prioritizing communities with an existing deficit of parkland.
1.9 h. Resilience: Design, develop, and landscape parks to adapt to climate change impacts, including increasing heat, extreme weather, floods, wildfires, droughts, etc.
1.9 d. Safety: Implement Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies and enhance park safety through playground design, crime prevention technology, night lighting, natural surveillance, and unobtrusive landscaping. (YPRO)
1.9 j. Noise and Light: Minimize noise and light pollution by buffering lighted facilities and noise-producing activities from surrounding uses, especially residential areas and schools.
Access to Nature and Waterways
(pages D-8,9)
1.14 c.
Target acquisition of new parkland that protects existing natural resources, supports urban greening and aesthetics, promotes and restores ecological functions.
1.14 g. Continue to maintain and program Camp Sacramento and explore additional nature based programming at other regional parks to support access to nature.
1.15 b. Work with regional partners, State agencies, nonprofit and community groups, private landowners, and land developers to manage, preserve, improve habitat value, enhance use and access to the Sacramento and American River Parkways, urban waterways, and riparian corridors to increase public access for active and passive recreation and habitat values.
1.16 f. Acquire parkland and parkways in riparian corridors and develop river-front parks in conjunction with Downtown redevelopment.
Trail and Parkway Connectivity
1.17 b. Coordinate with respective City Departments’ planning efforts, such as the Streets for People: Active Transportation Plan, when planning, constructing, and maintaining the shared-use paths and bikeways.
2: Recreation Facilities
Equitable Facility Distribution
(page D-10)
2.3 e.
Maintain GIS database of park facilities as new parks are added to the park inventory, update inventory to reflect park classifications and use, and older facilities are removed or replaced.
Major Facilities (Community centers, aquatic facilities, golf courses) (page D-12)
2.8 b. Evaluate economically efficient alternatives to major facilities before developing new or expanding existing facilities. For example, replace wading pools with spray grounds; strive to maintain the number of swimming pools as per level of service guidelines while increasing other types of cooling and waterplay options.
Play, Sports, Outdoor Recreation, and Interpretive Facilities (page D-14)
2.16 Increase and diversify trails and trail-related recreation experiences in parks, parkways, and accessible open space areas, while emphasizing the importance of parks and parkways in supporting active transportation. Consider the following types of trails:
2.17 b. Install interpretive signage and information kiosks to provide land acknowledgements of Indigenous and tribal ancestral history and contributions, as well as to highlight the wildlife, ecological function, local and environmental history of parks.
2.17 e. Identity opportunities to Increase River and beach access by providing facilities to support fishing, boating, wading, sunbathing, and beach use.
3: Programs, Events, and Services
Recreation and Leisure Services
(page D-18)
3.14 Provide aquatics programs focused on swimming lessons, water safety, water fitness, lap swimming, as well as leisure swimming and pool activities that support health, cooling, and fun. Expand pool access times if operationally feasible.
Youth Development and Empowerment
(page D-22)
3.34 f. Use community centers to promote neighborhood and community activities happening within and beyond the parks.
3.35 b. Continue to engage residents, businesses, and community-based organizations in the stewardship and maintenance of parks, open space, and facilities through the Park Volunteer Program, Earth Day, Adopt-a-Park, Creek Week programs, clean up days, mural/paint days, and other collaborative partnerships and initiatives.
4: Maintenance and Stewardship
Natural Resource Stewardship and Management
(page D-24)
4.4 c. Support development of integrated management plans for water corridors that meet multiple goals such as natural resource protection, sustainability, security, stormwater management, flood control and mitigation, and maintenance.
4.4 h. Establish a working group to provide guidance to City staff on nature, wildlife, and biological expertise.
4.5 f. Improve the pedestrian and cyclist experience with an increased tree canopy, by supporting the Streets for People: Sacramento Active Transportation Plan.
4.5,g, In natural areas, plant drought-tolerant species that are native to the Sacramento Valley region to create dense tree groves. Provide protection measures such as vaca cages to protect from fire abatement activities, such as mowing, grazing, string- trimming, plowing, or applying herbicides.
4.6 e. Evaluate the establishment of a natural areas program to manage representative examples of the aquatic and terrestrial habitats of the southern Sacramento Valley.
Sustainability
(page D-25)
4.7 c. Cool Roof Retrofits: Evaluate cool roofing options and plan for the retrofit of community centers in coordination with energy efficiency upgrades.
6: Financial Investment
Funding Strategy
(page D-31)
6.4 b. When developing new parks, parkways, and open space, or improving existing sites, ensure that comprehensive, long-term funding is available for the maintenance and operations of new and rehabilitated facilities.
Diverse Financing and Funding Resources
(page D-32)
6.13. Diversify and improve funding and resources to enhance parks, open space, facilities, programs, and services, including acquisition, development, maintenance, programming, restoration, and asset management/ reinvestment
Appendix E
Systemwide Guidelines for Quality Parks and Facilities
Acquisition and Site Selection
( page E-3 )
A. v. Development Restrictions: Avoid elements that restrict the function, development, or usability of the land, such as underground or overhead utilities, unsuitable topography, restrictive easements, or other development restrictions unless the restriction is for the protection of natural or cultural resources.
(page E-5)
E. In densely built out urban areas where the provision of large parks is not feasible, explore creative solutions to provide neighborhood park and recreation facilities that serve the needs of residents and employees. Such solutions may include:
• Publicly accessible, privately owned open spaces and plazas; • Rooftop play courts and gardens;
• Temporary street closures, micro parks, or parklets along roadsides (in partnership with Public Works);
• Freeway underpass, utility corridor, and wide landscape medians; and • Conversion of rails to trails.
Site Planning, Design, and Development
(page E-6)
D ii. Build a sense of place by protecting important environmental and cultural features as well as educating the public on the unique ecological qualities of the region.
Additional Site Specifications
(page E-10)
General
C. Provide a main park entry, which gives a sense of arrival, and entry to the park.
Provide the following at the park entry, park name sign placed in a planted area with flowering trees, special paving, and drop-off seating.
Q. Design Park facilities to enhance, preserve, and protect natural site characteristics, designated wildlife habitat, and to minimize water use and maintenance demands.
S. Design naturalized areas to include passive recreation such as picnicking, nature trails with interpretive signage, bikeways, rest areas, horseshoe courts, disc golf or similar activities, as appropriate.
Table E-1. Edit to column 2 title,
(page E-12 )
o Table E-1. Disc Golf LOS, pg. E-12
Site Amenity and Facility Development
(page E-13)
Sports Fields
B. Ensure that playground design complies with the latest requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for public agencies. Strive to provide all inclusive, universal destination play areas in targeted regional or community parks where appropriate so that these are available within a reasonable travel distance.
Plantings
(page E-19)
A. Community or regional parks shall have 20% of site in include low maintenance naturalized areas with any combination of either a 4" layer of mulch, non-irrigated native grass, irrigated no-mow tall fescue, decomposed granite paving areas or low- maintenance groundcover, planted with native tree groves wherever possible to limit mowing and irrigation requirements.
C. E xisting parks shall be redesigned to Reduce non-recreational aesthetic turf areas outside of active sports fields or passive recreation areas. Turf can be replaced with either a 4" layer of mulch, non-irrigated native grass, irrigated no-mow tall fescue, decomposed granite paving areas or low-maintenance groundcover., all planted with native tree groves to limit mowing and irrigation requirements.
I. Plants and trees shall be planted in mass groupings of similar plant types, to reduce maintenance and increase visual appeal.
Planters
C. Provide an entry planted (non-turf) area to locate the park name sign. Provide low maintenance flowering trees, and plant material to accent the sign.
Trees
(page E-20)
A. Ensure that Trees planted in turf areas shall be a minimum of twenty-foot (20') from other trees or vertical elements to allow use of commercial mower.
B. E nsure that Trees planted in turf areas next to the street shall be set back fifteen feet (15’) from the front of the curb face to allow use of commercial mower.
E. Provide biological diversity in tree species and age. Twenty percent (20%) of all trees planted in the park shall be California native species.
F. Ensure that twenty percent (20%) of all tress planted in the park are California native species such as ( Blue Oak, Valley Oak, Coast Live Oak, California Sycamore, etc.) Maximize trees within new and existing parks to the extent feasible while providing for other desired recreational amenities.
G. P lant trees at a minimum of 25 trees per acre in parks and a minimum of 40 trees per acre in naturalized or bark mulch areas. Avoid trees with excessive fruit, branch or litter drop,such as Purple-leaf plum, Liquidambar, and Chinese Elm.Trees in community gardens may have fruit.
H. Avoid trees with excessive fruit, brank or litter drop, such as Purple-leaf plum, Liquidamber, and Chinese Elm. Trees in community gardens may have fruit.
L.Plant accent trees at all park entries where possible and appropriate.K. Prioritize tree plantings in parks where tree canopy coverage is low to provide a greater access to greenery and shade.
(page-E20, delete item E entirely and renumber items F through O)
Guidelines for Lighted Facilities
(page E-21)
Park Guidelines by Park Type
(page E-22,40)
Multi-Use Regional Parks
Size and Configuration:
o At least 50% of the site should be developable for recreation uses except for areas designated for natural resources
conservation.
o Natural Resources Protection
Prioritized Recreation Elements:
• Natural features including rivers, creeks, beaches, ponds, lakes, and wildlife viewing areas
• Trails
Open Space
(page E-40)
Definition: YPCE manages several open space areas to provide river access, ensure access to other natural features or protect habitat, conserve natural resources, and promote urban greening and ecological functions. While most sites provide accessible greenspace, passive recreation opportunities, and/or trails, some open space areas do not have any recreation amenities and are not intended for public access.
Some open space sites offer opportunities for expansion of nature-based recreation, restoration of habitat, and conservation of wildlife and habitat. Unlike multi-use parks (which may include natural resources, beaches, marinas, and habitat areas within them), these stand-alone parks are managed primarily as greenspace.
Appendix F
Table F-2. Planning-level Capital Cost Assumptions by Facility (Continued) (page F-6)
- Habitat Restoration per site TBD, Costs will vary substantially depending on type of work, e.g., riverbank or lake restoration, habitat variation, etc.
PARKS PLAN AMENDMENT
May 2024
Data used in the Parks Plan 2040 were based on the most up to date information available when the inventory was finalized, and analyses were conducted. Basemap information for the planning process was obtained in 2020 from Sacramento County and City resources. Subsequently, the following information was provided. These supplemental corrections are noted below and are not included in the document.
1. As part of the General Plan update, two community plan areas have been renamed:
• Land Park Community Plan area is now called the Greater Land Park Community Plan area.
• The Pocket Community Plan area is now called the
Pocket/Greenhaven Community Plan area.
2. All Parks Plan policies will be applicable to any newly added areas to the City.
3. Sacramento’ s Sphere of Influence (SOI) was updated in 2020, but the current boundary is not reflected in Parks Plan GIS data. The current SOI boundary line was shifted westward; this shift is not shown in the Parks Plan maps.
The SOI boundary change does not affect the analysis of park service gaps or parkland level of service. The area in question is not designated for future residential land uses and, therefore, would not require parkland dedication.
4. The following inventory changes are noted:
• Sutter's Landing Regional Park now includes the recently acquired Blue Diamond and SMUD properties, which
expands the site boundaries and acreage.
• The park acreage data noted below are different from
what is noted in Appendix A.
PARK ACREAGE
Charles Robertson Park 14.81
Egret Park 8.54
Egret Park Open Space 8.34
Fisherman's Lake Parkway &
Open Space
33.39 Garcia Bend Park 19.71
River Otter Park 2.10
Sutter’s Landing Regional Park 204.28
Ucd Elhmhurst Community Garden 1.06
Valley Oak Park 8.69
William Chorley Park 30.88
SACRAMENTO PARKS PLAN 2040 | XIII
Parks Plan 2040
RESOLUTION NO. 2024-XXXX
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
APPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR
PARKS PLAN 2040 AS A SUBSEQUENT PROJECT
UNDER THE MASTER EIR FOR THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN AND CLIMATE
ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN
BACKGROUND
A. On August 20, 2024, the City Council conducted a public hearing, for which notice was given pursuant Sacramento City Code and received and considered evidence concerning the Parks Plan 2040.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council finds that the Master Environmental Impact Report for the 20 40 General Plan (EIR) was certified on February 27, 2024, and the 20 40 General Plan and Climate Action and Adaptation Plan were adopted on that date.
Section 2. The City Council finds that the adequacy of the Master EIR has not been affected by approval of any subsequent project (i.e., there are not subsequent projects that were not identified in the Master EIR); no substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the Master EIR was certified; and that there is no new available information which was not known and could not have been known at the time the Master EIR was certified that would affect the analysis and conclusions of the Master EIR.
Accordingly, it is appropriate to review the project under the Master EIR.
Section 3. The City of Sacramento was the Lead Agency for the Master EIR.
Section 4. An initial study was prepared for the Parks Plan 2040 project and concluded that the project was described in the Master EIR and that the project would not cause any additional significant environmental effects that were not examined in the Master EIR.
No new additional mitigation measures or alternatives are required, and the project is within the scope of the Master EIR.
Section 5. The City has incorporated all feasible mitigation measures or feasible alternatives appropriate to the project as set forth in the Master EIR.
Section 6. Notice of the conclusion that the project is a subsequent project under the Master EIR was provided in the manner required by CEQA Guidelines section 15177(d) and 15087. The Notice of Subsequent Project (Exhibit A) was pos ted in the office of the County Clerk/Recorder and published in a newspaper of general circulation on June 17, 2024 . The Notice established a thirty -day comment period, beginning on June 17, 2024 , and ending on July 17, 2024.
Section 7. The City Council directs that, upon approval of the Project, the City Manager shall file a notice of determination with the County Clerk of Sacramento County and the State Office of Planning and
Research, pursuant to the provisions of CEQA section 21152.
Section 8. Pursuant to Guidelines s ection 15091(e), the documents and other materials that constitute the record of proceedings upon which the City Council has based its decision are located in and may be obtained from, the Office of the City Clerk at 915 I Street, Sacramento, California. The City Clerk is the custodian of records for all matters before the City Council.
Exhibit A: Notice of Subsequent Project
DATE: June 17, 2024
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF SUBSEQUENT PROJECT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE MASTER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR THE 2040 GENERAL PLAN:
PARKS PLAN 2040
PROJECT LOCATION: Citywide
COMMENT PERIOD: June 17, 2024 to July 17, 2024
The City of Sacramento, Department of Community Development , Environmental Planning Services has determined, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15177, that the Parks Plan 2040 is a subsequent project within the scope of the Master EIR for the City of Sacramento 2040 General Plan, certified by the City as lead agency in Resolution No. 2024-0066, and that no additional environmental review for the project is required.
The City has prepared an Initial Study for the project and has determined that the project would not result in any additional significant environmental effect not previously analyzed in the Master EIR. No new additional mitigation measures or alternatives are required.
A copy of the Initial Study is attached to this Notice. The Master EIR is available for review on the City’s web site at https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/community-development/planning.
The Parks Plan 2040 inventories the existing physical and programmatic assets and identifies future assets as a means of meeting level of service goals. The Parks Plan 2040 reflects the needs and priorities of Sacramento for recreation, health and social services. The Parks Plan 2040 sets achievable standards for the provision of parks, recreation facilities, programs, events, and services.
The Parks Plan 2040 identifies feasible investment approaches that can be achieved in the short to long term outlook with collaboration and prioritization. The Parks
Comments regarding the project may be submitted to:
Tom Buford, Principal Planner
City of Sacramento, Community Development Department
300 Richards Boulevard, Third Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
Telephone: (916) 799-1531
Email: [email protected]
Comments must be submitted no later than July 17, 2024
From: Spence, Robynn L@DOT on behalf of D3 Local Development@DOT To: Ron Bess; Dana Repan; Tom Buford
Cc: Scott Johnson; Arnold, Gary S@DOT
Subject: RE: Notice of Subsequent Project within the Scope of the Master EIR for the 2040 General Plan: Parks Plan 2040 Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2024 10:09:45 AM
Good Morning,
Thank you for including California Department of Transportation in the review process for the Notice of Subsequent Project within the Scope of the Master EIR for the 2040 General Plan: Parks Plan 2040. We wanted to reach out and let you know we have no comments at this time.
Please provide our office with copies of any further actions regarding this proposal.
We would appreciate the opportunity to review and comment on any changes related to this development.
Should you have questions please contact me, Local Development Review and System Planning Coordinator, by phone (530) 812-6874 or via email at [email protected]
.
Thank you!
Respectfully,
Robynn Spence
Local Development Review and Complete Streets
Division of Planning, Local Assistance, and Sustainability California Department of Transportation, District 3
(530) 812-6874
From:
Ron Bess <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 17, 2024 11:57 AM
To: Dana Repan <[email protected]>; Tom Buford <[email protected]> Cc: Scott Johnson <[email protected]>; Ron Bess <[email protected]> Subject: Notice of Subsequent Project within the Scope of the Master EIR for the 2040 General Plan:
Parks Plan 2040
EXTERNAL EMAIL. Links/attachments may not be safe.
Good Morning,
This email is to inform you that the City of Sacramento, Community Development Department in coordination with the Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment Department as Lead Agency, has issued a Notice of Subsequent within the Scope of the Master
Environmental Impact Report for the 2040 General Plan: Parks Plan 2040.
The Comment Period is from Monday, June 17, 2024, to July 17, 2024.
The document is now available for public review and comment. The notice, along with the Mitigated Negative Declaration is available on the City’s Community Development Department webpage at:
http://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-
Development/Planning/Environmental/Impact-Reports
Comments are invited from all interested parties. Written comments on the Mitigated Negative Declaration should be submitted to the following address NO LATER THAN 4:00 pm on Wednesday, July 17, 2024. All comments should be submitted via email or mailed to:
Tom Buford, Principal Planner
City of Sacramento
Community Development Department
Environmental Planning Services
300 Richards Blvd. 3
rd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 799-1531
[email protected]
777 12th Street, Ste. 300 • Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 279-207-1122 • Toll Free: 800-880-9025
AirQuality.org
July 17, 2024
Tom Buford, Principal Planner
City of Sacramento Community Development Department, Environmental Planning Services 300 Richards Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95811
Subject: Parks Plan 2040
Dear Tom Buford:
Thank you for providing the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (Sac Metro Air District) with the notification of the Parks Plan 2040 Initial Study for Subsequent Projects under the 2040 General Plan Master Environmental Impact Report, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. The Parks Plan 2040 is the City of Sacramento’s guiding document for prioritizing physical and programmatic parks and recreation projects to meet the needs of Sacramento’s evolving community. To support air quality and public health, Sac Metro Air District supports the measures enumerated below.
Trees & Other Urban Cooling Measures
Trees remove particulate matter pollution from the atmosphere and reduce the urban heat island effect, which in turn lowers summertime temperatures, cools buildings, and reduces the formation of ozone. Higher ambient temperatures increase formation of ozone, a respiratory system irritant. During extreme heat and extended heat waves, these higher temperatures can lead to heat stress, heat stroke, and even heat mortality, especially for the elderly, the young, and those with pre-existing health conditions. Greater neighborhood tree canopy has been correlated to improvement of overall human health.
1. Plant trees to shade new and existing pavements to the full extent feasible, with air quality- supportive trees such as those identified in the Sacramento Tree Foundation’s Shady Eighty guide. Where tree canopy is not feasible, consider installing solar canopies to provide shade and generate an accessible source of renewable energy.
2. Include metrics to ensure equitable park expansion in gap service areas, to provide more open space and shade infrastructure in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by pollution and extreme heat. Examples of such neighborhoods are those in “Disadvantaged Community” areas as designated by California’s CalEnviroScreen Assessment Tool.
3. To address service gaps, the Parks Plan 2040 proposes 330 acres of new neighborhood parkland.
This new park acreage should be designed to address Sacramento’s increasingly hofter climate and should incorporate nafive and drought tolerant vegetafion. Reduce the amount of
Parks Plan 2040
pavement and paved surfaces at these neighborhood parks by incorporafing more vegetafion cover and trees.
4. Parkways with trails should have cooling features such as tree shade and water fountains, and should include rest areas with benches and other amenifies for pedestrians, especially as a public health and safety measure during periods of extreme heat in Sacramento.
Sustainable Transportafion
1. There are 169 acres of parkways planned in the Parks Plan 2040. New parkways with trails should be designed to connect neighborhoods to vital community desfinafions, and to create easier access to downtown, through healthy, non-pollufing acfive transportafion modes.
2. Priorifize the locafion of planned parks near transit stafions and stops, and work with Sacramento Regional Transit to ensure opfimal access between transit and park and recreafion facilifies.
3. Ensure electric vehicle, electric bicycle charging stafions, and bikeshare opportunifies along with any motor vehicle parking that serves parks and recreafion facilifies.
Climate Resilience
1. Increase park and open space acreage and green infrastructure for stormwater management in flood prone and repefifive loss areas.
Conclusion
Thank you for your attention to our comments. If you have questions about them, please contact Molly Wright at [email protected] or Brianna Moland at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Molly Wright
Air Quality Planner / Analyst
and
Brianna Moland
Air Quality Planner / Analyst
c: Paul Philley, Program Supervisor
RESOLUTION NO.________
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
ADOPTING AND IMPLEMENTING THE
PARKS PLAN 2040
BACKGROUND:
A. The City desires to adopt and implement the Parks Plan 2040. The Parks Plan 2040 will replace the 2005-2010 Sacramento Parks and Recreation Master Plan and will serve as a 20-year guiding document for YPCE’s annual work planning.
B. The Parks Plan 2040 is a subsequent project under the City’s 2040 General Plan and Master Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and has been developed in conjunction with the 2040 General Plan Update.
C. On August 1, 2024, the Parks and Community Enrichment Commission conducted a noticed public meeting and passed a motion to forward to City Council a recommendation to adopt the Parks Plan 2040.
D. On August 20, 2024, the City Council resolved to approve the environmental review for the Parks Plan 2040 as a subsequent project under the Master EIR for the 2040 General Plan, conducted a noticed public hearing, and considered public testimony concerning the Parks Plan 2040.
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE
CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council has considered all of the evidence submitted into the administrative record, including Resolution 2024- ___ approving the environmental review for the Parks Plan 2040 as a subsequent project under the Master EIR for the 2040 General Plan.
Section 2. Based on the evidence contained in the administrative record, the City Council finds as follows:
(a) Preparation of the draft Parks Plan 2040 included outreach to provide for the involvement and input of local residents, businesses, other public agencies, the California Native American Heritage Commission tribes, public utility providers, and civic, educational, and other community groups. The public review draft of the draft Parks Plan 2040 was referred out for comment to all local and state agencies and all comments received were considered.
(b) The Parks Plan 2040 is a policy and guiding document consistent with the 2040 General Plan and serves to guide Sacramento in its long-term growth and development. The Parks Plan 2040 is a subsequent project of the 2040 General Plan.
(c) The Parks Plan 2040 will replace the 2005 -2010 Sacramento Parks and Recreation Master Plan and will serve as a 20-year guiding document for YPCE’s annual work planning.
Section 3. Approval and Implementation. Based on the administrative record and the foregoing findings, the Parks Plan 2040 is approved.