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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: June 5, 2024
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Rochelle Clayton, Acting City Manager;
Lydie Gutfeld, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Department: Parks & Recreation & Community Services
Subject: Accept State Funds for Park Land Replacement
Within the City of San Bernardino (Ward 1)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California adopt resolution 2024-135:
1. Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to accept state funds administered through the California Natural Resources Agency for a Park Land Replacement Project in the amount of $5,000,000; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to conduct all negotiations, signing, and submittals of necessary documents to receive the awarded funds; and
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the FY 2023/24 Operating Budget in the amount of $5,000,000 in both revenue and expenditures to appropriate the state funds.
Executive Summary
The City received notification of state fund appropriations administered through the California Natural Resources Agency for a Park Land Replacement Project in the amount of $5,000,000. The funds will be used to replace current park land at Seccombe Lake Park that will be used for a new affordable housing project.
Background
The California Natural Resources Agency contacted the City of San Bernardino to notify their administration of state funds to the City in the amount of $5,000,000 in funding to replace the park land at Seccombe Lake Park. This report is intended to accept the award and to commence the grant process to receive awarded funds. The funds need to be allocated to ensure the project can be completed within the period of 2 1
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performance with a project completion date of 12/31/2026.
Discussion
The Seccombe Lake Park in the City of San Bernardino is a 44-acre park just east of downtown. It is the second largest open space in the city. The park is one of the jewels of San Bernardino, featuring bandstands, a lake, and other amenities. In 2022, the City Council committed $9 million in ARPA funds to renovate and restore Seccombe Lake Park. The park resides in one of the lowest income areas of not only San Bernardino, but the entire county, with the average household income within a half mile radius of the park at only $26,000.
With household income so low, the demand for affordable housing in the area is extremely high. In an effort to provide additional affordable housing units to the area near Seccombe Lake Park, the San Bernardino Mayor and City Council in January of 2023 entered into an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with the Richman Group to explore developing 12.5 acres of Seccombe Lake Park’s exterior with between 250 and 300 new housing units. The ENA requires “at least 40 percent of the total number of housing units developed on the site shall be affordable to households whose incomes are equal to, or less than, 75 percent of the maximum income of lower income households, and at least half of those units shall be affordable to very low-income households.”
Under the Public Park Preservation Act of 1971, park land that is sold must be replaced with new park land and facilities that are of equivalent value. As a result, the City must construct a new park for the proposed affordable housing development to move forward.
The City has identified a 20-acre parcel on Sixth Street, approximately 0.6 miles from Seccombe Lake Park, that could be used to develop a new 12.5 acre park. 2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
This request aligns with Key target 3c. Improved Quality of Life - Constantly evaluate public safety service delivery models to enhance the quality of service. If approved, the City will leverage State funding to support the development of a new park and affordable housing at Seccombe Lake.
Fiscal Impact
The FY 2023/24 Operating Budget will be amended in the amount of $5,000,000 in both revenues and expenditures. There will be no impact to the General Fund with this item. As the project develops, any General Fund impact will be brought forward for Council consideration and approval.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California adopt resolution 2024-135:
1. Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to accept state funds administered through the California Natural Resources Agency for a Park Land Replacement 2 1
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Project in the amount of $5,000,000; and
2. Authorizing the City Manager or his designee to conduct all negotiations, signing, and submittals of necessary documents to receive the awarded funds; and
3. Authorizing the Director of Finance and Management Services to amend the FY 2023/24 Operating Budget in the amount of $5,000,000 in both revenue and expenditures to appropriate the state funds.
Attachments
Attachment 1 – Resolution 2024-135 Accept State Funds for Park Land Replacement Project
Ward:
First Ward
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
No previous action.