1000 Gateway Avenue ● San Pablo, CA 94806
Main: 510-215-3000 ● Fax: 510-215-3011
www.SanPabloCA.gov
February 3, 2025
U.S. REGULAR MAIL / PERSONAL COURIER
The Honorable Buffy Wicks The Honorable Jesse Arrequin California State Assembly California State Senate
Assembly District No. #14 Senate District No. #7
1021 O Street, Suite 4240 1021 O Street, Suite 6710
Sacramento, CA 95814 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: 2025-26 STATE OF CA BUDGET REQUESTS - CITY OF SAN PABLO
Dear State Assembly Member Wicks and State Senator Arrequin:
On behalf of the City of San Pablo, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to our State Legislators, and your respective staff for your leadership and support for the City of San Pablo over the years.
As the State Legislature begins their work on the 2025-26 State Budget process, I respectfully present a list of capital funding needs from the City that are Gann Appropriations L imit exempt, are critically -needed infrastructure related, and will help improve the quality of life for a low-income, disadvantaged, socio-economic community.
Listed b elow are five (5) high -priority capital project needs, ranked in -order of funding preference, with a brief description and funding amount requested for State Budget earmark consideration.
The City of San Pa blo would be happy to provide a more in -depth discussion on these capital funding requests and answer any specific questions.
I look forward to collaboratively working together to secure State funding to help the San Pablo community.
In partnership:
Arturo Cruz, Mayor
City of San Pablo
cc: Mayor and San Pablo City Council and San Pablo City Manager
CITY OF SAN PABLO PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR 2025-26 STATE BUDGET FUNDING
February 2025
PROJECT #1: LEONARD R. MCNEIL PARK (FORMERLY SPARC PROJECT) Total Project Funding Sources:
• CNRA, Urban Greening Program: $4.79M
• CA State Parks, OGALS: $3.0M
• City of San Pablo: $770,000
Total Engineer’s Estimate for Construction: $9.4M
65% Design Complete, with Project Shortfall: (-$2.0M)
Total State Funding Request: Up to $2 million
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A new, 4.8-acre community park will be built on the site of the former El Portal Elementary School site adjacent to Contra Costa Community College Campus in San Pablo. Named after former San Pablo Mayor and Councilmember, Adjunct Professor at Contra Costa College, and former West County Wastewater District Board of Director Leonard R. McNeil after a +30 -year public service career in San Pablo. During 2024, the City completed extensive community input and completed 65% design elements for future full-service park with complete amenities. However, a preliminary Engineer’s Estimate of $9.4M has been determined to construct the park, with a project shortfall of approximately ( -$2M) to cover the cost of construction. The City desires to conduct a bid advertisement in Spring 2025 for construction award to follow. Need to resolve this imminent project shortfall prior to construction award.
PROJECT #2: ROLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Total State Funding Request: Up to $2 million
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In 2018, the Contra Costa County LAFCO authorized the dissolution of the former Rollingwood Wildart Recreation and Park District (RWRPD) to the County of Contra Costa as its successor agency via LAFCO action on August 8, 2018. In February 2020, the City acquired the RWRPD’s only asset, the Rollingwood Community Center, via an executed Purchase and Sale Agreement with Contra Costa County. The Rollingwood Community Center is located at: 2395 Greenwood Drive, San Pablo (Unincorporated San Pablo, 94806) on a contiguous property with the City’s municipal boundary.
The facility was built in the 1950s and sits vacant and abandoned. It currently requires ADA/UBC upgrades to bathrooms, an upgraded kitchen, and interior and exterior improvements. If one-time capital funds can be secured, the City plans to rehabilitate the facility into a new San Pablo Community Center for park and recreational programming, classes and private rental uses for resident and non- resident use. Currently, the City has one (1) Community Center for its 31,000 residents. An additional Communit y Center use would greatly expand park and recreational opportunities for the general public.
PROJECT #3: EXPANSION OF MUNICIPAL PUBLIC FIBER/WIRELESS NETWORK (PHASE II) Total State Funding Request: Up to $2 million
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The City recently completed Phase I of expanding municipal fiber to City facilities in 2020. Phase II would connect the City’s Maintenance Corporation Yard to the other facilities, and could place traffic signal interconnect in existing conduit along Rumr ill Boulevard, add to the City’s fiber backbone along Rumrill, San Pablo Avenue and Broadway, and connect with Contra Costa College. The City has earmarked a total of $1.25M in ARPA funds allocated to leverage other sources of external funding (TBD) to exp and wireless and internet connectivity to disadvantaged communities to close the digital divide for local businesses, youth and families who need enhanced internet and wireless connectivity.
PROJECT #4: OLD FS#70 SITE EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT (CITY FLEET) Total State Funding Request: Up to $1.0M
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The City proposes to re-purpose the old Fire Station #70 property and buildings, located at 13928 San Pablo Avenue, to become an extension of the City’s PW Corporation Yard. This offsite Annex would include site improvements and installation of EV sustainability infrastructure for the electrification of the City’s to meet State-wide Zero-Emissions Goals by 2035. The City’s current Corporation Yard is grossly undersized, and housing the new EV equipment will overtax the limited power system on-site. The new Annex project site will be better suited for these electric vehicles, and a portion of the City’s maintenance equipment and crews. But, will need some substantial power upgrades to accommodate this new use.
PROJECT #5: REPLACEMENT OF OLD SAN PABLO ARCHWAY PROJECT Total State Funding Request: Up to $2M
______________________________________________________________________________ The City has proposed to demolish and replace the old and outdated San Pablo Archway with a new structurally-sound archway to enhance community outreach, promotion and civic pride.
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