Title
Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Approve and Authorize the Execution of the City’s Grant Application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation Seeking a Grant Award of up to $4.47 Million to Renovate Memorial Park
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution that approves and authorizes the City’s reapplication for up to $4.47 million in grant funding from the State Department of Parks and Recreation to renovate Memorial Park.
BACKGROUND & ANALYSIS
Consistent with the City Council’s previous policy direction to pursue grant opportunities that may help to support City operations and public services, staff identified a potential funding opportunity from the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation. More specifically, as part of the November 2018 election, statewide voters authorized Proposition 68 (the Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018), which authorized $4 billion in general obligation bonds for state and local parks, environmental protection projects, water infrastructure projects, and flood protection projects. Using funds derived from that measure, the State Department of Parks and Recreation created a grant program to which municipalities throughout the state may apply each year for parks renovation projects.
In coordination with the City’s state legislative advocate, Townsend Public Affairs, in 2019 staff examined all City-owned parks and identified Memorial Park as the park that most closely met the application criteria for securing potential funds through the above-referenced grant program. The Recreation and Human Services director subsequently organized community meetings with various local community and non-profit organizations in order to solicit feedback on the types of park amenities that members of the public might want to see at the park, in the event grant funds were awarded. As part of those efforts, a list of potential park amenities was developed, which could include new playground equipment that is accessible to users of all abilities, including those with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities.
The City of San Leandro submitted its application for this grant in the Fall of 2019. Although feedback from State staff indicated that the City’s application was very well conceived, the City was ultimately notified that it was not awarded funding through the program as part of that round of funding, which was highly competitive. Now that a new round of grant funding is available, City staff recommends that the City Council affirm their support for the reapplication of funding for this grant. The estimated total cost of all potential improvements remains unchanged from that which was submitted in 2019 - up to $4.47 million. It’s conceivable that a lower level of funding could be awarded, in which case the scope of the project could be commensurately reduced to align with the funding award level. The grant program does not require any local financial match, beyond the use of staff time and ongoing maintenance costs, which could be absorbed using existing and projected City resources, which are already being utilized to maintain the existing park space. To the extent the City is successfully awarded funding during this round, the City Council would have a subsequent opportunity to review and consider the proposed grant before accepting the grant funds or authorizing any ancillary commitments associated with the grant program.
One of the grant submittal requirements includes a requirement that the City Council adopt a resolution affirming its support for the City’s efforts to re-apply for the grant funding. A copy of the resolution is included in the City Council agenda packet for this item, which is virtually identical to the City Council resolution that was adopted in 2019 for this same purpose.
Fiscal Impacts
None. Adoption of the associated resolution authorizes the grant application only. In the event the City is successful in its efforts to secure grant funding, details of the grant award, including fiscal details, would be presented to the City Council for its review and consideration at a future City Council meeting.
PREPARED BY: Eric Engelbart, Deputy City Manager, City Manager’s Office