Title
Adoption of Resolution Approving the Application for Land and Water Conservation Fund Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Project, which Authorizes the City Manager to Submit a Grant Application to the Land and Water Conservation Fund to Design and Construct a Portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park and to Execute All Necessary Documents. (Recreation and Parks 91309)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John A. Russo, City Manager
Re: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit a Grant Application to the Land and Water Conservation Fund to Design and Construct a Portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park to Execute All Necessary Documents.
BACKGROUND
On September 3, 1964, then President Johnson established the "Land and Water Conservation Fund" (LWCF) to assist States in planning, acquisition, and development of recreation lands.
The LWCF program is administered nationally by the National Park Service and locally by the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Office of Grants and Local Services. When a LWCF project is completed, the land within the approved boundary is placed under federal protection to preserve the public's outdoor recreational use of the site in perpetuity for the benefit of our nation's future generations.
DISCUSSION
The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park (Sweeney Park) is a former Alameda Beltline Railroad property that was secured by the City at its original purchase price due the advocacy efforts of long-time resident Jean Sweeney. The property is bounded by Constitution Way, Atlantic Avenue, and Sherman Street. City Council approved the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Master Plan on July 15, 2014.
Sweeney Park, once constructed, will feature a variety of walking and bicycling trails, the Cross Alameda Trail, open space areas, natural-based playgrounds, picnic areas, open lawn, outdoor classroom, community garden, urban orchard and demonstration gardens, public art, a bike skills loop and educational features.
The LWCF grant proposal will serve to augment the total required project funding, which is estimated to be $8 million. The LWCF grant application is due February 3, 2015. Staff is determining the final scope of the application, including the final request amount. The LWCF grant request amount may be no more than $2,000,000.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The LWCF requires a one to one funding match. The grant application is anticipated to be approximately $1,500,000 and the funding match will be from the Regional Active Transportation Program (RATP) grant which the City received in October. Of the RATP grant of $2.231 million, $2,089,000 is for infrastructure and therefore eligible for matching funds. This provides sufficient funds for the matching requirement.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action has no effect on the Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Approval of a park master plan is a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). A Mitigated Negative Declaration was approved for Jean Sweeney Open Space Park on August 1, 2014. The MND finds that the park project has minimal environmental impacts and those that do occur are related to the construction period (e.g. dust, construction traffic, etc.) Those potential impacts are identified and mitigations were adopted on August 1, 2014. No further review is required under CEQA.
RECOMMENDATION
Adoption of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to the Land and Water Conservation Fund to design and construct a portion of the Jean Sweeney Open Space Park and to execute all necessary documents.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Juelle-Ann Boyer, Interim Finance Director