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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC_PR Update_03.03.2021 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Report Meeting Date: 03/03/2021 Item Number: DATE: March 3, 2021 FROM: Greg Avakian, Parks and Recreation Director Prepared By: Shawna Scott, Senior Planner, Community Development SUBJECT: Parks + Recreation Blueprint for the Future: 2021-2041 Parks and Recreation Plan and General Plan Element Update RECOMMENDATION 1. Receive presentation on the introduction of the Parks + Recreation Blueprint for the Future: 2021-2041 (Parks and Recreation Plan and General Plan Element Update) BACKGROUND During the September 4, 2019 public meeting1, the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) received a presentation from the project consultant, WRT, on the Park-by-Park Assessment, which included: a review of the full list of City park and recreation facilities; identification of the general physical condition of each site; any relevant issues pertaining to site access and use; and park-specific recommendations communicated by members of the public and the PRC during the Plan Update process. Based on these factors, the presentation included preliminary park improvement recommendations and each park was classified according to what type of improvements are needed. The September PRC meeting was the first opportunity for public consideration of these preliminary project recommendations, and WRT- recommended tier designations including: Tier 1, Critical Park Improvements (Maintenance); Tier 2, Strategic Park Improvements, Improvement of Existing Parks/Facilities; and Tier 3, “Visionary” Park Improvements, New Opportunities. Following WRT’s presentation and public comment, the PRC provided direction to staff to develop a list of potential visionary and aspirational programs, parks, facilities, and specific projects. At the November 6, 2019 public meeting, staff presented Draft Themes/Strategies, Goals, and Concepts for PRC and public review, which will further inform the revised project list.2 Based on public comments and questions and statements from the PRC, additional information including presentation of quantified needs and deficiencies based on national standards was identified as a key component to determine what projects should be included and prioritized in the Plan Update. 1 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Report, September 2019, available here. 2 Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda Report, November 2019, available here. City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 2 On March 4, 2020,3 Staff provided additional information for the PRC to consider, including a Recreation Amenities and Level of Service Analysis that identified standards for parkland and recreation and facility amenities based on the City’s current and future resident and daytime populations. Information presented included potential locations for identified new facilities and amenities. It was recognized by Staff and the PRC that these standards provide the base minimum to serve identified populations, and that the City should strive to exceed these standards. In addition to the base needs, aspirational amenities identified by the community were also recognized as important to include in the Update. At the July 8, 2020 PRC meeting4, staff presented a Draft Vision, Goals, and Policies document and received comments and direction from the PRC. The Vision statements, Goals, and Policies as amended based on PRC input were incorporated into the Public Draft Plan Update. The draft cost estimates for park and facilities amenities were also presented during this PRC meeting. During the September 2, 2020 PRC meeting5, the City’s consultant team, inclusive of Wallace Group and PROS Consulting, presented draft capital and operational cost estimates for park and facility amenities for the PRC’s review. The identified costs include the initial capital investment, and operation and maintenance of parks and amenities. This information was provided to the PRC and the public, which helped inform future project prioritization incorporated into the Public Draft Plan Update. At the October 6, 20206 and November 4, 20207, staff requested, and the PRC provided, additional feedback regarding the following questions: 1. What are the amenities that are most important to prioritize, understanding operation and maintenance costs? Consider near-term (0 to 5-year, 5 to 10-year) and long-term (10 to 20- year) timeframes. 2. What are the parks and facilities that are most important? What parks and facilities should be our highest priority to improve? What spaces? 3. What is the right fit between amenities and parks (what amenities should be where)? Through this additional dialogue with the PRC, staff was able to: • Establish the overarching philosophy for the Plan Update; • Identify project priorities for the near-term (0-5 year), mid-term (5-10 year), and long-term (10- 20 year) timeframes; and • Clarify appropriate amenities to be considered within existing and new parks and facilities. This information was incorporated into the Public Draft Plan Update. 3 PRC Agenda Report, March 2020, available here 4 PRC Agenda Report, July 8, 2020, available here 5 PRC Agenda Report, September 2, 2020, available here 6 PRC Agenda Report, October 7, 2020, available here 7 PRC Agenda Report, November 4, 2020, available here City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 3 PARKS AND RECREATION PLAN AND ELEMENT UPDATE Following three years of outreach, public workshops and forums, and focused review by the PRC, the Public Draft Parks and Recreation Plan and Element Update (Public Draft Plan Update) is now available. This hearing is intended to introduce the Draft Plan Update prior to the March Virtual Community Workshop, with the anticipation that the PRC and the public will have time to review the document prior to the Workshop, and prior to the next PRC meeting in April. The public is encouraged to attend the Workshop and public hearings on this item and provide comments as the Public Draft Plan Update proceeds through the hearing process. The document and links to opportunities for public comment are available here: https://www.slocity.org/parksandrecreationelementupdate City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 4 As this is the first opportunity for the PRC and the public to review the Public Draft Plan Update, the following discussion provides a brief guide to the structure and content of the document. The first thing the PRC and the public may notice is the updated title, which has been modified to be more visionary, aspirational, and inclusive: Parks + Recreation Blueprint for the Future: 2021-2041 Parks and Recreation Plan and General Plan Element Update The Plan Update will be an essential guide for parks and recreation in San Luis Obispo, while also serving as the General Plan Parks and Recreation Element; goals and policies are embedded in the City’s larger blueprint for future growth and change. The Plan Update also serves to support, supplement, and advance the goals of the City’s Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery8, and Active Transportation Plan9. Implementation of the Plan supports and strives to ensure that City’s parks, facilities, and programs will be inclusive, safe, and accessible to all people. The Plan is divided into five chapters: Chapter 1 introduces the planning process and overarching goals of the plan. The Plan includes the following six Guiding Themes, which permeate through the Plan’s recommendations, goals, and policies: • Design Excellence • Stewardship and Sustainability • Inclusion and Access • Building Community • Partnerships and Public Engagement • Good Governance Chapter 2 takes a deeper look at San Luis Obispo through demographic analysis and its parks through a detailed inventory. This information was presented to the PRC and the public in the approved Community Needs Assessment Report. Chapter 3 provides a summary of the extensive community engagement conducted in association with the Plan Update. This information was presented to the PRC and the public in the adopted Community Needs Assessment Report, and subsequent updates presented to the PRC. Chapter 4 provides the detailed policies that flow from five system-wide goals. The draft goals and policies were presented to the PRC in July 2020 and have been expanded and updated based on continued public input, continued staff review, and to maintain consistency with the adopted Climate Action Plan and Active Transportation Plan and Recommendations to City Council for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the City of San Luis Obispo10. 8 Climate Action Plan for Community Recovery (August 2020), available here 9 Active Transportation Plan (February 2021), available here 10 Recommendations to City Council for Advancing DEI (January 2021), available here City of San Luis Obispo, Title, Subtitle Parks and Recreation Plan and General Plan Element Update Page 5 The five goals include: • Build Community and Neighborhoods: City Parks and Recreational facilities should build and connect community through inclusive and diverse amenities and programming. • Meet the Changing Needs of the Community: Leverage regionalism and creatively increase the number of City parks, recreational facilities and amenities, to meet user needs. • Sustainability: The City’s Parks and Recreation facilities will be vibrant, resilient, and sustainable. • Optimize Resources: Establish, maintain, and operate parks, facilities, and programs in a manner that is cost effective and manageable while engaging the community in a manner that optimizes involvement and support. • Safety: Provide safe, accessible, inclusive, and well-maintained City parks, recreational facilities, and amenities. Chapter 5 provides the details around implementation and funding strategy, including phasing and priority projects. This chapter was informed by public comment and PRC feedback on project prioritization for the near term (0-5 year), mid-term (5-10 year), and long-term (10-20 year) timeframes. This is the first opportunity for the PRC and the public to review the consolidation of information into an Implementation chapter. Park and facility improvements can be understood in three tiers: Tier 1, Critical Park Improvements (Maintenance); Tier 2, Strategic Park Improvements, Improvement of Existing Parks/Facilities; and Tier 3, “Visionary” Park Improvements, New Opportunities. Tier 3 park and facility needs and priorities identified in the Draft Plan Update are grouped by park classification (i.e., neighborhood parks, community parks) and are then presented in alphabetical order. Project priorities are identified by phase (near-term, mid-term, and long-term). For quick reference, Tier 3 park and facility needs and priorities are also summarized in Table 5-1 of the Draft Plan Update. QUESTIONS FOR PRC As the PRC reviews the document prior to the March Public Workshop and April meeting, staff suggests consideration of the following questions: 1. Are modifications to Chapter 5 needed, including Draft Plan Update Table 5-1 Phasing of Tier 3 Park Improvements? 2. Does the Draft Plan represent the community as a whole and ‘tell the story’ regarding the community engagement opportunities to this point? 3. Is there more the Draft Plan can provide to further incorporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion? 4. Is there anything missing from the Draft Plan Update that would be important to include?