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Home My WebLink About06-01-2017 Item 1, StanwyckCOUNCIL MEETING: 2 -7 ITEM NO.: _ Council Memorandum Date: May 30, 2017 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: Shelly Stanwyck, Parks and Recreation Director VIA: Katie Lichtig, City Manager ?� SUBJECT: Questions Regarding the City's Parkland Development Fund R&CEIVCD MAY 3 0 2017 SI_C� Clil' C[ FRS Since the proposed 2017-19 Financial Plan was published, members of the community raised several questions regarding General Fund monies allocated to the Parkland Development Fund during the adoption of the 2016-17 budget (called the "Supplemental Budget" because this is the second year of the Financial Plan) and the policies providing guidance about a park in the North Broad Street/Foothill neighborhood. Several council members requested more information on this topic which lead to this agenda correspondence. When and how was $900,000 allocated to the Parkland Fund from the General Fund? On June 14, 2016 Council considered the Supplemental Budget for the 2015-17 Financial Plan. On a 3-2 vote (Marx, Ashbaugh and Carpenter voting yes, Christianson and Rivoire voting no), the Council adopted Resolution 10728 (2016 Series) approving the 2015-17 Financial Plan Supplement, adopting the 2016-17 Budget, amending the Fund Balance and Reserve Policy, shifting $900,000 from the proposed General Fund CIP Infrastructure Designation to the Parkland Development Fund for acquisition of parkland in the Broad Street area near Highway 101 and Foothill Boulevard (emphasis added), and authorizing staff to make any other changes necessary to reflect Council Direction. What direction by Council has been given to staff regarding this specific allocation? No further direction has been given by Council regarding this allocation. Specific direction is required pursuant to City' Financial Policies to begin the process of identifying and negotiating with a property owner to acquire real property. What does the 2017-2019 Financial Plan propose? The Council considered the Capital Improvement Plan list during Strategic Budget direction on April 18, 2017. At this meeting, the Council directed staff to explore funding for the following projects: Parks and Recreation Element update, Broad Street Bike Boulevard, Pacheco/Bishop Peak Safe Route to School and Laguna Lake maintenance/restoration. The proposed Financial Plan proposes to transfer $640,000 from the General Fund portion of the Parkland Development Fund set aside as part of the 2016-17 Supplemental Budget for potential use toward funding of a park north of Broad Street (original set aside amount was $900,000). 2017-2019 PARKLAND FUND Page 2 This allocation will fund an update to the Parks and Recreation Element in the amount of $160,000 and two Capital Improvement Projects (Bishop Peak/Pacheco Safe Route to School and the Broad Street Bike Boulevard) in the same geographic area for a total of $480,000. The funding for Laguna Lake was not reallocated from the Parkland Development Fund (other projects were adjusted to facilitate this project). In proposing this reallocation of funding staff believes these projects will directly benefit the Broad Street Neighborhood (the same neighborhood where the funding would have been spent on the unidentified park) and is consistent with the Council's request to fund these previously unfunded projects. The remainder amount of $260,000 is proposed to remain in the Parkland Development Fund. What does the Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan Say About this Unmet Need? For historical context this link http://www.slocity.org/jzoyerntnent/department-directaMyparks- and-recreation will take Council members to the Parks and Recreation page and the 1982 Parks and Recreation Element, 1995 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, and 2001 Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan. Amongst those documents a neighborhood park in the North Broad Street/Foothill Boulevard area is first identified in 2001. The 2001 Parks and Recreation Element has goals, policies and programs (actions) which relate to unmet recreational needs. Page 24 has a list of 10 major unmet needs where a neighborhood park in the Broad Street is mentioned. As identified almost 20 years ago the major unmet parks and recreational facility needs are as follows (notably several of the unmet needs still exist): 1. Athletic Fields. 2. Multi -use community center and therapy pool. 3. Mini -parks — Purple Sage Lane, Eto Street 4. Multi -use trails for recreational use and to connect to facilities 5. Lighted Tennis Courts 6. Neighborhood parks: In Broad Street area near Highway 101 and Foothill Blvd. 7. Upgrading and replacement of playground equipment. 8. Specialty facilities such as disc golf, dog parks, BMX parks. 9. Mini -parks in underserved areas where neighborhood parks do not adequately meet needs — Marsh and Santa Rosa Streets, Terrace Hill, Royal Way 10. Bocce ball facility. Policy 2.53 Neighborhood Parks provides general policy direction about neighborhood parks for residents. More specifically, 2.53.1 San Luis Obispo residents shall have access to a neighborhood park within .5 to 1.0 mile of walking distance of their residence. For reference Attachment A is a map of North Broad Street/Foothill Boulevard neighborhood and current parks within that distance. Lastly, Appendix B of the 2001 Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan has two lists for years zero to four and five to 10 of the Plan for park acquisition and implementation. The Broad Street Park is last on the list of years five to 10. Many of the projects on these lists have not been completed. 2017-2019 PARKLAND FUND 3 What other funding allocations comprise the City's Parkland Fund? Aside from the one time general fund allocation discussed above, the Parkland Fund is the cumulation of impact fees paid by residential development for "park in lieu fees". The use of these fees is governed by the Quimby Act in California. Generally, park in lieu fees must be used specifically for the enhancement of existing parks or construction of new parks and/or amenities that benefit the subdivision from which the fees are collected. Two capital improvement projects are proposed to be funded from these impact fees in the proposed 2017-19 Financial Plan including lights for Sinsheimer Park Tennis Courts ($204,000) and Pickleball Courts at French Park ($60,000). Bishop Peak t Miles 0 0.1 0.2 0.4 N S L 0 G I S w E ,�i� San Luis Obispo �•. GeographidnfornationSidem S Openspace Parks 6- ® Cerro San Luis Foothills Neighborhood 3o n ,3 Anholm Neighborhood 1/2 Mile Radius from Park: Anholm Park r Santa Rosa Park Throop Park Park egg � SWek ret Cerro San L Anhalm Rosa Park