SR 04-25-2017 8B
Ci ty Council
Report
City Council Meeting : April 25, 2017
Agenda Item: 8.B
1 of 6
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Director , Community & Cultural Services
Subject: Planning for Potential Parks Funding
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
R eview and comment on the concept of a potential park fundi ng measure, provide
direction to staff, and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a fourth
modification to agreement #10141 in the amount of $51,350 with Goodwin Simon
Strategic Research, a California -based company, to conduct a resident surv ey to gauge
support for a potential park funding strategy. This will result in a four year amended
agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $273,800.
Executive Summary
In August 2015, Council identified “Learn + Thrive” as one of its top Strategic Goals .
The City of Santa Monica Wellbeing Index also identified that “spending time outdoors,
whether exercising or relaxing brings both emotional and physical benefits. Santa
Monica’s parks provide clear opportunities for community members to thrive by
providing places for residents to recreate, meet friends and be active. For many of our
residents who live in multi -family housing, the C ity’s parks and the beach are their front
and back yards. Based upon the 2016 Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs
Asse ssment, Santa Monica has 1.4 acres of parkland/1000 residents which is well
below the countywide average of 3.3 acres for every 1000 residents.
While expanding park acreage in Santa Monica is desired, future funding for parks
expansion and for upgrades to existing parks will be very limited due to budget realities,
hampering the ability to implement a number of the projects that Council has already
funded for design . Therefore , it is timely to explore a possible local funding measure for
the November 2018 b allot. In order to assess voter opinions regarding a local parks
funding measure, staff recommends a contract modification in the amount of $51,350
for the City’s contracted survey research firm, Goodwin Simon Strategic Research to
complete up to two tele phone surveys to assess resident support. Additionally, staff
has selected TBWB Strategies to provide strategic advisory services for a potential
bond measure at a cost of $78,000 which is within the City Manager’s budget authority.
Background
Santa Mon ica has a long history of investing in its parks, beach and recreational
2 of 6
facilities as supported by both the Parks and Recreation Master Plan (Attachment A)
and the City’s Open Space Element (Attachment B). Santa Monica’s first Parks and
Recreation Master Plan , completed in 1997 , was intended to guide improvements of the
City’s parks and recreational facilities for twenty years. The plan recognized that these
improvements would add to the livability of the City and would build a sense of
community by creat ing opportunities for physical, social and cultural interaction. Since
1997, the City has increased its park acreage from 112.7 acres to 137 acres, providing
a range of places and amenities for community members to exercise, experience
nature, socialize w ith others, participate in cultural events and enjoy the outdoors ,
helping people thrive, stay healthy and build community . In addition to increasing park
acreage, existing park and beach facilities have been improved over the past two
decades resulting in upgraded amenities and new features that address emerging
trends . Historically , funding for these improvements has come from a variety of sources
including the City’s General Fund; City Enterprise funds (i .e. Beach Fund); Santa
Monica Redevelopment Agenc y funds; g rants from County, State and Federal
government sources; private donations and a range of development fees assessed
through the Municipal Code and as part of negotiated Development Agreements .
These funding sources alone will not be sufficient to fulfill the future park needs of Santa
Monica reducing the City’s ability to close the gap between the current park acreage as
it relates to the City’s population (1.4 acres for every 1000 residents) and the county wide
average of parkland (3.3 acres for every 1000 residents).
In November, 2016 Los Angeles County voters supported the passage of the Safe,
Clean, Neighborhood Parks and Beaches ballot measure (Measure A) by more than the
2/3 super majority required. As a parcel tax, it will provide direct funding to Santa
Monica on a per capita basis for parks improvements beginning in July, 2018. It is
estimated by the County that Santa Monica will receive approximately $10 million over a
10 -year period as well as be eligible for competitive grant funds . This funding, while
beneficial, will not be sufficient for the projects Santa Monica envisions.
In November 2016, Santa Monica voters also approved Santa Monica College Measure
V supporting capital improvements at SMC as well as several joint use projec ts in Santa
3 of 6
Monica and Malibu including up to $20 million in bond funds for the expansion of
Memorial Park to accommodate soccer and/or other field sports for use by College
students and the general public. It is contemplated that these funds would need to be
supplemented by additional fund ing to achieve a full upgrade and transformation of
Memorial Park inclusive of redesign of the recreation buildings to better meet
community needs .
At the State level two similar park funding bills are being considered for the June 2018
ballot. AB18 the California Clean Water, Climate and Coastal Protection and Outdoor
Access for All Act of 2018 would authorize the issuance of $3 billion in General
Obligation bonds for a variety of open space improvements throughout th e state
including local park improvements. Similarly, SB5, the California Drought, Water,
Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access For All Act of 2018 would also
authorize the issuance of $3 billion in General Obligation bonds for open space
improvements. At this time there is no certainty that either of these bills will be signed by
the Governor and advance to the June 2018 ballot. With assistance from the City’s
lobbyist staff will continue to monitor these potential measures.
Discussion
W hile park maintenance and operations funding is an important consideration, the most
significant shortfall is in capital funding to acquire, design and construct additional parks
and park facilities. With the 2012 elimination of the Santa Monica Redevelop ment
Agency, the City lost a major source of funding for capital improvement projects. The
remaining sources of funding as described in the Background section above are
insufficient to fund major park expansion or renovation projects. A preliminary list of
projects that could be supported through a local capital funding measure include:
The 12 -acre expansion of Airport Park which currently has funding for design
only;
A permanent sports field in the Civic Center with subterranean parking to offset
the loss of existing surface parking ;
Implementation of a full renovation of Memorial Park ;
Planning for the transformation of the Airport to park land following its closure ;
4 of 6
Identification of potential joint use opportunities with School District as well as land
acquisition and park development opportunities for future park expansion in
underserved neighborhoods
A general obligation (GO) bond, which would require approval by two thirds of the
voters, would provide the most capital funding at once for parks in Santa Monica. Other
methods to create a local funding source, which would still require a financing
mechanism such as a lease revenue bond to generate funding up front, would require
voter -approved increases to City tax rates to pay for the a nnual debt service. Additional
consideration would need to be given to funding streams for operating costs into the
future. Community support for a GO Bond or other funding mechanism can be gauged
through polling. The recommended poll would survey 600 Sa nta Monica voters. The poll
could gauge voter preferences regarding the use of the new City proceeds for parks.
For example , a poll could test whether voters find that new parks and open space or
improvements to existing parks, cultural services or some ot her use to be most
compelling. The proposed budget includes sufficient funding to poll twice should it be
necessary.
Recreation and Parks Commission
The Recreation and Parks Commission will discuss the concept of a park funding
measure at their meeting on April 20, 2017. Staff will provide the Council with an oral
report summarizing the Commission’s discussion and any action at the Council meeting.
V endor/Consultant Selection
In 2014, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a public opi nion and
research consulting firm to conduct the citywide telephone survey. Following review of
proposals by an interdepartmental evaluation committee, on June 28, 2015, Council
authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with Goodwin
Simon Strategic Research to prepare citywide Resident Satisfaction Surveys. There
have been three amendments to this contract to date for two polls regarding affordable
housing prior to placing measures GSH and GS on the November 2016 ballot and a
survey of travel behaviors in 2016 to gain a better understanding of travel patterns of
5 of 6
Santa Monica residents. Given the firm’s familiarity with Santa Monica and experience
in polling Santa Monica residents for various measures, staff recommends a fourth
amendme nt to the existing contract with Goodwin Simon Strategic Research .
On March 16, 2017 the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) #31717 for Strategic
Advisory Services fo r this potential bond measure with the intent that the selected
consultant would work in collaboration with City staff and Goodwin Simon Strategic
Research to provide advice, recommendations and support in the following areas.
Expected voter acceptance or antipathy towards prospective GO bond measure;
Input towards draft survey instrument ;
Review of survey results;
Advise on likelihood of passage of potential GO Bond measure;
Development of communication strategies to support voter consideration;
including strategies to engage key stakeholders;
The RFP was posted on the City’s on line bid ding site and closed on March 30, 2017.
Sixty vendors downloaded the RFP and four firms responded. Responses to the RFP
were reviewed by a selection panel of staff from the Community & Cultural Services and
Finance d epartment s . Following interviews o n April 11 and April 12, 2017, it was
determined that TBWB Strategies is the most qualified firm and best bidder based on
overall approach and work plan, the team’s qualifications, and experience with similar
proposed ballot measures . Staff intends to pr oceed with entering into a contract with
TBWB Strategies in the amount of $78,000 which is within the City Manager’s contract
authority.
Next Steps
With Council approval, initial polling of residents regarding support for a park bond
measure would b e anticipated to occur later this spring. Staff would then return to
Council with results of the polling and recommended next steps, with the understanding
that Council action would be needed by summer 2018 to place a measure on the
November 2018 ballot .
Concurrently staff is proceeding with a number of parks related activities as follows:
6 of 6
D evelopment of final plans and the EIR for the 12 -acre Airport Park expansion
anticipating that the Council would consider certification of the Final EIR this fall ;
Co mpletion of the Civic Field feasibility study and progress on a potential
partnership with SMMUSD for a permanent field with subterranean parking
return ing to Council in June;
L aunch of the Memorial Park masterplan in FY17 -18 using funds identified in the
FY17 -19 Capital Improvement Program budget
Initiate update to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan in FY17 -18.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The contract modification with Goodwin Simon Strategic Research is $51,340, for an
amended contract tota l not to exceed $273,800 . Funds are available in the FY 2016 -17
Community and Cultural Services Department budget . The contract will be charged to
account 01501.555060 .
Prepared By: Karen Ginsberg, Director
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachmen ts:
A. Parks and Recreation Master Plan (weblink)
B. Open Space Element (weblink)
C. Oaks Initiative - TBWB Strategies rev
D. 2017 Oaks Initiative Goodwin Simon rev
E. Written Comments
F. PowerPoint
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Council Mailbox
Sent:Monday, April 24, 2017 6:02 PM
To:Ted Winterer; Gleam Davis; Pam OConnor; Sue Himmelrich; Terry O’Day; Kevin
McKeown Fwd; Tony Vazquez
Cc:councilmtgitems; Elaine Polachek; Karen Ginsberg
Subject:FW: Potential Park Bond
Council ‐
Please see the email below re: potential park bond.
Thank you,
Stephanie
From: Carrey, Neil [mailto:ncarrey@bakerlaw.com]
Sent: Monday, April 24, 2017 5:07 PM
To: Council Mailbox <Council.Mailbox@SMGOV.NET>
Subject: Potential Park Bond
I saw on the Agenda that tomorrow you will be discussing looking into the feasibility of a park bond. I have sat
on a number of school bond advisory committees for the School District and chaired several of them and
therefore understand the complexities that arise with bonds and why a feasibility study is very importa nt. In
addition, from 12 years on Recs and Parks and now as President of the Santa Monica Airport2Parks
Foundation, I believe I have a pretty good understanding of park needs in Santa Monica but also of community
interest in parks and playing fields and which ones. What is important with a City Park Bond, is that there
must be something in it for many different people and consideration of present needs as well as future
needs. All of this needs to be factored into to any potential park bond and in any feasibility study. For
instance, any park bond done in 2018 must at a minimum address the needs of the Civic Center Playing Field,
Memorial Park expansion and the expansion of Airport Park. However, in addition, any park bond must
address and provide for the future needs of closing of the Airport and turning into a park.
Neil Carrey
Of Counsel
11601 Wilshire Boulevard | Suite 1400
Los Angeles, CA 90025-0509
T +1.310.442.8835
ncarrey@bakerlaw.com
bakerlaw.com
This email is intended only for the use of the party to which it is
addressed and may contain information that is privileged,
confidential, or protected by law. If you are not the intended
recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying
Item 8-B
4/25/17
1 of 4 Item 8-B
4/25/17
2
or distribution of this email or its contents is strictly prohibited.
If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately
by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.
Any tax advice in this email is for information purposes only. The content
of this email is limited to the matters specifically addressed herein
and may not contain a full description of all relevant facts or a
complete analysis of all relevant issues or authorities.
Internet communications are not assured to be secure or clear of
inaccuracies as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost,
destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. Therefore,
we do not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions that are
present in this email, or any attachment, that have arisen as a result
of e-mail transmission.
Item 8-B
4/25/17
2 of 4 Item 8-B
4/25/17
1
Vernice Hankins
From:Carol Lemlein <lemlein@aol.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 25, 2017 2:22 PM
To:councilmtgitems
Cc:Karen Ginsberg
Subject:Agenda Item 8B on tonight's council agenda
Council members,
I am writing on behalf of the Board of th e Santa Monica Conservancy to suggest that
you consider requesting that the survey describ ed in this agenda item be designed to
include determination whether a General Obligation Bond supporting both park and
cultural funding would receive more support from the public than one supporting only
parks.
Specifically, we suggest that the Bond measure could include funding toward
the rehabilitation and revitalization of th e Civic Auditorium as a performance venue,
thus broadening the base of po tential supporters. The timing of the survey is such that
the possibility of City fundin g toward the Civic rehabilitation could be included in the RFP
for the Civic which is expected to be issued later this ye ar and could contribute to a
more successful result.
Sincerely,
Carol Lemlein
President, Santa Monica Conservancy
www.smconservancy.org
lemlein@aol.com
310-729-1165
Item 8-B
4/25/17
3 of 4 Item 8-B
4/25/17
1
Vernice Hankins
From:John Cyrus Smith <johncysmith@gmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, April 25, 2017 6:42 PM
To:Kevin McKeown; Ted Winterer; Pam OConno r; Tony Vazquez; Terry O’Day; Sue
Himmelrich; Gleam Davis; Rick Cole; Clerk Mailbox; Clerk Mailbox
Subject:ITEM 8B PARKS BOND SURVEY FUNDING
You're probably just getting out of your closed session...
Had to work but wanted to say the Recreation an d Parks Commission unanimously approved a motion urging
the Council to approve the f unding for a parks bond survey.
We had a presentation about it Thursday and the Commissi on believes a survey is the best initial step forward
toward an eventual Parks Bond.
Commission members have also gone beyond the survey stage and met with groups like Airport2 Park, who
also support the idea.
I've also come up with an initial li st of projects and costs that includes those mentioned in the staff report and
others as well.
The Commission stands ready to he lp you formulate and push forward on both the survey and the bond measure
in any way we can.
Tonight is a great first step.
Thank you,
John Cyrus Smith
JohnCySmith@gmail.com
Item 8-B
4/25/17
4 of 4 Item 8-B
4/25/17
PLANNING FOR
PO TENTIAL P ARKS FUNDING
CITY COUNCIL
April 25, 2017
BA CK GROUND
•Pa rk s &Re creation Master Plan
Ø Increased par k acreag e fr om 112 .7 to
137 acres
City Council |April 25, 2017
•LA County Measure A
•Santa Monica Colleg e Measure V
•Pr oposed State wide Funding Measures (June 2018 )
Ø AB 18 &SB 5
City Council |April 25, 2017
NEW FUNDING SOURCES
PO TENTIAL L OCAL
FUNDING MEASURE
Candidate Pr ojects :
Ø Airpor t Pa rk 12 acre ex pansion
Ø Pe rm anent Civic spor ts field with par king
Ø Complete renov ation of Memorial Pa rk renov ation
Ø Planning fo r Airpor t transf or mation to par kland
Ø Joint use oppor tunities with SMMUSD
Ø Land acquisition
City Council |April 25, 2017
COMMISSION A CTION
& NEXT STEPS
Re creation &Pa rk s Commission :
Ø Suppor t polling fo r a potential local par ks funding measure
Ø Include soda tax questions
Ne xt steps :
Ø Re sident polling this spring
Ø Council action needed by summer 2018
City Council |April 25, 2017
RECOMMEND AT ION
•Comment and pr ovide direction to staff on concept of potential local par k
funding measure
•Authorize City Manag er to ex ecute contract modification with Good win Simon
Strategic Re searc h fo r $51 ,340 fo r polling
City Council |April 25, 2017
REFERENCE:
Modified Agreement
No. 10141