SR 05-23-2022 5J
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 23, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.J
1 of 7
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Architecture Services
Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds from the
State of California Department of Parks and Recreation Land and Water
Conservation Fund Grant Funding
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Statutory Exemption pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)(Common
Sense Exemption) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Guidelines that the grant application will have no possibility of significant effects.
2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the application for grant funds in the
amount of $6 million from the California Department of Parks and Recreation
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Program for the Memorial Park
Expansion Project in the Public Works Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the
grant, accept the grant, if awarded, and accept all grant renewals, if awarded.
Summary
Staff recommends that the City apply for $6 million in Land and Water Conservation
Fund (LWCF) funding to move forward with the Memorial Park Expansion Project
phase 1 at an estimated cost of $26 million. Expanding Memorial Park is a long-
standing priority project for Santa Monica residents. Through multiple planning
processes, staff has developed an actionable initial scope of work that would begin to
address expressed community needs for this area. Santa Monica can access up to $20
million for phase I of the Memorial Park Expansion project through a 2016 Santa Monica
College (SMC) bond measure (Measure V) and continues to seek additional funds,
including through grants, to support this project in the context of limited local resources.
5.J
Packet Pg. 499
2 of 7
The LWCF is a federal funding source established to assist states in planning,
acquisition, and development of recreation lands. The California Department of Parks
and Recreation (DPR) administers LWCF funds at the state level. The LWCF program
is a competitive grant open to state and local agencies throughout California. In 2022,
the agency awarded $45 million to fund 16 projects out of a total of $116 million in
applications. In early 2023, the DPR Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS)
announced $30 million in LWCF funding for California state and local agencies. Local
agencies can request up to $6 million for development or acquisition of land that either
creates or expands existing parks. The granting agency will announce initial awards
around December 2023, with approximate project start dates from late 2024 to late
2025 following post-award federal requirements. The LWCF grant application requires
an authorizing resolution from the local governing body.
Background
The City of Santa Monica parks system includes 32 parks encompassing more than 130
acres. Memorial Park was established in the 1950s and is geographically located in the
center of the City. It is important to the overall park system, serving as the primary park
for baseball and softball, offering a space for pickleball and tennis and being the home
of the City’s only public gymnasium and skate park.
The Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Project would combine the existing
10.3-acre Memorial Park with the former Fisher Lumber site – a City-owned, 2.9-acre
property adjacent to the existing park – into a 13.2-acre newly renovated and expanded
community park that meets the increasing demand for recreational activities. An
extensive community outreach process guided the development of a master plan layout
and park program with an estimated cost of $100-$116 million, for the future renovation
and expansion of Memorial Park that would include additional diamond sports fields and
other highly desired community amenities.
In 2019, following master plan approval, staff coordinated with SMC and SMMUSD to
develop a phase 1 of the project at an estimated cost of $30 million, with proposed
funding of $20 million from SMC Measure V funds, and $5 million each from SMMUSD
5.J
Packet Pg. 500
3 of 7
Measure SMS bonds and City of Santa Monica Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
budget funds, conditioned on programmed joint use of the completed facilities. The City
moved forward with a design-build contract award in February 2020, but suspended the
project later that year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Staff returned to Council in fall 2022 for a study session to consider next steps for the
Memorial Park Expansion Project. Staff presented a reduced scope of work for Phase 1
in consideration of limited funding and increased construction costs. Of the previously
identified $30 million, only the $20 million dedicated to park redevelopment from the
SMC bond measure remained available. Council directed staff to proceed with the
proposed revised scope and to return with next steps, to reengage SMC and SMMUSD
in negotiations for potential fiscal and use agreements, and to present a recommended
alternative site for the temporary relocation of the Public Landscape Division’s
operations yard.
In March 2023, City staff identified LWCF grant funding as a potential new resource to
move the project forward.
Discussion
The National Park Services apportions LWCF funds to states for the planning,
acquisition, and development of recreation lands. The California Department of Parks
and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) administers California’s
funding allocation and will evaluate proposed projects across seven areas: 1) Unmet
need (identified through level of priority for the community and alignment with Statewide
Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) goals); 2) Type of project (either
new or existing park land acquisition or development); 3) New acreage placed under
LWCF protection (project would add new land for recreational use); 4) Park deficient or
economically disadvantaged area (identified by access to parks and availability of
parkland for the impacted community); 5) Population served (identified as providing
recreational opportunities for older adults, at-risk youth; and/ or persons with
disabilities); 6) Public input (whether the proposed project reflects community input);
5.J
Packet Pg. 501
4 of 7
and 7) Project readiness. Local agencies can request up to $6 million per project with a
required 50% local match.
The proposed $6 million grant would contribute to the Memorial Park Redevelopment
and Expansion Project reduced phase 1, which would convert an additional two acres of
the northern parcel (formerly the Fisher Lumber site) into public park land. The reduced
phase 1 as presented to Council in September 2022 includes:
Sports Fields
A combination field would use synthetic turf to create adaptable play space for baseball
and softball groups of all ages. It is designed for flexibility. The combination field could
accommodate a single regulation high school baseball game, adult softball game or
collegiate softball game. Additionally, the field could be divided with temporary fencing
to accommodate two youth baseball, or two youth fast pitch softball games played
simultaneously. The field would feature covered dugouts, shaded spectator seating, and
LED sports lighting. A batting cage for shared use sits adjacent to the combo field.
Amenities such as pitchers’ bullpens and additional batting cages would be considered
in the design phase and in coordination with the fiscal and use agreements with SMC
and SMMUSD.
Pickleball/Tennis Courts
Sixteen pickleball courts with overlapping striping for four tennis courts would be
elevated over the new on-site surface parking lot and would include stairs and an
elevator. The courts would feature LED sports lighting, wide perimeter clearance
spaces, and dedicated equipment storage immediately adjacent to the play area.
Parking
The covered parking lot would increase parking inventory to be used exclusively by park
patrons and would include a safe and convenient passenger loading zone and
turnaround area. The parking lot’s central location would make it easily accessible from
all areas of the park.
5.J
Packet Pg. 502
5 of 7
Mobility and Streetscape Improvements
Mobility and streetscape improvements on 14th Street and Colorado Avenue would be
included to the extent the budget allows. The proposed master plan includes 4’-wide
planted areas that would provide a buffer between generous 8’-wide perimeter
sidewalks and field activity within the park. Street trees and parkway planters would
create a sense of comfort for pedestrians walking along the street and a shared use
bike path completely separated from the street along the Colorado Avenue park
frontage (Class I bike path) would allow for future connection to the Exposition Corridor
Bike Path.
Staff believes that the proposed Memorial Park Expansion Project reduced phase 1
closely aligns with grant criteria and would be a competitive project for funding. Staff
intends to propose the SMC bond Measure V funds as a grant match, so that receiving
the grant would not require committing any additional City resources.
Environmental Review
Application for the LWCF grant is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3)
(Common Sense Exemption) in that application of the grant would have no possibility of
significant effects. If awarded the grant, necessary environmental review for the
Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Project reduced phase 1 would be
completed in compliance with CEQA prior to the award of final design and construction
contract. Furthermore, as specified in the grant application, the applying agency must
complete an environmental review either at the time of application (June 1, 2023 for this
grant application); within 60 days of the application deadline; or provide the granting
agency with the status of environmental review and the applying agency’s plan to
complete this process. The grant requires the following documentation:
• A Notice of Exemption End filed with, and stamped by, the county clerk, OR
• An Initial Study with a Negative Declaration and a copy of the Notice of
Determination filed with, and stamped by, the county clerk, OR
5.J
Packet Pg. 503
6 of 7
• An Initial Study and an Environmental Impact Report and a copy of the Notice of
Determination filed with, and stamped by, the county clerk.
AND:
• The CEQA Compliance Certification Form
• A State Clearinghouse Filing Receipt
Staff will complete all environmental review in compliance with CEQA and prior to
receipt of grant funding.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
01/23/18 (Attachment A) Award of Design Agreement for the Memorial Park
Feasibility Study and Master Plan
10/15/19 (Attachment B) Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Master
Plan Review
02/11/20 (Attachment C) Design-Build Contract for Memorial Park Expansion
09/27/22 (Attachment D) Memorial Plan Expansion Study Session
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of
recommended action. The grant requires a 50% project match which will come from
Santa Monica College funding set aside for Memorial Park expansion. The grant is
reimbursement-based. Staff would return to Council with budget changes if the grant is
awarded.
Prepared By: Amelia Feichtner, Senior Architect
Approved
Forwarded to Council
5.J
Packet Pg. 504
7 of 7
Attachments:
A. January 23, 2018 Memorial Park Feasibility Study and Master Plan Design
Agreement (Web Link)
B. October 15, 2019 Memorial Park Redevelopment and Expansion Master Plan
Review (Web Link)
C. February 11, 2020 Design-Build Contract for Memorial Park Expansion (Web
Link)
D. September 27, 2022 Memorial Plan Expansion Study Session (Web Link)
E. Grant Resolution - Approving the Application for the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Memorial Park Expansion Project
5.J
Packet Pg. 505
1
City Council Meeting May 23, 2023 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR THE LAND AND WATER
CONSERVATION FUND MEMORIAL PARK EXPANSION PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Congress under Public Law 88-578 has authorized the
establishment of a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant-In-Aid program,
providing matching funds to the State of California and its political subdivisions for
acquiring lands and developing Facilities for public outdoor recreation purposes; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for
administration of the program in the State, setting up necessary rules and procedures
governing applications by local agencies under the program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica (City) must certify by resolution the approval
of the application and the availability of eligible matching funds prior to submission of the
application to the State.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City Council approves the filing of an application for Land and
Water Conservation Fund assistance for the proposed Memorial Park Expansion Project
(Project).
SECTION 2. The City has reviewed, understands, and agrees to the General
Provisions contained in the contract shown in the Grant Administration Guide.
5.J.e
Packet Pg. 506 Attachment: Grant Resolution - Approving the Application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Memorial Park Expansion Project
2
SECTION 3. The City to abide by 54 U.S.C. §200305(f)(3) which requires, “No
property acquired or developed with assistance under this section shall, without the
approval of the National Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), be converted to other than
public outdoor recreation uses. The Secretary shall approve such conversion only if they
find it to be in accord with the then existing comprehensive statewide outdoor recreation
plan and only upon such conditions as he deems necessary to assure the substitution of
other recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent
usefulness and location.”
SECTION 4. The City certifies that the City has matching funds from eligible
source(s) and can finance 100 percent of the project, which up to half may be reimbursed
SECTION 5. The City agrees to comply with all applicable federal, state and local
laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and guidelines for the Project.
SECTION 6. The City Appoints authorizes the City Manager, or designee, as the
City’s agent to conduct all negotiations and execute and submit all documents, including,
but not limited to, applications, contracts, amendments, payment requests, and
compliance with all applicable current state and federal laws which may be necessary for
the completion of the Project.
SECTION 7.The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
Douglas Sloan, City Attorney
5.J.e
Packet Pg. 507 Attachment: Grant Resolution - Approving the Application for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Memorial Park Expansion Project