FISCAL IMPACT:
Park Dedication/Park Impact Funds in the amount of $129,000 that have accumulated in the El Sobrante census tracts will be used to help finance the community outreach, planning, design, and installation of improvements at El Sobrante Mini Park. The requested $129,000 is in addition to a prior allocation of $269,656 in Park Dedication/Park Impact Funds, $641,740 of Measure WW funds, $80,000 in Library Funds and $103,000 from the General Fund previously budgeted in Public Works. If approved, the balance of Park Dedication Funds in the El Sobrante census tracts will be approximately $2,446.
BACKGROUND:
The East Bay Regional Park District's voter-approved Measure WW allocates grant funds to local parks for improvements on a per capita basis including $641,740 to Community Service Area R-9 serving El Sobrante. Special Districts staff from PWD met with the Supervisor Gioia’s staff, El Sobrante Library staff, and members of SPAWNERS (San Pablo Watershed Neighbors Education & Restoration Society) to discuss expenditures of these funds and develop a project scope for the El Sobrante Mini Park project. On May 29, 2014, the East Bay Regional Park District approved a $641,740 appropriation for the El Sobrante Mini Park project. The approved project includes rehabilitating the existing parking lot and renovating existing landscape and recreational facilities on the County land adjacent to the El Sobrante Library. The existing recreational facilities include gardens (reading, demonstration, and memorial), landscaped walkways along Appian Way and Garden Road, and landscaped pathways leading to a riparian interpretive trail along San Pablo Creek. The work will remove the deteriorating parking lot surface and replace it with pervious asphalt, renovate the existing landscaping along all the above-mentioned landscaped walkways, and improve landscaping around the reading garden. An existing open space located at the rear of the library will have expanded amenities installed, including a new plaza with a raised podium for events. The El Sobrante Mini-Park project is identified in the Contra Costa County Parks Capital Improvement Plan as an existing park in need of updates. Upkeep of the improvements will be part of the routine maintenance of County facilities.
Plans and specifications for the project have been prepared by the Public Works Department. Bids were received and opened by the Public Works Department on August 11, 2016. All the bids received exceeded the Architect's Estimate of $635,000. The lowest responsive and responsible bid was in the amount of $823,000. Subject to the approval of this item, the PWD Director intends to recommend awarding this contract to that bidder. The additional Park Dedication funds will be used to make up a portion of the difference between the Architect's Estimate and the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with the remainder of the difference funded with General Funds previously allocated to Public Works in the FY 2016/17 budget. The total project cost, including planning design, administration, outreach, and construction is $1,223,396.
The following table summarizes the various funding sources:
| Measure WW |
$641,740 |
| Park Dedication/Park Impact |
$398,656 ($269,656 and $129,000) |
| Library |
$80,000 |
| General Fund/PWD |
$103,000 |
| Total |
$1,223,396 |
It is the policy of the County to use park dedication/Park Impact Funds to meet local park needs. This action is consistent with that policy and staff recommends approval of the request for funds. The project will significantly enhance the quality of El Sobrante Mini Park and provide improved opportunities for El Sobrante residents for many years.
On February 11, 2014 the County Board of Supervisors determined the project was exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a Class 1, Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Staff will continue to look for additional funding sources for this project. If successful, staff plans to utilize other funding sources first and thus reduce the amount of Park Dedication funds needed for this project
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the construction contract is not awarded, the project will not move forward.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The proposed project support the following community outcomes established in the Children's Report Card: Communities that are Safe and Provide a High Quality of Life for Children and Families.