HomeMy Public PortalAbout06-D) POSMP UpdatePARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
DATE: September 17, 2014
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
Temple City Unified School District Board of Education
FROM: Cathy Burroughs, Director of Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: PARKS AND OPEN SPACE MASTER PLAN UPDATE
On April 2, 2014, after a year of information gathering and public input, the City Council
adopted the Parks and Open Space Master Plan (POSMP), the purpose of which was
to assist the City in determining how best to meet the community's future park and open
space needs. The POSMP included an Action Plan Matrix (Matrix) which identified
goals (ongoing, short-term, mid-term, and long-term) for implementation of the POSMP
over the next 20 years.
To assist staff in implementation of the POSMP, the Parks and Recreation Commission
(Commission) prioritized the various components contained in the Matrix. The
recommendations from the Commission were approved by the City Council on June 3,
2014. Attached to this report is a copy of the Priority Ranking for the Matrix as
approved by the City Council (Attachment "A"). Staff has focused their efforts on those
items in the POSMP with the highest priority as determined by the Commission and City
Council.
Following is an overview of tasks in progress, or completed between May and
September 2014:
Meet with LA County to discuss development of trails in Eaton and Arcadia
Washes and develop a use agreement and plan for development of trails
Development of trails along the washes was identified as the number one priority
by the Commission and the City Council. Staff has met on several occasions
with representatives from LA County Parks and Recreation Department, and the
Department of Public Works. At the most recent meeting, on July 3, 2014,
County staff requested the City prioritize sections of the washes for trail
development. The Parks and Recreation Commission, at a special meeting on
July 31, 2014, prioritized the trail sections. On August 19, 2014, LA County staff
provided a conceptual plan for the proposed trails in Temple City along with the
process for approval. For Conceptual Plan Approval, which takes about four
weeks, the following are required:
Parks and Open Space Master Plan Update
September 30, 2014
Page 2 of 3
1. 4 copies of the conceptual plans
2. 2 copies of "As -Build" drawings for the Flood Control District facilities
3. 2 copies of Flood Control RAN maps
4. A deposit of $1,000 for the review process. The review will be based on
actual hourly cost.
Because there are significant costs associated with the next step staff has not
moved forward with approval of the conceptual plans. Staff will follow up with the
County on how to obtain the documents indicated above in #2 and #3. The
City's contract engineer may need to become involved; therefore it is
recommended this item be deferred and discussed during the budget process.
• Live Oak Park and Temple City Park Facility Master Plans
The Commission and City Council identified the preparation of facility master
plans for Live Oak Park and Temple City Park as the number two (2) priority from
the POSMP. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was developed for Facility Master
Plans which would define a vision for future development or rehabilitation of the
existing parks. The RFP directed the consultants to rely on the recently adopted
POSMP in regards to the community's requested facilities and amenities.
Nine firms submitted proposals for the Facility Master Plans. After a thorough
review of the proposals and interviews with the top firms, the City Council
approved an agreement with Community Works Design Group on September 16,
2014 to prepare the Facility Master Plans. Work is expected to begin on the
Facility Master Plans by October 1, 2014 with completion anticipated by March
31, 2015.
• Revise TCMC to allow leashed dogs in the City's parks
Changing park rules to allow on -leash dog walking was the third highest priority
in the POSMP Action Plan Matrix. The Parks and Recreation Commission
recommended approval of an ordinance amending the Temple City Municipal
Code (TCMC) to allow leashed dogs in certain areas of the parks on July 16,
2014. The City Council held the first and second reading of Ordinance No. 14-
995 and adopted the above referenced ordinance on September 2, 2014. The
ordinance takes effect on October 3, 2014. Staff is currently in the process of
purchasing waste stations for both parks and developing flyers and handouts
detailing the new ordinance for the public.
• Meet with TCUSD to develop joint use agreements for use of open space
on TCUSD campuses
During a recent Standing Committee meeting, Mayor Blum suggested a working
committee be appointed to discuss the potential for public use of school facilities
during non -school hours. Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Burroughs, Parks
and Recreation Supervisor Mike Koski, and Parks and Recreation Commissioner
Donna Georgino have been assigned to the working committee for the City.
Parks and Open Space Master Plan Update
September 30, 2014
Page 3 of 3
Future joint projects may be discussed as part of a joint meeting between the
City Council and the TCUSD Board of Education.
Funding
As indicated in the POSMP, new funding sources are essential to implementing
the action plan. To that end, the City solicited proposals and entered into an
agreement with SCI Consulting Group to prepare a Park Impact Fee and Quimby
Fee Study. SCI Consulting Group has completed their draft study and will
present the study to the Parks and Recreation and Planning Commissions at a
special joint meeting on October 15, 2014. Recommendations will be forwarded
to the City Council at a later date.
The City has submitted a grant proposal to the Los Angeles County Regional
Park and Open Space District for funding through Supervisor Michael D.
Antonovich's 2015 Competitive Excess Grant Program. If approved, funds would
be used to install a rubberized walking/jogging path at Live Oak Park which is
consistent with the POSMP.
Additionally, Proposition P, Safe Neighborhood Parks Measure, is on the Los
Angeles County November 2014 ballot. If approved by the voters, Proposition P
would continue funding $54 million a year for neighborhood and regional parks in
Los Angeles County through an annual $23 per parcel special tax for 30 years.
Approval of Proposition P would provide another revenue source for projects
related to the POSMP.
ATTACHMENT:
A. Action Plan Matrix for Facilities/Amenities
ATTACHMENT A
ACTION PLAN MATRIX FOR FACILITIES/AMENITIES
PRIORITY RANKING
Approved by City Council
Item
1. Meet with LA County to discuss
development of trails in Eaton
and Arcadia washes.
Develop a use agreement with
LA County for development of
trails.
Develop plans for trails along
washes and research and apply
for grants
2. Prepare Master Plans for Live
Oak and Temple City Parks.
Justification
Development of walking trails is the #1
requested amenity. The most likely
opportunity for the development of trails is
along the washes. These three items all tie
in together and should be considered as one
item.
Other components of the Matrix refer to
improvements within the parks (i.e.
additional shade shelters at TC Park,
playground at TC Park). The Commission has
also considered other improvements for the
parks recently (fountain). As mentioned in
the staff report, the community is more
receptive to funding improvements to
existing parks than for purchase and
construction of new parks. Developing
Master Plans for each facility will ensure all
improvements are coordinated and
prioritized.
3. Change Park rules to allow on- This is a relatively simple component but
leash dog walking; add doggy was a high priority in the rankings (#6). It
waste stations. can be accomplished quickly and with
minimal cost.
4. Continue implementation of
Bicycle Master Plan.
Although this item does not fall within the
authority of the Parks and Recreation
Department, the City is moving forward
with implementation of the Bicycle Master
Plan. Biking and walking trails were ranked
#1 by the community. Prioritizing this item
high will assist in ensuring further
implementation of the Bicycle Master Plan.
Action to Date
Staff has met with representatives
from the County's Parks and
Recreation Department. County
staff is working on developing
concepts for the trails and will set
up a meeting with flood control in
the near future. We have been
advised that there may be a
competitive grant cycle this
summer, as well as a possible
State bond in November.
$35,000 has been included in the
proposed FY 2014-15 budget for
this purpose.
Staff has surveyed surrounding
cities and reviewed their
ordinances regulating dogs in the
parks and presented a discussion
item to the Parks & Recreation
Commission on May 21, 2014.
Staff will return with a proposed
code amendment to allow dogs in
parks within the next few months.
Bike lanes on Rosemead
Boulevard are complete. Plans
and specifications for additional
bike lanes (12.6 miles) were
approved by the City Council on
May 6 allowing staff to solicit bids
for construction.
Action Plan Matrix Priority Ranking
Page 2
5. Meet with TCUSD to develop
joint use agreements for use
of open space on all
campuses. Discuss schedule
of proposed school
improvements per TCUSD
Facility Master Plan for joint
projects.
6. Install Wi-Fi at Live Oak Park.
7. Research availability of the
commercial property at 5336
Rosemead Blvd. and
recommend purchase if
available.
Develop plans for commercial
property at 5336 Rosemead
Blvd.
8. Incorporate parklets into Las
Tunas Improvement Project
plans.
9. Meet with private
schools/churches to discuss
possible use of property for
park and open space
development.
The facility/amenity ranked #3 among the
community is an outdoor pool. With limited
space available on City property and with
the TCUSD planning to improve its pool at
Temple City High School, it makes sense to
work with the TCUSD on this joint project.
Allowing public access to schools sites (after
school hours) may be one way to increase
park acreage without purchasing property.
During the community meetings, the
majority of participants stressed the need to
work with the school districts for amenities
such as pools, gymnasiums and playgrounds.
Although not included on the Action Plan
Matrix, this item was high on the Facility/
Amenity Priority Rankings. Installation of
Wi-Fi at Live Oak Park would be relatively
inexpensive and could be accomplished
within a short period of time.
These items are contingent upon #4,
development of the Eaton Wash for walking
trails. Acquisition of this parcel would allow
a nice trailhead if the area along the Eaton
Wash is developed. If plans move forward,
this item should be pursued including
development of plans if parcel is available.
That would allow a complete package for
this section of trails
Similar to item #3 above, P & R staff are not
involved in the Las Tunas Project, however
staff believes this item is vital to bringing
additional open space to the commercial
corridor. Prioritizing this item high could
lead to a greater likelihood of inclusion in
the Las Tunas Improvement Project.
There are not many private schools and
churches in the City that have a sufficient
amount of open space to realistically allow
public use. Most of these locations are
already heavily used by their students
and/or congregations. Staff recommended
this item as lower priority; however the
Parks and Recreation Commission felt there
were some opportunities that should be
explored within the next year.
Discussions have been ongoing
between the City and the TCUSD
regarding joint projects. During the
most recent City/TCUSD Standing
Committee meeting, on April 29,
2014, Mayor Blum requested staff
recommend members for a
"working group" (comprised of City
and TCUSD representatives) to
discuss and bring forward
recommendations for joint projects.
Staff has been researching other
cities that have free Wi-Fi in the
parks as well as associated costs.
This item could be included in a LOP
Master Plan.
N/A
N/A
N/A
Action Plan Matrix Priority Ranking
Page 3
Lower Prioritv/Other Items:
d• Contact water companies to discuss use of well site properties for development of
parks and open space and develop joint use agreements.
Staff has contacted both Sunny Slope Water and California American Water companies
to discuss possible use of four sites in the City. Both companies indicated the sites are
active wells and therefore public use is not possible at this time. They were requested to
notify the City if the well sites become inactive in the future.
Meet with Southern California Edison (SCE) to discuss possibilities of using
easement west of City boundaries for parks and open space.
Because the location is outside the City limits (by several blocks), is currently developed
as a nursery, and, due to the size of the property, development would be extremely
costly, this item is not recommend as a high priority.
❖ Contact owner of property at southwest corner of Live Oak and McCullough to
discuss purchase of property for park and open space development.
The property is about six blocks from Live Oak Park. Staff believes any additional open
space should be located in other areas of the City and resources should be focused on
those items.
•:• Discuss with LA County possible incorporation of property at 6499 Rosemead Blvd.
If/when considered, staff recommended this item be revised. Incorporation/annexation of
property was not required nor recommended. Instead, if pursued, staff recommends
working with the County, as a joint project, to purchase and develop the property for a
small park. The Commission did feel this was a great location for a park and
recommended it be a lower priority.
❖ Check on possible closure of Temple City Post Office.
Staff contacted the Postmaster at the Temple City Post Office. He indicated there are no
plans to close the Post Office at this time.