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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.