Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of Park Improvement Projects Funded by the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA).
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publichearing
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From: Vanessa Johnson, Community Services Director
Jake Ngo, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Vanessa Johnson, Community Services Director
Jake Ngo, Public Works Director/City Engineer
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
A. Approve the purchase of playground equipment from Landscape Structures, Inc. for the Bolsa Chica, Westminster Village, Russell C. Paris, College, and Bowling Green Parks in the total amount of $1,362,469; and
B. Consider the following options and provide staff direction:
1. OPTION 1: Proceed with Pickleball Courts Installation project at Westminster Village and Bowling Green Parks as originally approved by the Mayor and City Council on October 26, 2022, and allocate $802,959 from the Park Dedication Fund to address the budget shortfall and approve the Revised ARPA Budget; or
2. OPTION 2: Eliminate Pickleball Courts Installation project at Westminster Village and Bowling Green Parks based on the community input received, and approve the Revised ARPA Budget as follows with no further allocation needed; or
3. OPTION 3: Proceed with Pickleball Courts Installation project at Bowling Green Park only and allocate $402,818 from the Park Dedication Fund to address the budget shortfall and approve the Revised ARPA Budget.
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BACKGROUND
On March 11, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) into law to address the economic and health impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation allocated $130.2 billion to be evenly divided among the counties based on population ($65.1 billion) and cities using the modified Community Development Block Grant formula ($65.1 billion). As a result, the City of Westminster received an allocation of $23.7 million.
Through several study sessions conducted in 2022, the following park improvement projects were approved by the Mayor and City Council on October 26, 2022:
• Playground Improvement Project at Five Parks: Bolsa Chica, Westminster Village, Russell C. Paris, College, and Bowling Green Parks
o New playground equipment and rubberized surfacing
• New Pickleball Courts at Two Parks: Westminster Village and Bowling Green Parks
• Baseball Diamond Improvements: Westminster and Buckingham Parks
o Laser leveled infields
o Backstops
o Dugout covers
• Community Garden on Cherry Street, north of Westminster Boulevard
o Planter boxes, perimeter tubular steel fencing, and site furnishings
• New Soccer Field (approved March 27, 2024)
o New turf fields, irrigation system, bleachers, lighting, and fencing
Community Outreach Meetings
Public Works and Community Services and Recreation Department held 14 community outreach meetings in March and May of 2024 to gather public feedback on the proposed playgrounds, pickleball courts, soccer fields, and community garden. The goal of these meetings was to gather input from local stakeholders and residents regarding the proposed conceptual plans. Staff made significant efforts to promote the community outreach meetings and encourage public participation:
• Information about the meetings was included in the Community Services and Recreation Department’s weekly email blasts to our distribution list of over 3,400 residents.
• Printed signs with meeting details were posted at the parks in the weeks leading up to the sessions.
• Social media posts about the meetings were shared on the City’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
• Outreach meeting information was posted on the City’s website.
• Outreach meeting information was shared with the Parks and Recreation Commission to generate additional awareness.
• Outreach meetings were highlighted in the City Manager’s Report at City Council meetings as well as in the Weekly Update to the City Council.
• The Youth Committee posted polls on their Instagram page to reach younger community members.
The following summarizes the key outcomes from each meeting:
Bolsa Chica Park Playground - Community Outreach Meetings:
• An in-person community meeting was held on March 25, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at Bolsa Chica Park, 13660 University St. Approximately 15 attendees were present, including local residents, parents, and students from Eastwood Elementary School. Two conceptual playground design options were presented, and approximately 11 attendees expressed a preference for the first playground option that was presented.
• A follow-up virtual meeting was held on March 26, 2024 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Approximately five community members attended the virtual session and the feedback received was consistent with the in-person meeting, with most indicating support for the first playground option presented.
Westminster Village Park Playground and Pickleball Courts - Community Outreach Meetings:
• An in-person community meeting was held on March 25, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Westminster Village Park, 5300 Tattershall St. Approximately 25 attendees were present, with the majority being residents residing in the surrounding neighborhood. Two conceptual playground design options and a conceptual pickleball court design were presented. The consensus among attendees at the meeting favored the second playground option presented, while the majority expressed opposition to adding the pickleball courts. There were two attendees who expressed their support to staff for the implementation of the proposed pickleball courts.
• A follow-up virtual meeting was held on March 26, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Approximately 13 community members attended the virtual session and the feedback received was consistent with the in-person meeting, with most indicating support for the second playground option presented while the majority expressed opposition to adding the proposed pickleball courts. 11 attendees opposed the addition of the pickleball courts, and 2 supported the addition of the proposed pickleball courts.
Following the outreach sessions, staff received numerous emails from residents residing in the surrounding Westminster Village Park neighborhood expressing their opposition to the proposed pickleball courts. Furthermore, staff was made aware of a www.change.org petition containing 162 signatures, also opposing the proposed pickleball courts.
Russell C. Paris Park Playground - Community Outreach Meetings:
• An in-person community meeting was held on May 1, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Russell C. Paris Park, 8600 Palos Verdes Ave. Approximately 15 attendees were present. Two conceptual playground design options were presented, and the majority expressed a preference for the first playground option.
• A follow-up virtual meeting was held on May 2, 2024 at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Approximately four community members were present, and the feedback received was consistent with the in-person meeting, with the most interest in the first playground option that was presented.
• The City’s Youth Committee conducted a poll on Instagram featuring the two playground options. Out of the 17 participants, the majority favored the first playground option as well.
College Park Playground - Community Outreach Meetings:
• An in-person community meeting was held on May 1, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at College Park, 15422 Vermont St. Approximately 12 attendees were present. Two conceptual playground design options were presented, and the majority expressed a preference for the second playground option.
• A follow-up virtual meeting was held on May 2, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Approximately seven attendees were present, and the feedback received was consistent with the in-person meeting, with the most interest in the second playground option.
Bowling Green Playground and Pickleball Courts - Community Outreach Meetings:
• An in-person community meeting was held on May 1, 2024 at 4 p.m. at Bowling Green Park, 14700 Bowling Green St. Approximately 13 attendees were present, with the majority being residents residing in the surrounding neighborhood. Two conceptual playground design options and a conceptual pickleball court design were presented. The consensus among attendees at the meeting favored the first playground option presented, while the majority expressed opposition to adding the pickleball courts, and six attendees expressed their support for adding the pickleball courts.
• A follow-up virtual meeting was held on May 2, 2024 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Approximately 13 attendees were present, with a contrast in opinions compared to the in-person meeting. Several attendees at the virtual session liked the second playground option expressing a significant desire and high level of interest in the zipline feature included in that option. Additionally, there was no opposition to the pickleball courts at the virtual meeting, with most of the attendees instead expressing support for the inclusion of the pickleball courts.
• The City’s Youth Committee conducted a poll on their Instagram page featuring the two playground options. Out of the 17 participants, the majority favored the first playground option.
Following the outreach sessions, staff received a petition containing 42 signatures, opposing the proposed pickleball courts at Bowling Green Park.
Sigler Park Soccer Fields - Community Outreach Meetings:
• An in-person community meeting was held on May 23, 2024 at 5 p.m. at Sigler Park, 7200 Plaza St. Approximately 25 attendees were present, including the local Westminster Youth Soccer League, who currently utilizes the Sigler Park Fields for soccer practice. One soccer field conceptual plan was presented, and attendees had an engaging discussion with staff and the consultant, while no opposition was expressed towards the soccer field proposal. The consensus for this project was met with positive feedback.
• A follow-up virtual meeting was held on May 28, 2024 at 5 p.m. via Zoom. Two attendees were present, and no opposition was expressed towards the soccer field proposal.
Cherry Street Community Garden - Community Outreach Meetings:
• An in-person community meeting was held on May 23, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the lot across from the proposed community garden on 13942 Cherry St. Four attendees were present, including a resident who resides directly adjacent to the proposed community garden. The session included thoughtful and insightful questions from attendees. All participants expressed enthusiasm and anticipation for the establishment of the community garden.
• A follow-up virtual meeting was held on May 28, 2024 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Approximately three attendees were present and was equally positive as the in-person session, with attendees posing insightful questions and sharing valuable input. All participants expressed enthusiasm and there was no opposition during the virtual meeting as well.
The valuable input received from the community at the outreach meetings was reviewed by staff in collaboration with the consultant. Revised concepts (Attachments 2-5) were thoughtfully created to meet the needs and expectations of the users. The attached revised concepts incorporate the feedback gathered during the outreach process.
PROJECT COST ESTIMATES
Below is a list of the approved ARPA-funded projects along with the approved budget amounts and estimated project costs:
The total proposed playground equipment cost for five parks is $1,362,469. The playground equipment has a long lead time with an estimated delivery date of 24 weeks. This purchase will be made through Sourcewell Contract ID #010521-LSI. As a member of Sourcewell, the City of Westminster is allowed to piggyback on any of its competitively solicited cooperative procurement contracts. Sourcewell streamlines the procurement process for government agencies with hundreds of ready-to-use competitively solicited cooperate contracts. This cost-saving purchasing method also allows the playground projects to meet the set deadline for awarding ARPA-funded projects by the end of 2024.
With the latest estimated project costs, there is a total budget shortfall of $802,959. To address the budget shortfall and the input received from residents through the community outreach, below are the available options for consideration:
OPTION 1: Proceed with Pickleball Courts Installation project at Westminster Village and Bowling Green Parks as originally approved by the Mayor and City Council on October 26, 2022, and allocate $802,959 from the Park Dedication Fund to address the budget shortfall and approve the Revised ARPA Budget.
OPTION 2: Eliminate Pickleball Courts Installation project at Westminster Village and Bowling Green Parks based on the community input received, and approve the Revised ARPA Budget as follows with no further allocation needed.
OPTION 3: Proceed with Pickleball Courts Installation project at Bowling Green Park only, and allocate $402,818 from the Park Dedication Fund to address the budget shortfall and approve the Revised ARPA Budget. Should the Mayor and City Council desire to pursue the installation of Pickleball Courts in City Parks, Bowling Green Park is the better option of the two.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the ARPA-funded projects is available in the following accounts:
21500-212311 - Park Improvements
21500-212313 - Community Gardens
21500-212422 - Soccer Field Conversion Sigler Park
If Option 1 or 3 are selected, additional allocation is needed in the amount of $802,959 or $402,818 respectively from the Park Dedication Fund.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
The installation of the playground equipment will be done through a separate publicly bid contract. Staff will return to the Mayor and City Council for the approval of plans and specifications and authorization to solicit bids for the above ARPA-funded park improvement projects.
Depending on the option selected by the Mayor and City Council, additional allocation may be needed from the Park Dedication Fund and the approval of the Revised ARPA Budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposals from Landscape Structures, Inc. for the Playground Equipment
2. Playground Concepts
3. Soccer Field Concept
4. Community Garden Concept
5. Pickleball Concepts
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager