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HomeMy WebLinkAbout17 7 YR PARK CIP 08-02-99AGENDA.. NO. 17 8-2-99 DATE: AUGUST 2, 1999 lnter-Com TO: FROM: SUBJECT: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER PATRICK SANCHEZ, DIRECTOR, PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES AMENDMENT TO TIlE SEVEN YEAR PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ISUMMARY: A:. request .of the City: .CoUnCil i Seven:. year.parks and -ReCreafi6fiC~ital Improvement j ' n ,,. ~([ii ~ementst°Laurel Glen~Park : " ' ': ~ &' "'"~' ~ ' "~:~ : ' ' i ~'' "::' ~ ,, . ::,L ,.; : ]'and!~edevelopment°fa'~r" i? I il [?: ii; RECOMMENDATION: Amend the Parks and Recreation Capital Improvement Program to include improvements to the tot lot at Laurel Glen Park and the development of a master plan for Lemon Tree Park in Fiscal Year 1999-00. BACKGROUND: The City Council, m a recent budget workshop and a subsequent Council meeting, requested the Parks and Recreation Commission to review two Capital Improvement Programs to be included in their Seven-Year Capital Improvement Program. These two programs could be included for improvements in FY 1999-00. The two specific programs are the expansion of the Laurel Glen Park playground/tot lot and the development of a master plan for Lemon Tree Park, located at Portola and Jamboree. The development of the master plan for Lemon Tree Park was intended to develop a design for future im~ovements to the 17-acre site located at Jamboree Road and Portola Parkway. The purpose is to begin to develop cost estimates for specific amenities that may be included in the park in furore years of the Capital Improvement Program. The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed including the Lemon Tree Park as part of their original 10 project consideration of the Parks Capital Improvement Program While initially they did not rank the master plan high enough to receive funding, they did reconsider and adopt the support of the master plan at their meeting of July 15, 1999. The Irvine Company's Project provided funding to the Park Development Fund for future design and master plan development through a trust account as part of their development agreement. The estimated cost of the development of a master plan is $45,000. The second project is the expansion of the Laurel Glen Park playground/tot lot. Funds for the expansion of the Laurel Glen playground were appropriated in the 1995-96 FY Capital Improvement Program. No activity was started during that fiscal year, and the project was carried over through FY 1996-97. During the 1996-97 FY, the subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the design concepts for the improvements to Laurel Glen Park. A design was presented which included improvements to the ADA accessibility requirements, additional swings and tot lot equipment. The committee felt the proposal presented at that time required too much to be spent on compliance issues and not enough spent on play equipment improvements to justify the play values of the project. The total allocated at that time was $17,000. The subcommittee recommended to address these implications and compliance issues through the re-design of the entire park. No additional dollars were identified in the 1996-97 FY to proceed With the re-design. In September of 1997, the Parks and Recreation Commission again reviewed the design concepts of the park. They recommended delaying improvements to the park until the master plan for the nearby Heritage Park was completed. It was recommended that funding for improvements to the park could be combined with the Heritage Park Project if preliminary estimates indicated the construction budget for Heritage Park might contain surplus funds. It was .recommended that those funds could then be applied toward the rehabilitation of Laurel Glen Park. There were no additional dollars in the Heritage Park budget for playground tot/lot improvements to Laurel Glen, and during the preparation of the 1997-98 FY Capital Improvement Program, the specific project was not carried over. It was not included as an addition to the Heritage Park Capital Improvement Program. This failure to request funding, either as an addition in the Heritage Park Project, or specifically in the Laurel Glen Project for FY 1997-98, removed any funding consideration for the project. After review of the existing configuration of the tot lot, it was generally recognized that due to poor design in the playground area, the park is underutilized. Laurel Glen Park is a three-acre neighborhood park with good restroom facilities and open grass areas. A single theme or idea for the playground area could create a strong identity 'for the park, create new interest and increase public use. It is suggested that improving the tot lot area at Laurel Glen may relieve some of the overutilized areas at Heritage Park. The total estimated cost for the tot lot improvements is $24,000. In addition, staff will be bringing back to the Council a survey of the swings in the City and suggestions on where additional swings can be placed. FISCAL IMPACT: Preliminary review of cost estimates to meet ADA Requirements and improve certain portions of the Laurel Glen Park tot lot should not exceed $24,000. Preliminary cost estimates for the development of the master plan for Lemon Tree Park would not exceed $45,000. Funding adjustments in other projects could be considered to allocate $69,000 from the Park Development Fund for these improvements. Impact t° other projects would be minimal. Current fund balances in the Park Development Fund would allow such an expenditure. Respectfully submitted, Director, Parks and Recreation Services Sc:c/mydocs/ps/staffreports/Ameud 7Y CIP - Laurel Glen- Lemon Tree. doc