HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09222009 - C.75RECOMMENDATION(S):
DENY the request of Ambrose Recreation and Park District for $400,000 in County Park
Dedication funds to help finance improvements to the "Aquatic Center" at Ambrose Park
located in Pittsburg.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No General Fund impact - Park Dedication Fees are contributed by developers of residential
units in the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County.
BACKGROUND:
Proposal: Ambrose Recreation and Park District (Ambrose) is requesting $400,000 in
County Park Dedication funds to help finance improvements to the "Aquatic Center" at
Ambrose Memorial Park located on Memorial Way in Pittsburg. The total cost of this
project is estimated to be $2,164,115 (Exhibit A - Preliminary Construction Budget).
Ambrose has identified a total of $2,225,177 in funds from the following sources to help
finance the proposed project:
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 09/22/2009 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Bob Calkins,
925.335.7220
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: September 22, 2009
David J. Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc:
C.75
To:Board of Supervisors
From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director
Date:September 22, 2009
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Request for Park Dedication Funds - Ambrose Recreation and Park District
Measure WW: $1,127,177;
City of Pittsburg: $600,000;
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
County Park Dedication Funds: $400,000;
Ambrose Funds: $98,000.
The proposed project is consistent with Phase I of the "Ambrose Park - Master Plan
Report" (Exhibit B) that was adopted by the Ambrose Board of Directors on May 14,
2009. The proposed project would begin construction this Winter and be open to the
public in about 12-18 months (Fall 2010 or Spring 2011). Future maintenance of the
proposed improvements will be the responsibility of Ambrose. According to Ambrose,
the proposed improvements are not expected to increase current maintenance costs and
may result in lower costs because heating and lighting of the pool facility will be
accomplished with solar power.
Park Dedication Funds: The County collects Park Dedication funds from developers of
new residential projects by assessing a fee to be used for park or recreational purposes as
a condition of approval of a tentative map or parcel map. The funds collected by the
County can be used to help finance projects that meet local park needs by purchasing
park land and/or constructing improvements to existing parks or recreation facilities. As
of September 9, 2009, there is a total of $452,000 in the various Bay Point census tracts.
Ambrose owns and operates three park and recreational facilities in the Bay Point area;
although Ambrose Park was recently annexed by the City of Pittsburg. The County
currently owns and operates a total of five park and recreational facilities within Bay
Point.
For several years, the County and Ambrose have operated under an informal "advise and
consent" procedure in which one agency desiring to access Park Dedication funds would
advise the other agency of its proposal hoping it would "consent" to the use of the scarce
Park Dedication funds. This process has worked relatively well in the past and has
resulted in both agencies "sharing" the funds. For example, since 1998 the County's
Public Works Department has received $304,000 in Park Dedication funds and Ambrose
has received a total of $228,000 to help finance improvements to the park and
recreational facilities within Bay Point.
The County's Public Works Department has submitted a list of improvements that it
wants to make to the parks within the Bay Point area that are under its jurisdiction
(Lynbrook, Hickory Meadows, View Point, and Boeger). Public Works has estimated the
total cost of these improvements would exceed $500,000 (Exhibit C), and would be
completed within the next 12 months. Consequently, there are insufficient funds to meet
the requests for funds from both Ambrose and the County Public Works Department.
A major component of the plan of finance for the Ambrose Park improvements is the
Measure WW funds available through the East Bay Regional Park District. An attempt to
split the Measure WW funds between Ambrose and County Public Works has been
determined to be inconsistent with the Measure WW Ordinance. The Bay Point
Municipal Advisory Council voted to support the equitable split between park interests in
Bay Point. Public Works argues that because Ambrose will receive the entire allocation
of the Measure WW funds targeted to Bay Point the Park Dedication funds should be
reserved for County park projects. Allocating Park Dedication funds to Ambrose would
effectively deplete the balances in the Park Dedication accounts, and would require
Public Works to delay indefinitely a majority of the proposed improvements. Because of
the current economic conditions, particularly as they impact the development of new
housing, staff doesn't expect the Park Dedication accounts to be replenished in the near
term.
Staff recommends the Board of Supervisors deny the request from Ambrose Park and
Recreation District for $400,000 in Park Dedication funds because it would result in an
unequal sharing of available scarce resources between Ambrose and the County to help
finance improvments to the many park and recreational facilities serving the Bay Point
community.
CLERK'S ADDENDUM
The following members of the Ambrose Recreation and Park District spoke on
behalf of the District: Mark Cornelius, Tarry Smith, Steve Hoagland; Also in
opposition to the recommendation were: A.J. Fardella, Oak Hills Community
Group; and Lloyd Mason. Gloria Magleby, Ambrose Recreation and Park District,
spoke in favor of the staff recommendation.
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C