REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Preferred Concept for the Lakewood Park Renovation Project and Find the Action is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262
Report
SUMMARY OF COMMISSION ACTION
The Parks and Recreation Commission considered this item on September 13, 2023.
The Parks and Recreation Commission asked several questions about features that are not included in the Preferred Concept Plan. A synopsis of Staff’s responses provided during the meeting are included in italics, below.
• LED sports lights on the school field: LED sports lights are not proposed to be installed on the school field. An existing joint use agreement with the school district allows for the City to use and maintain the field, but not the school grounds.
• Complete fencing around the athletic field: A fence to completely enclose the athletic field was considered but is not proposed as residents preferred to keep open fields.
• Netting in the field to catch fly balls: A netting system to catch fly balls can be explored during detailed design if budget permits.
• Why the batting cage is labeled “future/potential”: The batting cage was labeled as “future/potential” as per Study Issue DPW 19-07 Ascertain Suitable Location(s) for the Installation of Youth Cricket Batting Cages and Potential Funding Sources (RTC No. 22-0166). Potential locations were identified but no funding was secured in the 20-year Project Budget for construction of new batting cages. Funding for a batting cage would come from potential user groups and possible public and/or private partnership.
Batting cage construction costs are currently estimated at approximately $680,000 for a two-tunnel design and $405,000 for a single tunnel design. Tunnels would be sized to accommodate a variety of user groups such as cricket, softball, and baseball. Project number 835960, Cricket Batting Cage, was established in 2022 as a potential funding source for matching user groups wanting to donate and install a batting cage. The project currently has $200,000 in funding, and requires a $75,000 outside match. The funds available are not sufficient to fund a batting cage at Lakewood Park and additional funds would be required.
After completion of public outreach and subsequent to the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, a citizen group inquired about the potential to include rugby goalposts and striping onto the multi-use field. Staff asked the consultant for a preliminary review, and concluded that the size of a rugby field is greater than what was available for the multiuse field, and therefore could not be accommodated.
Staff is working on finalizing the wi-fi analysis at the park site and will return to City Council with a report in the next few months.
The Parks and Recreation Commission voted to approve the Preferred Concept Plan with a friendly amendment to remove “potential” for the batting cage and include it into the preferred concept plans. The vote was 4-0, with 1 Commissioner absent.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the NOVA Workforce Services reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Preferred Concept Plan for the Lakewood Park Renovation Project as shown on Attachment 5 of the report and find the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
2. Approve the Preferred Concept Plan for the Lakewood Park Renovation Project as shown on Attachment 5 of the report and find the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 and include direction for staff to include the batting cage into the project design.
3. Provide other direction to staff as the Council deems appropriate.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve the Preferred Concept Plan for the Lakewood Park Renovation Project as shown on Attachment 5 of the report and Find the Action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15262.
Staff
Prepared by: Bennett Chun, Senior Engineer
Reviewed by: Jennifer Ng, Assistant Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Chip Taylor, Director of Public Works
Reviewed by: Connie Verceles, Deputy City Manager
Approved by: Kent Steffens, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Report to Parks and Recreation Commission 23-0060, September 13, 2023 (without attachments)
2. Community Meeting and Online Survey #1 Report, dated February 2023
3. Community Meeting and Online Survey #2 Report, dated June 2023
4. Community Meeting #3 Minutes, dated July 2023
5. Preferred Concept Plan, dated August 2023
6. Comparison Table on Turf Types
Additional Attachments for Report to Council
7. Excerpt of Draft Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of
September 13, 2023