Background
The California State Department of Parks and Recreation ("State Parks") has identified the community of Knights Landing as a critically underserved community using such metrics as median household income and access to public parks and recreation facilities. (See State Parks Community Fact Finder Report for Knights Landing, provided as Attachment A). As such, the community is eligible to apply for Proposition 68 (Parks and Water Bond Act of 2018) funding through the Statewide Park Program ("SPP"). The SPP is anticipated to provide nearly $255,000,000 statewide for the creation or expansion of public parks in critically underserved communities over the next several years. State Parks has recently released the funding application guidelines for the SPP and established an application deadline of August 5, 2019.
In order to be "shovel ready" for the funding application deadline, County staff have been working with the Woodland Joint Unified School District ("WJUSD") and members of the Knights Landing community (organized into a 10-member community project development team) to conduct robust public outreach and gather information on a desirable location and potential park amenities for the community. While the outreach to identify activities and amenities remains ongoing, a potential park site has been identified: an unused 7+ acre parcel that is owned by WJUSD and is adjacent to WJUSD's Science and Technology Academy in the heart of Knights Landing (Location map provided as Attachment C).
The Board approved a Memorandum Of Understanding and Land Use Agreement with WJUSD at the May 21, 2019, regular Board meeting. A preliminary park design was presented to the project development team on June 12, 2019, where several additional members of the Knights Landing community also attended to provide feedback on the preliminary park design (provided as Attachment D).
Reason for Recommended Action
The California State Parks Statewide Park Program application guidelines require that the applicant's governing body, in this case the Yolo County Board of Supervisors, adopt a standardized resolution authorizing the application to be submitted prior to the grant program deadline of August 5, 2019. The resolution is provided as Attachment A to this staff report. Neither the resolution nor the formal application commit the County to participating in the Statewide Park Program. Should the application be successful and a grant award offered to the County, staff will be required to return to the Board to request permission to enter into a contract with California State Parks.
CEQA Determination
Construction of the proposed park may constitute a "project" under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and, consequently it is necessary to conduct the appropriate level of environmental review. The proposed park improvements at the existing Science and Technology Academy fall within the scope of at least three (3) CEQA exemptions:
- CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(d): This exemption applies to repair or alteration of existing public facilities. Subsection D specifies that restoration or rehabilitation of damaged or deteriorated facilities are exempt.
The existing 7 acre site adjacent to the Sci-Tech Academy is currently used as play fields for the students and general public. The fields are mowed on a semi-regular basis, but without regular routine maintenance (irrigation, fertilization, filling of holes, etc) they have greatly deteriorated over the past 10 years.
- CEQA Guidelines Section 15304(a) and (b): This exemption applies to projects that involve grading on land with a slope of less than 10% as well as projects involve new or replacement landscaping, so long as the project does not involve the removal of healthy, mature trees.
This project proposes to preserve all of the existing mature trees at the project site and add drought resistant native landscaping, where appropriate. Minor grading of the previously graded site will be required to ensure the replacement play fields are level.
- CEQA Guidelines Section 15314: This exemption applies to minor additions to existing school grounds where the addition does not increase student capacity by more than 25%.
While there are no structures proposed to be constructed (the community lies within the FEMA 100-year flood plain), the project does propose to construct several new features including: picnic table areas, a walking/jogging path, a new playground, volleyball courts, and additional parking. None of the proposed additions will result in an increased student capacity.
A Notice of Exemption is provided as Attachment B to this staff report.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt the resolution (Att. A) and direct staff to file the Notice of Exemption (Att. B) with the County Clerk and the State Office of Planning and Research. |