Item 8 - Lake Poway Upper Playground Design Presentation & Appropriation of Additional Funds for Construction, CEQA ExemptionDATE:
TO:
FROM:
CONTACT:
SUBJECT:
Summary:
AGENDA REPORT Ci t yof Po way
February 21, 2023
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Robert Manis, Director of Development Services
Jeff Beers, Special Projects Engineer c:;e__
(858) 668-4624 or jbeers@poway.~
CITY COUNCIL
Lake Poway Upper Playground Design Presentation and Appropriation of Additional
Funds for Construction and Determination the Project is Categorically Exempt from
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The Lake Poway Recreational Area is a regional park serving all segments of the community. The
recreation amenities at the lake include fishing, hiking, and family play at the two playgrounds. This
project will significantly renovate the upper playground. The City received a grant through the
California State Department of Parks and Recreation, that will pay for a portion of the construction
costs.
Recommended Action:
It is recommended the City Council:
(1) Appropriate additional funds in the amount of $1,191,293 from the Park Improvement Fund
(4110-30504112) for the construction of the Lake Poway Upper Playground Renovation Project
(CIP #PK020), and unappropriate the original $342,505 from the Lake Poway Upper
Playground Renovation Project (PK020) back to the General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance
(F1000); and
(2) Make a determination the Project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA).
Discussion:
The Lake Poway Recreational Area was established in 1974 with the construction of the lake and the
water treatment facility. The establishment of the recreational area was to provide families in Poway
with a regional open space park that offered a wide variety of uses. The recreational uses in the park
were added over time to include fishing, hiking, softball facilities and playgrounds, among other
activities.
The upper playground was constructed in 1994 with modifications in 1996 and is located next to the
pavilion and the large parking area leading to the lake as depicted in the site map (Attachment A). All
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the play equipment is either from the original construction or the modification in 1996. The play
equipment is out of date and has outlived its useful life. Maintenance has become difficult as parts
are no longer available.
A Capital Improvement Project (CIP) was studied and submitted for construction in the Fiscal Year
2021-22 CIP Project list. The scope of that project was to replace the play equipment with a system
that was equal to the existing structures and replace the existing poured-in-place play surfacing with
a new tiled system that has been used at other playgrounds.
To augment funding for the project, on December 7, 2021, staff was granted approval (Resolution 21-
095) by the City Council to apply for grant funds through the California State Department of Parks and
Recreation. On January 18, 2022, the City was awarded grant funds in the total amount of $208,707
from the Per Capita Fund ($177,952) and the Urban County Fund ($30,755) to support the construction
of the project. Conditions of the grants require construction be completed by December 31, 2023, and
a deed restriction placed on the parcel, terminating on June 30, 2048. Initially, the $208,707 grant
funded portion will need to be advanced by the City and then intermittently reimbursed by the State
for eligible expenditures once incurred.
The intent is to use the grant funds to increase the scope of the project and renovate the existing
playground in a way that is more appropriate to a regional park. Typically, amenities of a regional park
are larger in scope, provide more varied play opportunities, and are designed in a way that represents
the place in the city where the playground is located. In this case, Lake Poway.
Since the original CIP submission was completed, it has been determined that future playgrounds will
incorporate shade structures that shade most of the play devices, protecting them from excessive
heat, therefore extending the playability of the structure throughout the day.
The scope of the project includes replacement of all the existing play structures with modern, non-
customized equipment that represent the Lake Poway Recreational Area in theme and color. The new
equipment will expand the capacity of the playground with larger and ADA accessible play structures.
This requirement will make it easy for the Public Works Department to obtain replacement parts. The
proposed project will also replace the existing poured-in-place and wood chip mulch surfacing with
the padded tile system that has been used throughout the other playground renovation projects and
construct a shade structure covering most of the play devices. The layout of the proposed park
improvements is shown in Attachment B.
If Council elects to move forward with this design, the project will be advertised for bid on February
22, 2023. The bidding and contracting phase typically last approximately three months to the start of
construction. The construction is anticipated to start mid-summer and last until December 2023.
Environmental Review:
The proposed playground renovation of an existing facility is Categorically Exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a Class 1 Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Section 15301 (c) of
the CEQA Guidelines, in that the project involves renovation of an existing facility with no expansion
of use.
Fiscal Impact:
Approval of this item will result in an appropriation of $1,191,293 from Park Improvement Fund (4110-
30504112) as will require a short-term advance in the amount of $208,707 from the General Fund
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Unassigned Fund Balance (F1000) for the construction of the Lake Poway Upper Playground
Renovation Project (CIP #PK020). The $208,707 will be reimbursed through the California State
Department of Parks and Recreation grant. The original appropriated balance of $342,505 from Lake
Poway Upper Playground Renovation Project (PK020) will be returned back to the General Fund
Unassigned Fund Balance (F1000).
There is approximately $3.0 million currently available in the Park Development Fund (4110) for park
related improvements. Based on an analysis from Development Services, it is expected that an
additional $100,000 to $250,000 in park impact fees will be received over the next couple of years.
Public Notification:
None.
Attachments:
A. Site Map
B. Playground Site Plan
Reviewed/Approved By:
Assistant City Manager
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Reviewed By:
Alan Fenstermacher
City Attorney
Approved By:
Ch~
City Manager
February 21, 2023, Item #8
SITE MAP
4 of 5 ATTACHMENT A February 21, 2023, Item #8
NORTH
PLAYGROUND SITE PLAN
5 of 5 ATTACHMENT B February 21, 2023, Item #8