Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, September 06, 2022
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVING RESOLUTION NO. 22-178, ADOPTING THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY OF CARSON (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The Parks, Recreation, and Community Services (PRCS) Master Plan is intended to establish a guide to ensure that that Department’s programs, services, and facilities are meeting the needs of the Carson Community. With the assistance of a qualified consultant, RJM Design, the endeavor began with a kickoff meeting on August 26, 2021. Since then, information has been collected from various City Departments, an inventory of Department facilities and their amenities was completed, 6 workshops have been held (2 at the Community Center and 4 at select parks), and multiple surveys have been released. A significant amount of data regarding community preference has been gleaned from the workshops and surveys, including desired programs/classes, most visited park, and passive recreation as being the most common park activity.
Expanding recreational opportunities, especially the addition of pickleball, were detailed at length as part of the report’s recommendations. Most importantly, the physical condition of facilities was disproportionally evident in the community’s perception and experience with the City’s recreation program. Specifically, a greater focus on deferred maintenance, such as implementing a schedule for facilities that require immediate improvements limiting park use, was a key takeaway from this project. Enhancements/upgrades such as additional lighting, better security measures, and a gymnasium in the north side of the City, would also greatly impact the community’s satisfaction. At its August 25, 2022, regular meeting, the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Commission recommended that the City Council adopt the Master Plan. With this endeavor now complete, RJM will be presenting a more detailed summary of findings and recommendations, and the City Council is asked to adopt the Master Plan.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
WAIVE further reading and ADOPT Resolution No. 22-178, “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, ADOPTING THE PARKS, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY OF CARSON”
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action that City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
Since the City of Carson’s incorporation in 1968, it has not undertaken an extensive evaluation of its Community Services-related facilities, programs, and services to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the community. To fill this gap in understanding and insight, the Department has embarked on an assessment of its sites and operations with the assistance of qualified consultants in the Parks and Recreation industry.
This endeavor commenced with a review of Request for Proposals (RFPs) to determine a methodology that would best provide the information required to guide future undertakings in the Department. Once the RFP was completed, it was released on May 17, 2021.
A pre-proposal meeting was held on June 1, 2021, with interested firms and staff to provide a brief outline of what is desired in the proposal and the Master Plan process, as well as to respond to any questions. Four submissions were received by the RFP deadline, June 10, 2021.
A pre-selected group of reviewers from various City Departments examined each proposal on criteria that included knowledge of the subject, experience with developing prior Master Plans, and cost. Ultimately, RJM Design Group (RJM) was selected as the recommended firm. At its June 24, 2021, regular meeting, the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts Commission accepted staff’s selection, and recommended that the City Council approve a contract services agreement with RJM Design Group to develop and prepare the Master Plan.
Established in 1987, RJM is a multi-disciplinary landscape architectural, planning, and design firm committed to serving the needs of cities, public agencies, communities, and organizations throughout California. Among the firm’s staff are licensed landscape architects, architects, and planners, most of whom are LEED Accredited Professional. RJM has completed similar projects for an extensive list of former clients that include Chino Hills, Dana Point, Huntington Beach, Riverside, and Santa Clarita.
City Council approved a request to execute of a contract services agreement with RJM on July 6, 2021. On August 26, 2021, a kickoff meeting was held that formally commenced this endeavor.
In the months since, information has been collected from various City Departments, a census of Department facilities and their amenities was completed, 6 workshops have been held at the Community Center and at 4 parks, and multiple surveys have been released. A significant amount of data regarding community preference has been gleaned from the workshops and surveys and served to provide a wealth of knowledge and insight that will assist planning in the near and far future.
Recommendations primarily focused on two areas, expanding recreation opportunities and facility conditions. Residents wished for more traditional recreation programming - for example, sports leagues and fitness classes for adults and seniors - but also expressed a clear desire for the latest trend in recreation, pickleball. Notably, the community voiced a strong interest in adding dog parks and allowing dogs within city parks.
Additionally, the physical condition of the parks played a disproportionate role in the community’s perception and experience with the City’s recreation program. The report found that the City should place greater focus on the maintenance of the City’s parks, including implementing a schedule for facilities that require immediate improvements that limit park use and increased general maintenance after large events or frequently used areas. Additionally, enhancements/upgrades, such improved lighting, security cameras, and a gymnasium in the north side of the City, would add to the residents’ satisfaction. Taken together, programming and environment go hand-in-hand in ensuring that the City meets the recreational needs and expectations of the community.
Notably, the report highlighted $65 million in needed existing park and facility improvements from the 2021-2026 CIP, $18 million in new park and facility improvement projects from the study recommendations, 253 acres of parkland demand (based on the general plan’s four acres per 1,000 resident standard), and a strong emphasis on “implementing a program to address deferred maintenance at facilities that require immediate improvements where existing conditions may limit park use by the community”, with costs yet to be determined.
As this endeavor is now complete, RJM will be presenting a summary of the Final Report, and the City Council is asked to formally adopt the Master Plan.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None at the time.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Resolution No. 2022-178. (pgs 4-5)
2. Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Master Plan. (pgs. 6-85)
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Prepared by: Michael Whittiker, Community Services/Parks & Recreation Director