REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Eric G. Parra, Interim City Manager
VIA: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
PREPARED BY: Chris Cole, Community & Library Services Manager
Subject:
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Approve the Marina Park reconfiguration conceptual plan as recommended by the Community & Library Services Commission
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Statement of Issue:
Staff has worked with David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. (DVD) to conduct a public input process and develop a reconfiguration conceptual plan to make needed improvements at Marina Park. The Community & Library Services Commission (Commission) met on July 14, 2023 and approved the design concept with certain amendments for Marina Park. Based on subsequent community input received, staff is presenting two conceptual design plan options for City Council’s consideration.
Financial Impact:
No additional funding is required for this City Council action. Initial funding in the amount of $475,000 was included in the City’s Fiscal Year 2022/23 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Marina Park conceptual design services, including the preparation of plans and specifications in Park Development Account 22845025.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Approve one of two conceptual plan design options for the Marina Park reconfiguration conceptual plan, and authorize staff to move forward with initiating development of the design and bid package for construction of the updated facility.
• Option 1: Conceptual Plan presented to the Community & Library Services Commission
• Option 2: Conceptual Plan recommended by the Community & Library Service Commission
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Marina Park, located at 5562 Cross Drive, was constructed in the 1970s and opened to the public in 1979. Since that time, the nine-acre park has functioned as one of the most diverse and important recreational facilities in the City. With a variety of sports and recreational amenities, Marina Park offers a wide range of programs for sports leagues, casual sports play, passive green space, and a library branch to serve the surrounding community.
Development Background
Today, existing amenities at Marina Park include three baseball fields, four gated tennis courts, two full-court basketball courts, eight racquetball courts, two playground areas, as well as passive grass areas with picnic tables. The park also includes the Helen Murphy Branch Library, a 1,200 square foot single-story facility, located on the western edge of the park. The branch was opened in 1967 and has received minor upgrades since. Pending budget approval, staff plans to execute a Library Facilities Master Plan. In the meantime, the conceptual plan earmarks space to accommodate a possible future library branch redesign. Before any redesign or expansion of the branch were to be considered, staff would conduct another series of community input meetings that would specifically address the needs of the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The three existing baseball fields are heavily utilized by Huntington West Little League (Little League) during the spring and fall months. The fields were installed with a 1,200 square foot combination concession and bathroom building that is currently at end of life. Parking is often severely impacted during simultaneous baseball games, general park use, high school activities and practices, and has not been expanded since the original park development in 1979. The fields and dugouts have received minor updates since initial development and need to be brought into compliance with modern accessibility standards. A non-exclusive license agreement was made in the late 1960s permitting the Little League to utilize the three baseball fields for its activities and has been consistently renewed since that time. As part of the agreement, the Little League maintains the ballfields, the concession building, and other baseball related improvements in lieu of field reservation fees.
To assess the 92 trees that have been planted in the park over the years, the project team has consulted with Rebecca Latta Arboricultural Consulting to evaluate the age and condition of each tree. The report suggests 21 trees be removed; six of which should be removed immediately due to their poor health and structure and 15 should be considered for removal at a later date due to disease, insects, or structural issues. The conceptual plan results in an additional 35 trees being removed for a total of 56 trees proposed for removal. Depending on tree health, the 35 trees proposed for removal may be transplanted into other areas of the park. Once complete, the proposed project anticipates 144 trees will be planted, nearly doubling the total number of trees in the park to 180. A copy of the tree survey has been included for reference (Attachment 1).
Marina Park is adjacent to Marina High School. A unique feature of this park is the property line that bisects the outfields of each of the City-owned baseball fields. There is currently no joint-use agreement with the Huntington Beach Union High School District (HBUHSD); however, City Staff and HBUHSD have conducted a number of stakeholder conversations to discuss the development of an agreement, in addition to providing certain improvements to the high school property through this conceptual plan, such as a perimeter fence between the City and HBUHSD fields to provide more safety and security during the school day. The improvements proposed on HBUHSD property are conceptual at this time and contingent upon approval through proper HBUHSD channels.
Public Outreach
Through its contract with DVD, staff has conducted an extensive community outreach program, and met with critical stakeholder groups to establish a partnership with the community in the development of the conceptual master plan. To generate awareness of the project, 2,500 informational postcards were mailed to surrounding neighborhoods (Attachment 2). A project website (tinyurl.com/marina-park) was developed, which includes all project information, community meeting and virtual survey results, as well as the proposed conceptual designs. An email distribution list of 104 individuals has also been used to remind residents of upcoming community meetings, virtual surveys, and updates on the project.
Two in-person design charrettes were conducted with community members, which were each followed with a widely distributed virtual survey soliciting feedback on the concepts discussed during the in-person meetings. The first in-person meeting, held on March 30, 2023, involved approximately 40 community members and was hosted at Murdy Community Center. Attendees were taken on a virtual tour of the park and then divided into smaller teams to discuss current conditions and desired improvements. Following the break-out sessions, groups presented their ideas to their peer community members, and DVD noted the proposed concepts.
Virtual survey 1, which remained open from March 27 - April 17, 2023, was distributed to collect feedback from residents who were unable to attend the in-person community meeting. A total of 114 residents responded to the survey and listed parking, restroom improvements, pickleball, a limited racquetball space, an expanded library, improvements to the Little League fields, and preserving the open grass areas as priority items.
Using both the in-person meeting and virtual survey results, three concept plans were developed and presented at a second in-person community meeting on April 29, 2023. About 40 community members attended this meeting, which consisted of a review of the input received at the first community meeting and virtual survey, followed by a presentation of three concept plans (Attachment 3). Feedback on the plans was noted, and a second virtual survey was sent out to allow comments from those not able to attend the meeting. This second survey was more open ended, allowing residents to indicate their preference on the concept plans and leave general comments. A total of 317 virtual surveys were collected from May 3 - May 19, 2023. Of the surveys received, most (~55%) were from residents who lived within Huntington Beach. Residents that lived within 2 miles of the park showed a preference to proceed with Option 2. Respondents who lived beyond 2 miles from the park preferred Option 1, with the main comment being to keep the racquetball courts. Staff noted these comments and circled back to critical community stakeholders from the Little League, HBUHSD, library community, and local leaders to consider their comments on the proposed designs as well.
On July 14, 2023, Commission approved a conceptual plan with amendments after receiving public comments. These amendments included reducing the number of pickleball courts from two (2) to one (1) and increasing the number of racquetball courts from six (6) to eight (8). Staff are providing two options for City Council consideration; Option 1 (Attachment 4) is the conceptual plan provided to the Commission, and Option 2 (Attachment 5) is the conceptual plan recommended by the Commission to City Council.
Proposed Improvements
Based on the community input received and professional analysis, DVD has prepared two conceptual master plans that include repurposing sections of the park, enhancing some existing facilities, and introducing new amenities. The main items both of the proposed plan are:
• Expanded parking lot that increases the amount of parking spaces from 100 to 175
• Plot space for a new, 12,000 square foot library branch
• Upgraded 1,600 square foot combination concession and restroom building
• Upgraded playground area and shade structures
• Upgraded and repositioned basketball court
• New pickleball courts
• Baseball field improvements, including new bleachers, ADA accessible ramps, batting cages, bullpens, fencing, turf and infield improvements, dugouts, and backstops on City property
• New and repositioned racquetball courts
• A connected ½ mile walking path surrounding the perimeter of the park
• Maintain and refurbish four (4) tennis courts in their current location, including four (4) pickleball court overlays on one tennis court to provide tennis and pickleball instruction
Option 1 includes:
• Two (2) new pickleball courts
• Six (6) racquetball court bays
Option 2 includes:
• One (1) new pickleball court
• Eight (8) racquetball court bays
Two future phases of the Marina Park Conceptual design would include the redesign of the Helen Murphy Library Branch and improvements to the baseball fields on HBUHSD property. Both of these phases would require additional community input, and any improvements made on HBUHSD property would require approval of the HBUHSD School Board. Staff will bring back these improvements for City Council consideration at a later date.
Based on previous Measure C Opinions regarding similar park redesign projects, this project would not require a vote of the people as it protects the public’s access and use of parks.
Project Development Process/Timeline
Pending approval by City Council, the next step in the process would be the development of detailed engineering plans and specifications, including preparation of a preliminary construction estimate. Initial funding in the amount of $475,000 was included in the City’s FY 2022/23 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Marina Park conceptual design services, including the preparation of plans and specifications. Funding is sufficient to move forward with this next phase of design. Additional funds will need to be identified and budgeted as the project proceeds into the construction phase.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Tree Report
2. Informational Postcard
3. Three Concept Plans
4. Option 1 Conceptual Plan
5. Option 2 Conceptual Plan
6. Marina Park Reconfiguration Project PowerPoint