HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/19/2000 - STAFF REPORTS (29) DATE: July 19, 2000
TO: City Council
FROM: Director, Department of Facillities
PALM SPRINGS SKATE PARK
RECOMMENDATION:
That City Council approve locating the proposed skate park adjacent to the Palm
Springs Swim Center's eastem and southem edges, north of Ramon Road, and
aporize staff to explore the possible funding opportunities available through State
Proposition 12,the City's Recycling Fund, and the City's Public Arts Fund,subject
to final approval by the City Council, in addition to continuing to raise fund through
private donations.
BACKGROUND:
At the February 16 City Council meeting, staff presented a proposal to locate the
skate park on the wastem edge of Sunrise Plaza, south of the Palm Springs
Library and north of the Palm Springs Boys &Girls Club. This proposed location
was not acceptable to the City Council or the Palm Springs Library due to Council's
concern for a lack of certain amenities being proposed and the Library's ooncems
over issues of parking and increased traffic in the vicinity.
At this point,staff and the Parks and Recreation's Skate Park Subcommittee began
to explore aftemate skate park sites. During this review process, all City-owned
properties were considered, but all seemed to have certain drawbacks due to
location and surroundings. Location,as well as the absence of amenities,such as
restrooms and parking lots,and the lack of usable space without impacting exiting
features, ruled out nearly all properties from consideration.
The subcommittee then received a suggestion to explore use of the eastern and
southern portions of Sunrise Plaza next to the Palm Springs Swim Center for the
skate park and consider cross-utilization of amenities already in place to address
City Council's concems. This appeared to the subcommittee as a perfect location
and offers economies of scale previously unavailable.
The proposed location provides several opportunities to the skate park that will
enhance the project in many ways,such as the availability of ample parking in the
Pavilion lot, a common and controlled entry facility for improved supervision, the
availability of restrooms and lockers, telephone service, and the possibility of
expanded snack operations, all without adding substantial costs. Additionally,
adding the skate park next to the existing swim center's pool will be mutually
beneficial to both activities through increased exposure and traffic.Staff also feels
that by adding the construction activities currently in process for upgrading the
swim center to those proposed for the skate park, savings will be achieved by
creating a larger, more competitive project to bid and, thus, further reduce the
construction costs of each If bulk independently.
PALM SPRINGS SKATE PARK
DATE: July 19, 2000
PAGE: Two
Staff and the subcommittee members are also reviewing potential funding sources
for the skate park, aside from the primary objective of raising the needed funds
through private donations, to those already in place for the swim center project,
and seek authorization from City Council to investigate these possibilities. The
additional resources meriting investigation are State Proposition 12, the City's
Recycling Fund, and, possibly, the City's Public Arts Fund.
State Proposition 12 funding for acquisition of new park lands or improvements to
existing parks appears to provide upwards of$530,000 to the City. However,staff
believes these funds must be competitively sought and,according to the California
Parks and Recreation Society, they will probably not become available for
disbursement for up to a year from now.
The City's Recycling Fund may provide some opportunities to the skate park
project if recycled materials,such as recycled concrete,plastics and other new-age
materials, are used in the construction of the project.
The Public Arts Commission may view the skate park as an avenue to train student
artists, such as was done at DeMuth Park, or through a unique design feature,
such as the fencing project at the City's dog park.
The subcommittee and the Parks and Recreation Commission seeks City Council's
authorization to explore these possibilities to augment the private contributions
they intend to seek.
Upon City Council's authorization,staff and the subcommittee intend to develop a
conceptual design and ultimately a construction project incorporating features that
would enhance both the skate park and the swim center. By proceeding in this
manner, it is thought that economies of scale will be achieved in both the
construction and the joint operation of each of the two facilities upon completion.
To further this process,the subcommittee has sought and received letters from the
Palm Springs Library, Mizell Senior Center, and the Piranhas Swim Team in
support of both the location and the design concept of this combined project. Staff
intends to continue along these lines and will seek endorsements from the Palm
PALM SPRINGS SKATE PARK
DATE: July 19, 2000
PAGE: Three
Springs Boys & Girls Club, the Palm Springs Unified School District, and other
community-based organizations to move the project forward and, hopefully, gain
support for construction as well.
TT MIKE ELL, Director
'Department of Facilities
APPROVED:
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ATTACHMENT:
1. Minute Order BY WE OF WJNCE
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MINUTE ORDER NO.
APPROVING LOCATING THE PROPOSED SKATE PARK ADJACENT
TO THE PALM SPRINGS SWIM CENTER'S EASTERN AND
SOUTHERN EDGES, NORTH OF RAMOV ROAD.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, approving locating the proposed skate park
adjacent to the Palm Springs Swim Center's eastern and southern edges, north of Ramon
Road,was adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting
thereof held on the 19"'day of July, 2000.
BY: PATRICIA A. SANDERS
City Clerk
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MINUTE ORDER NO.
AUTHORIZING STAFF TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBLE FUNDING
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE THROUGH STATE PROPOSITION 12,
THE CITY'S RECYCLING FUND, AND THE CITY'S PUBLIC ARTS
FUND, SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL BY THE CITY COUNCIL, IN
ADDITION TO CONTINUING TO RAISE FUND THROUGH PRIVATE
DONATIONS.
I HEREBY CERTIFY thatthis Minute Order,authorizing staff to explore the possible funding
opportunities available through State Proposition 12, the City's Recycling Fund, and the
City's Public Arts Fund,subject to final approval by the City Council,in addition to continuing
to raise fund through private donations,was adopted by the City Council of the City of Palm
Springs, California, in a meeting thereof held on the 1 g'"day of July, 2000.
BY: PATRICIA A. SANDERS
City Clerk