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Home My WebLink About2/16/2000 - STAFF REPORTS (3) DATE: February 16, 2000 TO: City Council FROM: Director, Department of Facilities PALM SPRINGS SKATE PARK RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt a Resolution of Support, endorsing the construction of a public skate park located in Sunrise Plaza and allow the use of the City's tax identification number to raise private funds for construction of the facility. BACKGROUND: In 1999, a grassroots committee was developed to address possible solutions to the objectionable skateboarding and in-line skating in the downtown business corridor. This core group included members of the Palm Springs Police Department and the Main Street Business Association. It eventually grew to include Parks and Recreation Commissioners and other concerned community members. There were two significant findings made by the group early in the evaluating process. The first and most obvious of the findings was that in-line skating and skateboarding were hugely popular with the younger sector of the community. Secondly, the group quickly realized that there is no location in the community where these types of activities are allowed.Additionally, both activities have long passed the"fad"status and are here to stay as mainstream recreational pursuits. Based on the information learned, these meetings gave birth to the idea of exploring construction of a skating facility somewhere in Palm Springs.This was being considered not so much to remove the activity from the downtown area, as was the original intent, but from the perspective that there appeared to be a legitimate recreational need in the community for the sports. The Parks and Recreation Commission, being supportive of the concept, took action to form a skate park subcommittee in November 1999. This subcommittee included various members of the initial focus group, which had visited other skating facilities throughout Southern California and had a good idea of what is needed for Palm Springs. During the ensuing process, various parks and properties in the city were looked at as potential sites for constructing a skate park. After considerable review, the location of choice for the proposed facility was to be Sunrise Plaza due to its close proximity to the downtown area and its central location in the overall community. All other City parks were reviewed, but they are not being recommended as potential sites due to their distance from the downtown area or the current activity load within them. The specific location in Sunrise Plaza that is being recommended is an area less than one acre in size and adjacent to Sunrise Way on the western boarder of the park, south of the Palm Springs Library Center and north of the Boys and Girls Club. During the entire evaluation process, the matter of construction funding was of primary concern to the subcommittee members, as staff informed them of the many budget challenges currently facing the City Council at this time. Based upon this, the subcommittee is pursuing private donations as the primary funding source to build the project, much as was done in recently constructing the Palm Springs Dog Park. This will allow the project to move forward through the design process and allow staff to prepare a detailed construction cost estimate without compromising the funding for any previously- identified capital projects. Use of the City's tax identification number will also provide AA potential donors with an incentive to help fund construction as contributions toward the project would then be tax deductible. a � A Resolution of Support detailing the above requests is attached for City Council action. ko - ��Z, 1 S OTT UIRESELL, Director epartment of Facilities APPROVED: Interim City Manager U GK,C N, ATTACHMENT: kVd 9��1'c6 �"o'a",FIN f",6 ry 1. Resolution of Support +r��y!fIOWI-D �� Feb-16-oo 02z02P Lynne C. Bushore, CPA PO1 +.ai rona- P,IN6S LIBRAPY IUtj8ia PALM SP�� PAGE M1 Date; February 14,2000 3 a3 To Scott Mikesell, Director, Department of Facilities From. Richard Hostrop, President, Board of Library Trustees Subject Palm Springs Skate Park I understand that the proposed skate park is on the Citv Council agenda for Wednesday,February 16 Neither staft nor the Library Board was aware of the exact locarion proposed fur the skate Park until the agenda packet was received today,Because of its proximity to the I,ihran, with the Libras Center's sphere of influence extending into Sunrise Park, 1 believe that the Trustees Sboidd have the opportuni.ry to review the location and plans before the design and construction of the skate park are finalized. As you knolV; the 'Library building has had a twenty-five ,year history of encounters with skateboarders, who have viewed (he sloping concrete walls as panieulai challenges to their skills, to the detriment of themselves, library patrons. and the building itself. I am concerned that the skate park would attract even more kids mho would take advantage of the budding as the approach to the park and cause inure problems than prescnrly exist Other issnes of concern 'include: The perking lot, already crowded in the evenings and weekends. could be heavily impacted, especially by those attending exhibition events,etc, at the skate park The parking lot should be expanded within the next five years, and, in Pact, is nt the CiP to be done. Will rhers be room far that and still leave enough green space in Sunrise Park if this new skate facility is built? Will there he additional restr=n Facilities? The Library's audiovisual section, literacy area, the Virtual University, and the Reference and Youth Room patios all open onto the area proposed for the skate park. Although I understand that it is proposed to be located some 200 feet away from the building,will the noise generated by the skateboarders be mitigated sufficiently so that it will not impact use of these Library Facilities, particularly in the late afternoons after school,and during evenings and weekends? Proposition 147 the new library construction not, is likely to be approved by voters in March. The Palm Springs Library could be"in line"for a grant of up to$475,000 with which to make additions to the building. ifthat is done (and it is needed),will there be enough land as well as green space available? The Board of Trustees' next meeting is scheduled for March 1 at 3,00. 1 have asked Margaret to include the skate park on the agenda and would appreciate having you or an appropriate committee member there so that the Trustees may participate in the dialog on this matter. I doubt that anyone on the. Board would disagree with the need for more facilities for young people, hilt we do have an obligation to ensure that they do not negatively nnpact Library programs, and we don't have enough information at this point to evaluate the plan properly, cc: Acting City Manager Dallas Flicek — Sw« o Fromi . �: 8 '. i 1 y f � Y LX� ? '� ( A f�F✓r.� *1 1V (( �M g�4.i ��F S F •S A{/ ��n' a' ri 1 711 ISE oi 3 . 1 Y 1� RESOLUTION NO. 19752 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ENDORSING THE CONSTRUCTION OFA PUBLIC SKATE PARK IN THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS AND ALLOWING THE USE OF THE CITY'S TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACILITY. WHEREAS in-line skating and skateboarding have become popular recreational activities with the youth of the community; and WHEREAS it has been determined that construction of a skate park in the City of Palm Springs would be beneficial to the community to provide recreational activities for its youth; and WHEREAS an appropriate location for the skate park facility will be determined at a later date; and WHEREAS the primary funding source forthe skate park construction will be private donations; and WHEREAS the use of the City's tax identification number will provide donors with an incentive to fund the skate park construction, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs as follows: Section 1. That the City Council endorses the construction of a public skate park located in the City of Palm Springs. Section 2. That the use of the City's tax identification number shall be allowed to raise private funds for construction of the facility. ADOPTED this 16'h day of February, 2000. AYES: Members Hodges, Jones, Oden, Reller-Spurgin and Mayor Kleindienst NOES: None ABSENT: None ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By City Clerk Interim City Manager REVIEWED &APPROVED AS TO FORM