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7.3.A. - Page 1 <br /> REPORT <br /> To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> From the City Manager <br /> April 13, 2015 <br /> SUBJECT <br /> Approval of Use of the City-owned Property at 1606 Middlefield Road for Park Purposes <br /> and Adoption of a Relocation Plan for the Tenants of the Property <br /> RECOMMENDATION <br /> 1) By motion, approve use of the City-owned property at 1606 Middlefield Road for <br /> park purposes; and <br /> 2) Adopt a Resolution adopting a Relocation Plan for the eligible tenants in the City- <br /> owned property at 1606 Middlefield Road and authorizing execution of related <br /> documents and issuance of Relocation Benefits <br /> BACKGROUND <br /> On September 8 2014, the City Council authorized the City's purchase of the property at <br /> 1606 Middlefield Road for the purpose of exploring possible public uses, including the <br /> potential of expanding the adjacent Jardin de Ninos Park. The property includes a <br /> single-family house at which four tenants resided at the time of the City's purchase. <br /> Staff recommends that the property be used for park purposes as an expansion of <br /> Jardin de Ninos Park. Since the house will be demolished as part of the City's public <br /> use of the land, the City is obligated by State law to relocate the house's tenants in <br /> accordance with a specified process as described in a relocation plan adopted by the <br /> City Council. <br /> ANALYSIS <br /> Proposed Expansion of Jardin de Ninos Park <br /> The City is deficient in park land to meet the General Plan goal of three acres of park <br /> per thousand residents. This is particularly acute in the older sections of town <br /> surrounding the Downtown Core. Jardin de Ninos Park, located on Middlefield Road, is <br /> a small, 32 acre neighborhood park that supports the Stambaugh-Heller neighborhood, <br /> and is located in the area of the City with the second-lowest number of park acres per <br /> resident. The park is situated on a corner of the block between Cedar and Chestnut <br /> Streets and the adjacent property is located on the opposite corner of the same block. <br /> The adjacency of the properties allows for the contiguous expansion of the park along <br /> Middlefield Road. The proposed plan for the expansion is a passive open space that will <br /> connect to the existing park with new shaded pathways. It is anticipated that the design <br /> will include new trees, bench seating, and an approximately 3,800 square foot planted <br /> area that will break up the heavily paved neighborhood. <br />