AgdaPkt 2014-01-13 Interview, Closed and Regular

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7.2.A. - Page 2 describing new and improved park facilities that are needed to mitigate the anticipated demands of new development. In 2007, following the completion of the nexus study, the Planning Commission accepted the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission's recommended park standard of 3 acres per 1,000 residents, and adopted a Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the Active Community Parkland Standard. Subsequently, the City Council incorporated this standard into the Open Space Element of the new General Plan. On October 24, 2011, the City Council approved the creation of a Park Impact Fee Project List as required by the City's municipal code. Revenues from park impact fees are used exclusively for installation, acquisition, construction and improvement of park projects from this list. The current list includes the following: 1. Acquire land for active park space as described in the 2008 Parks Needs Assessment (defined by locations within the City) 2. Increase use capacity of athletic fields through the conversion of synthetic turf and adding field lights where appropriate (i.e. Taft School turf conversion, Garfield School turf conversion, and Guida -49er Field Lights) 3. Develop trails and other recreational uses in the Hetch - Hetchy right -of -way, Redwood Creek, open waterways (as appropriate) and the connection to the Bay Trail System (along Redwood Creek and connecting the Bay Trail from San Carlos to Menlo Park) 4. Add new play equipment and amenities in parks for the purpose of increasing "play value" and use capacity (defined in the 2008 Park Needs Assessment) On November 20, 2013, the Commission reviewed the current Impact Fee Project List and approved the PRCS Department's recommendation to add a fifth item to the list, specifically referencing the need and opportunity to build new or expand existing community centers. The 2008 Parks Needs Assessment specifically highlights the need for a new "Community Wellness Center" (Recommendation 6 -1). ANALYSIS Since the adoption of the Parks Impact Fee ordinance, the PRCS Department prepared and adopted a "Parks and Facilities Needs Assessment Study" in 2008 which identifies the City's needs for future parks and facilities improvement projects. The City has collected the following fees since 2007 and deposited them in the Parks Impact Fund. The large sums received last two fiscal years are the direct result of the successful Downtown Precise Plan and the new residential units being built.