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Ranch Community Park, and Tennis Community Park. These sites had flaws, detailed by Assistant <br />Director of Library and Recreation Crose, which kept them from being the final choice. <br />The group eventually focused on Ken Mercer Sports Park and Bernal Community Park. Within Bernal <br />Community Park, they considered two locations, one near Valley Avenue and a second near Bernal <br />Avenue. They determined either location would require significant planning and require voter approval <br />so they thus honed in on Ken Mercer Sports Park which checks all of the afore -mentioned boxes for an <br />ideal site. <br />Assistant Director of Library and Recreation Crose showed images of how the current skatepark can be <br />expanded to up to the desired one acre. She added how the site already possesses most of the <br />necessary infrastructure, shortening the design and construction processes and lowering construction <br />costs. Assistant Director of Library and Recreation Crose stated noise and light impact is minimal here <br />since it already exists. Limited parking is a constraint of the site although there are opportunities to <br />expand parking. This grassy portion of Ken Mercer Sports Park also receives high usage although <br />these groups could be relocated to avoid space conflicts. <br />Assistant Director of Library and Recreation Crose reported the Parks and Recreation Commission was <br />impressed by the positive public comments in favor of Ken Mercer Sports Park, suggested <br />incorporating beginner, intermediate and advanced sections, and asked about upgrading the current <br />skatepark. The Commission had expressed concern about heavy uses of the park and recommended <br />this one -acre lighted skatepark be the last addition to Ken Mercer Sports Park. <br />Assistant Director of Library and Recreation Crose stated should the Council approve the <br />recommendation, they would request quotes for and hire a design consultant, reach out to the public, <br />seek design approval from the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council, fund, and construct <br />the skatepark. <br />In response to Councilmember Pentin's inquiry, Assistant Director of Library and Recreation Crose <br />clarified staff has looked at expanding the existing skatepark and also renovating the current one with <br />an addition to meet the Master Plan's call for a new skatepark. <br />In response to Councilmember Pentin's inquiry, City Manager Fialho confirmed the City has a number <br />of Master Plans sitting on shelves. The goal of the Master Plan referenced here is to create a balanced <br />recreational environment as the City grows. <br />In response to Councilmember Pentin's inquiry, City Manager Fialho reviewed the process of approving <br />projects from a Master Plan, designing them, budgeting and construction. He stated he expects this <br />project to take 16 months to two years to complete. <br />In response to Councilmember Pentin's inquiry, City Manager Fialho discussed the balancing act <br />between competing projects and available resources in conjunction with the Capital Improvement Plan <br />in putting together a puzzle of City projects. He stated the value judgment ultimately comes from the <br />Council. <br />Councilmember Pentin expressed concerns on setting expectations of a rapid completion for the <br />skateboarders, reflecting the slow pace of completion for Bernal Community Park's Master Plan and <br />fiscal complications from the pandemic. <br />Councilmember Testa cautioned about the lengthy completion time for the Val Vista Community Park <br />BMX Park, but expressed her support for the expanded skatepark project as an asset for the <br />community. <br />City Council Minutes Page 4 of 11 December 1, 2020 <br />