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ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT A $500,000 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT FEDERAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING GRANT IN SUPPORT OF THE VAN BUSKIRK STRATEGIC REUSE PROJECT
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in the amount of $500,000;
2. Authorize the City Manager to appropriate grant revenues and expenditures in the amount of $500,000, and;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute and manage contractor agreements and consultant agreements in amounts consistent with the Grant Agreement.
It is also recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the resolution.
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Summary
The City Manager’s Environment & Sustainability Division seeks City Council approval to accept $500,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (Exhibit 1 to the Resolution) through the FY2023-Community Project Funding Grant (CPF). Pursuant to the authority of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 the U.S. HUD Office of Community Planning and Development, Congressional Grants Division has provided a fully executed Grant Agreement to fund the City of Stockton to support the renovation of the Van Buskirk municipal golf course with new outdoor recreation facilities.
The Grant Agreement, B-24-CP-CA-0209, will fund a portion of the first phase of the project for environmental planning and design requirements. The first phase of the park renovation will focus on resurfacing the existing basketball courts, creation of two new basketball courts, and construction of a new skate park, pump track, bike and walking trails, community garden, kids’ adventure playground, and splash pad, including all associated landscape planting, irrigation, lighting, fencing and site furnishing for those recreational features.
DISCUSSION
Background
On April 2, 2024, City Council approved Resolution No. 2024-04-02-1205 to accept the Round 4 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) funding to kick off the first phase of the Van Buskirk Municipal Golf Course Renovation project in the amount of $7,016,086. This initial phase is guided by the Van Buskirk Park Master Plan, which City Council formally adopted in August 2023 following an extensive two-year public engagement process. The Master Plan reflects input from more than a dozen stakeholder groups, five public meetings, and two community-wide surveys that together shaped a shared vision for a safe, accessible, and inclusive regional park. The adopted plan establishes a clear, Council-approved framework for redevelopment and serves as the guiding blueprint for all subsequent funding and implementation efforts.
City staff continued the pursuit of additional grant funding to support additional project phases, working towards the full scope of the re-use project. In August 2024, City staff received a preliminary award letter and grantee package from HUD to begin the process of applying for funding. Staff began collaboration in October 2024 to identify project points of contact and define the grant scope to meet timelines for 2025 State appropriations applications. In March 2025, City staff began meeting with HUD project officers to finalize the application and submitted the grantee application on May 7, 2025.
Present Situation
On July 17, 2025, City Staff received an email notification from HUD that the Grant Package for B-24-CP-CA-0209 Grantee: City of Stockton Status has been changed to "Executed" for a grant award in the amount of $500,000. Grant funds will be used to complete the environmental requirements for the project. Included with the City’s grant application is a projected project timeline with a conservative estimated completion date of Summer 2028.
The HUD CPF grant, and the previously accepted Round 4 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP) grant (Resolution No. 2024-04-02-1205) will be used in combination to partially fund the first phase of design and construction for the Van Buskirk Renovation project. While Phase 1 of Van Buskirk Park Renovation/ Expansion is underway, staff will continue to pursue additional grant funding to support current and future project phases, working towards the full scope of the re-use project. The City is awaiting a Notice of Award from the Land and Water Conservation Fund through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership grant from the National Park Service that will support the first phase of the project as well.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The HUD CPF grant award is $500,000. To establish the program and grant funding, an appropriation of revenue and expenditures of $500,000 is necessary in the City Manager’s Special Grants Fund - Reimbursement, General Administration Division. There will be no impact on the General Fund because of accepting this grant funding.
Attachment A - CPF Grant Award Letter