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ADOPT THE FINAL INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION FOR THE VAN BUSKIRK PARK REVITALIZATION PROJECT
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to adopt the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environment Quality Act for the Van Buskirk Park Revitalization, Project No. WT24050.
It is also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of this resolution.
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Summary
The Van Buskirk Park Revitalization project has been awarded State funding which has enabled design to start on the first phase of the Van Buskirk Park Revitalization project improvements. Phase 1 improvements include: renovation of the existing basketball courts; two new basketball courts; a new skate park; bicycle pump track; bicycle trails; new splash pad; community garden; and new multi-purpose lawn. The project scope will include all associated landscape planting and irrigation, lighting, signage, fencing, and site furnishings for those specific recreational features.
The Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) has been prepared incorporating the comments received from the public and outside agencies (Exhibit 1 of the Resolution). With Council approval of the IS/MND, the City will have obtained the required environmental clearance under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
It is recommended that Council adopt a resolution approving the Final IS/MND and authorizing the filing of a Notice of Determination under CEQA for the project.
DISCUSSION
Background
Van Buskirk Golf Course is a 192-acre parcel located at 1740 Houston Avenue. The property deeded to the City in 1957 by Charles and Bertha Van Buskirk includes the Van Buskirk Golf Course, Community Center, park, and ballfields. A deed restriction limits use to “public recreation or public park purpose.” The deed also identifies that the property would revert to the donor’s heirs if the City became non-compliant with respect to those restricted uses. The Van Buskirk heirs expressed their continued support for recreational purposes and possible educational opportunities.
On November 17, 2020, by Motion No. 2020-11-17-1403, Council awarded a Professional Services Contract in the amount of $258,857 to Design Workshop, Inc. to develop a Master Plan for the Reuse of Van Buskirk Municipal Golf Course.
In developing the final Master Plan for the Van Buskirk Park, a number of alternatives were prepared and presented to the community and stakeholders for input. A “Preferred Alternative” was created based on community feedback.
On August 22, 2023, by Motion No. 2023-08-22-1501, Council accepted the Concept Master Plan recommended by the 2023 Van Buskirk Master Plan and Biological Resources and Ecosystem Values report.
Construction of the preferred alternative recreational features will take many years to construct depending on the availability of funding. Further, full build-out of the envisioned improvements will likely be completed in phases. While the Master Plan was being developed, staff started applying for State, federal, and other funding sources to help build the Master Plan improvements.
Staff have been successful in receiving funding to construct a Phase 1 project. On April 2, 2024, by Resolution No. 2024-04-02-1205, Council approved a grant award from the Statewide Park Program for the Van Buskirk Park Renovation project in the amount of $7,016,086. Staff are also in the process of securing $7,016,086 in funding from the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership and $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Project Funding. The funding will fund Phase 1 improvements which include: renovation of the existing basketball courts; two new basketball courts; a new skate park; bicycle pump track; bicycle trails; new splash pad; community garden; and new multi-purpose lawn. The project scope will include all associated landscape planting and irrigation, lighting, signage, fencing, and site furnishings for those specific recreational features. The National Park Service is the lead agency for approving National Environmental Policy Act clearance tied to federal funding on the project.
Present Situation
The City is responsible for clearance under CEQA. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt the Final IS/MND was published in The Record on June 30, 2025. The NOI provides notice of a 30-day public review/comment period on the draft IS/MND document. Members of the public and other public agencies were allowed to review the draft IS/MND document. The Final IS/MND has been prepared incorporating the comments received from the public and agencies (Exhibit 1 to the Resolution).
The environmental documents, including the public draft IS/MND and the Final IS/MND have been posted on the City’s website. The design of Phase 1 Van Buskirk Park Revitalization project improvements is approximately 50 percent complete.
It is recommended that Council adopt a resolution approving the Final IS/MND and authorize the filing of a Notice of Determination under CEQA for the Van Buskirk Park Revitalization, Project No. WT24050. Staff anticipates the project to be advertised for construction by the beginning of 2026, pending the receipt of all permitting and completion of the design documents.
Public Comments
An NOI to adopt the Final IS/MND was mailed to property owners in the surrounding neighborhood and published in The Record on June 30, 2025, as a display ad in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15073. Five written comments have been submitted prior to the submission of this staff report.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
There is no impact to the City’s General Fund or any other unrestricted fund as a result of taking the recommended action.
Attachment A – Vicinity Map