Item 6-J

City Council Meeting: 03-23-99 Santa Monica, California

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Request for Endorsement of Recreation and Parks Commission and Sports Advisory Council Participation in the Planning Process for Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District's Use of Proposition X School Facilities Bond Funds Including Use of Funds for School-based Recreational Improvements

Introduction

This report transmits a request by the Recreation and Parks Commission and its Sports Advisory Council that the City Council endorse their involvement in the planning process for use of Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) facility improvement bond funds approved by the voters in November as Proposition X.

Background

The City's Parks and Recreation Master Plan, approved in concept by the Recreation and Parks Commission, the Planning Commission and City Council in 1997, included a strategy to work cooperatively with the SMMUSD to assess the feasibility of improving school play areas to expand open space that is accessible to the community for recreational activities during non-school hours. Community surveys and meetings during the master planning effort supported this concept. Subsequently, in developing the list of needed school facility improvements to include in a bond measure (Proposition X), SMMUSD officials included $5 million for recreation improvements to school sites in Santa Monica. School officials and City staff are currently working together to develop a planning process to determine the use of these recreation funds. This effort will be a part of the overall Proposition X planning process involving school-based governance committees and a district-wide community oversight committee. The SMMUSD Board of Education will determine the final use of funds after public input.

Discussion

The Parks and Recreation Commission and its Sports Advisory Council, comprised of representatives of sports organizations that use public recreation facilities, wish to actively participate in the District's planning process and to advocate for the conversion of school asphalt surfaces to turf areas to address the shortage of play fields in the community. This involvement is consistent with strategies included in the City's Parks and Recreation Master Plan to work with the SMMUSD to assess the viability of this approach.

Financial/Budgetary Impact

There is no financial or budgetary impact to this requested action.

Recommendation

City staff recommends that the Council endorse the involvement of the Recreation and Parks Commission and the Sports Advisory Council in the Proposition X planning process as described above.

Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director

Department of Community and Cultural Services