To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Approve the Regatta Park Playground and Landscape Improvements Project and take related actions under CEQA.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE the Regatta Park Playground and Landscape Improvements Project (Project) and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to continue the project, Discovery Bay area. [County Project No. WO#5484; DCD-CP 25-20] (District III).
DETERMINE that this activity is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15302, 15303, and 15304.
DIRECT the Director of Department of Conservation and Development (DCD), or designee, to cause a CEQA Notice of Exemption (NOE) to be filed with the County Clerk and State Clearinghouse, and
AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to arrange for payment of a $25 fee to DCD for processing, and a $50 fee to the County Clerk for filing the NOE.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Estimated Project cost: $419,000. 100% Park Dedication and Park Impact Fees deposited into the Countywide Landscaping District (LL-2) Zone 57 fund account, will be used to fund the improvements.
BACKGROUND:
Proposed Improvements
The Town of Discovery Bay and Contra Costa County are working on a project to expand the use of Regatta Park, including increased American with Disabilities Act (ADA) access. The proposed improvement builds on a project that was completed in 2023, which included a new ADA play structure that was added to the park and partially funded through the State of California’s Park and Water Bond (Proposition 68) program. The proposed improvements continue the work funded through Proposition 68, and includes required improvements associated with ADA access by restriping the parking lot to accommodate users of the new play structure and parking lot repairs. Additional proposed improvements include replacing the existing playground with a new structure and poured-in-place surfacing, installing a shade structure over the ADA playground, and installing a new water fountain. The new structure will be similar in lot size but includes expanded and improved features for children between the ages of 5-12 years old. The overall project will upgrade, modernize, and improve the quality of recreation amenities offered to the community.
The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it consists of replacement of existing structure (playground structure), new accessory structure (shade structure), and associated landscape improvements (water-efficient irrigation system and drought-tolerant plants) that will have the same purpose and capacity as the current structure and does not remove healthy, mature scenic trees pursuant to Article 19, Sections 15302, 15303, and 15304 of the CEQA Guidelines.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Delays in approving the project may result in a delay of design, construction, and may jeopardize funding.
C: Stephen Griswold - District 3 Board of Supervisor, Jocelyn LaRocque- Engineering Services, Rochelle Johnson -Special Districts, Scott Anderson -Special Districts, Claudia Gemberling-Environmental Services, Kristine Solseng-DCD