REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL August 27, 2015 FROM: MANUEL A. MOLLINEDO, Director Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department BY: TONY HERNANDEZ, Parks Manager KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department SUBJECT ..Title Approve an amendment to the agreement with Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District for the operation of two additional flood control basins as public parks (Council District 2) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council approve an amendment to the agreement between the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District (FMFCD) and City of Fresno for the joint use of two additional drainage basins, and authorize the Director of the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Two drainage basins which were previously opened for the public to enjoy as park space have recently been closed by the FMFCD. Through agreements with FMFCD, PARCS operates ten drainage basins as park space during the year when they are not used for flood control purposes. PARCS is requesting to operate two additional drainage basins as public parks, Basin "F" located near Del Mar and Barstow Avenues, and Basin "EG" located near Spruce and Hayes. BACKGROUND On August 26, 1965, the PARCS Department entered into a joint Maintenance and Operation Agreement for Drainage Basin Parks with FMFCD, which was amended in 1987, 1995, 1998 and 1999. This agreement allows the City to assume responsibility and control of seven flood control basins during the "dry season", which is defined as May 1 to November 14, for the purpose of operating these basins as public parks. The FMFCD assumes responsibility for the basins for the remainder of the year, during which time they are used for the collection and storage of storm and flood waters and for groundwater recharge. The two basins that are included in this amendment to the joint Maintenance and Operation Agreement were operated by FMFCD as park space but were recently closed to the public. These two sites are identified as Basin "F" located near Del Mar and Barstow Avenues, and Basin "EG" located near Spruce and Hayes. The City wishes to open these green spaces for public use and FMFCD is agreeable to allowing the PARCS Department to operate these two sites under the same terms as the other basins in this agreement. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This is not a "project" for the purposes of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because this item does not include an award of a construction or consultant contract. FISCAL IMPACT The estimated cost to operate both basins is $19,500 annually. Given that these as well as the other flood control basin facilities will be closed within the next few months and will not open until the Spring of 2016, the PARCS budget can absorb the costs of maintaining these two additional facilities over the course of the fiscal year. Attachment: Amendment to agreement