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Council approves parks-and-recreation master-plan update contract with Johnson Hill for up to $15,000
Summary
Council authorized the city manager to enter a contract not to exceed $15,000 with Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio to update Berkeley’s parks and recreation master plan; staff said the timeline is aggressive because the city aims to meet the state grant submittal window.
The Berkeley City Council on Aug. 18 authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio for a parks and recreation master-plan update at a cost not to exceed $15,000. The motion (M7025) passed unanimously.
Recreation Superintendent Dan McMinn told council the plan update will gather resident feedback and update the city’s inventory to make Berkeley eligible for grants through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, including the Land and Water Conservation Fund. McMinn said the city received nine proposals for the work with prices ranging from just over $10,000 to $145,000 and that the selection team — McMinn, the city manager, deputy city manager Sean Young and community development director Kristen Kaplansky — gave Johnson Hill the highest score.
Sarah Steenberg, a landscape architect at Johnson Hill Land Ethics Studio, outlined the firm’s approach: a kickoff with staff, site visits to all parks, public engagement including a recommended community meeting before the survey and a second meeting after survey results, synthesis of findings, and a final report suitable for state submittal. Steenberg said the team prefers to hold an initial community meeting before opening the public survey.
On timing, Steenberg said the city must submit an approved plan to the state by Feb. 1 to be eligible for grants in the upcoming year. That calendar requires the plan to be completed by Jan. 1 to allow the 30-day public review period called for in the state submission process. She proposed a kickoff meeting the week after council approval, public engagement starting the first or second week of September for about a month, and then draft review and the required 30-day public review period in December–January.
Council member Hennen asked that the update address the community center future and funding tradeoffs; Steenberg said the firm works across scales and will include feasibility and funding considerations in their recommendations. McMinn said engagement details and meeting dates will be shared broadly once scheduled.
Motion M7025 was made by Mayor Pro Tem Gavin with support from Council Member Baker. Roll call recorded: Patterson — yes; Villani — yes; Baker — yes; Black — yes; Gavin — yes; Hennen — yes; Dean — yes. The motion passed.
