Daly City Council approves park partnership, reservoir design, stormwater project, rezonings and energy storage agreement

Daly City’s City Council on March 10 approved a series of infrastructure and land-use actions, including a public–private agreement with Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory for upgrades at Marsh Bank Park, authorization of design services to replace the city’s out-of-service Reservoir 7, and a construction contract award for green stormwater and pedestrian improvements on Santa Barbara and Vista Grande avenues. The council also adopted a rezoning ordinance for 2150 Geneva Avenue and approved a development agreement for an energy storage project with expanded community outreach requirements.

The approvals package bundles near-term construction and planning steps the city says will address public-safety, stormwater, accessibility and recreational needs. Council votes on most items were unanimous voice or roll-call approvals.

Councilmembers and staff said the Marsh Bank Park agreement would expand recreational uses and accessibility while Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep pledged to fund and build major field and site improvements. “This is a beautiful field with so much potential for the future,” said Melinda Lawler Scrady, president of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, describing a multiuse turf field, bleachers, storage and site circulation improvements. Sacred Heart’s representatives told the council the school has already spent about $871,000 on research and design and expects the project to be phased and funded across academic years, with an initial construction phase price the school estimated at roughly $7 million and a total program figure discussed in the presentation of about $15 million.

For the city’s water system, Joshua Cosgrove, director of the Department of Water & Wastewater Resources, described structural and seismic concerns at Reservoir 7, a 1.5 million-gallon welded-steel tank taken out of service in October 2020. Cosgrove said staff recommends demolishing the existing tank and replacing it with a prestressed concrete reservoir sized between 1.5 million and 2.0 million gallons. He told the council the proposed design contract with West Yost is $588,558 plus a 20% contingency ($117,711.60) for a not-to-exceed amount of $706,269.60.

On transportation and stormwater, staff recommended awarding construction for the Santa Barbara Avenue and Vista Grande green stormwater infrastructure and pedestrian improvements to FJNI Engineering of San Pablo for bid schedule A plus add-alternate 1. City staff noted the contract award under the smaller scope is $173,495; when combined with contingency, contract administration and staff costs, the total estimated construction cost for that award is $208,194. The project is partially funded through a settlement-related supplemental environmental project from the North San Mateo County Sanitation District tied to a Regional Water Board enforcement action.

The council also adopted two land-use items. Ordinance No. 1480 rezones 2150 Geneva Avenue from light commercial (C-1) to heavy commercial (C-2) after a second reading. The council approved on second reading an uncodified ordinance that authorizes a development agreement with Comoran Energy Storage, LLC; during the discussion councilmembers secured an amendment requiring the developer to conduct additional public outreach by mailing notices and hosting meetings covering a one-mile radius from the project parcel.

Votes at a glance

- Draft response to the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report “Restaurant Exteriors, The Neglected Space”: approved; staff reported the city agreed with six findings and has implemented the grand jury’s single recommendation; action authorizes the city manager to transmit the response. (Voice vote; motion carried.)

- Reservoir 7 tank replacement: authorized execution of a professional services agreement with West Yost to provide design services for Reservoir 7 replacement for an amount not to exceed $706,269.60 (base proposal $588,558 plus 20% contingency). Council approved a motion to authorize the agreement. (Voice vote; motion carried.)

- Marsh Bank Park improvements and agreement with Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory: council authorized the city manager to execute the agreement enabling Sacred Heart to design and construct field and site improvements at Marsh Bank Park (multiuse synthetic turf field, bleachers, storage, circulation ramps, scoreboard, batting cages, and accessibility elements). Sacred Heart representatives discussed prior investments ($871,000) and estimated initial construction-phase spending of about $7 million, with a multi‑year program figure discussed. (Roll-call vote: unanimous.)

- Santa Barbara Ave / Vista Grande Ave green stormwater infrastructure and pedestrian improvements: accepted bids and awarded construction contract for bid schedule A and add-alternate 1 to FJNI Engineering (San Pablo) in the amount of $173,495; total estimated construction cost for the awarded scope $208,194 after contingency and staff costs. Council authorized fund reallocations and appropriation of $100,398 from unallocated general CIP funds to fully fund the approved scope. (Roll-call vote: unanimous.)

- Ordinance No. 1480 (rezoning 2150 Geneva Ave from C-1 to C-2): adopted on second reading. (Roll-call vote: unanimous.)

- Ordinance No. 1481 (development agreement approving Comoran Energy Storage, LLC): adopted on second reading with an added condition requiring developer outreach and mailed notice to residents and community stakeholders within a one‑mile radius of the project parcel and additional Bayshore-targeted public meetings. (Roll-call vote: unanimous after friendly amendment.)

What the council directed next

Staff were asked to coordinate outreach for the Marsh Bank Park project (including neighborhood coordination and scheduling with Recreation for programming), advance the Reservoir 7 design contract so geotechnical and hazardous-materials testing begin, and move the Santa Barbara/Vista Grande contract into construction this spring. For the energy storage development agreement, staff and the project sponsor agreed to coordinate with Daly City and, where applicable, nearby San Francisco agencies to ensure mailed notifications and public meetings reach nearby residents and homeowner associations.

Why it matters

Taken together, the approvals move forward capital projects intended to improve public safety and infrastructure (a seismically upgraded reservoir; stormwater capture and pedestrian safety), and to expand recreation capacity at a city park through a public–private partnership that Sacred Heart officials say will reserve subsidized slots for Daly City residents and youth. The development agreement also puts stronger outreach commitments in writing for a major energy-storage project sited near residential neighborhoods.

Council next meets in two weeks; several items approved March 10 include implementation steps that will return to staff for permitting, bidding and construction scheduling. Ending