Oxnard seeks up to $6 million federal grant to finish Dearly Park improvements

Oxnard City staff recommended the City Council approve an application for up to $6,000,000 from the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) grant program to complete the Dearly Park improvement project, Eric Hummel, grants coordinator with the Public Works Department, told the council during a staff presentation.

The recommendation would have the city manager or designee execute grant agreements, the finance director or designee submit financial reports and grant claims and approve budget appropriations, and the public works director or designee submit required nonfinancial reports, Hummel said. The ORLP program is administered through the National Park Service and requires a 1-to-1 local match; staff said the application is due March 11, 2025.

Staff told the council the Dearly Park project has a current construction cost estimate of approximately $9,700,000, up from earlier estimates because construction costs have escalated since the projects original grant application. The city previously received a grant award of $7,100,000 on Dec. 8, 2021; after accounting for planning and design costs, Hummel said about $5,600,000 remained from that award. Hummel said staff used value engineering to shift nonessential items into alternates but recommended pursuing the ORLP grant to "fully fund this project and deliver the original design concepts."

If awarded, the ORLP funds would be recognized and appropriated into federal grant fund 200 for an amount not to exceed $6,000,000; the 1-to-1 match up to $6,000,000 would come from previously appropriated state grant funds already budgeted for the Dearly Park improvement project, Hummel said. He listed park features that additional funding would support, saying the grant would fund "skate park, bike pump track, exercise equipment, bleachers, a stormwater system, additional lighting and trees, and the completion of NEPA requirements and Section 106" reviews under the National Historic Preservation Act.

Hummel told the council that because the ORLP program is federal and requires an initial state application before awards, there is a potential project delay of about one year if the city is awarded the grant. He said staff believes the potential delay is justified by the possibility of receiving additional funding to build the elements requested through community outreach. Hummel also told the council that no additional operating, maintenance or staffing costs are expected because the grant would supplement existing funds and not expand the park area.

If the ORLP grant is not awarded, staff said they will continue to research other funding opportunities to close the gap for construction based on the current estimate. Hummel concluded his presentation and indicated staff were available to take questions.