Request #9659
Hello!
My name is Sukhman Sahota, and I am a student journalist at Chapman University. My peers and I are working on an article about parkland in Orange County cities and need to confirm some numbers with you.
A few weeks ago, I called the Garden Grove City Hall and was told Garden Grove has 147.98 acres of parkland. Please let me know if this is correct. The project we are working on has the potential to be published in the Voice of OC, making it super important that we get the most updated and accurate number of acres of parkland.
My peers and I have compared parkland per 1000 residents to the Quimby Act, which states that every city should have 3 acres per 1000 residents. The definition of parkland we’re using is based on the act: Land dedicated to public parks and recreational facilities. It depends on your city ordinance, but the Quimby Act can include various recreational areas like beaches or sports complexes, as long as they are accessible to the public and serve recreational purposes.
I was informed that Garden Grove has 147.98 acres of parkland and 171,949 residents (2020 census), and the park score is 0.86 acres per 1,000 residents.
EDITED:
I also wanted to give you the information I'm searching for from city officials. The Quimby Act sets a standard, and if that standard still needs to be fulfilled, developers in those cities must either create adequate parkland or pay that city a fee for maintaining parks near the development. I want to understand how much money is coming from this act to the city and where it actually is going. Here are some more formal questions about the topic:
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Were you aware that developers pay fees if they don't allocate parkland according to the act?
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Where is Garden Grove putting those fees in their annual budget?
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What is Garden Grove doing with those fees? Where is that money going exactly?
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Are there any ongoing park maintenance or projects that Garden Grove is working on that this money is going towards?
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And lastly, what is the specific number of total fees that the city has gotten in the last three years?
Please let me know if any of the information provided needs to be updated or if you have any questions!
Thank you,
Sukhman Sahota
Correspondence
Request for Public Records – City of Garden Grove Notice of Extension
The City of Garden Grove has received your records request dated November 6, 2024, Request #9659. The City’s intent is to comply with your request for public records, pursuant to the California Public Records Act (the “Act”) (Government Code §6250 et seq.).
The City is in the process of evaluating this request and is compiling records in an effort to make a determination as to whether the request seeks copies of disclosable public records in the possession of the City of Garden Grove. However, notice is hereby given that the time limit to make this initial determination under the code shall be extended by fourteen (14) days to December 2, 2024, pursuant to Government Code §6253, for the following reason:
(a) The extension of time is reasonable and necessary for the proper processing of the request.
As noted above, the City’s written determination as to whether the request seeks copies of disclosable, non-exempt and non-privileged public records in the possession of the agency shall be sent to you on or about December 2, 2024. Pursuant to the Act, thereafter any and all disclosable, non-exempt and non-privileged public records that are deemed responsive to your request will be made promptly available to you.
Sincerely,
City Clerk’s Office
City of Garden Grove
Due date extended to: Monday, December 02, 2024
The City's General plan states the City has 157.98 acres of parkland. However, 10 acres were a joint use agreement for Lake School Park that the Garden Grove Unified School District has since terminated. So, that comes to 147.98. The City recently added approximately 8.8 acres of walking/biking path at the new Medal of Honor Bike and Pedestrian trail, and is also adding 1/2 an acre to Woodbury Park, as part of the planned renovations to the park. This puts the amount back to approximately 157 acres. Also note that 22 of the 157 acres is for Haster Basin Recreational Park, which is County owned and maintained, but open to the public as parkland.
-Were you aware that developers pay fees if they don't allocate parkland according to the act?
Yes.
-Where is Garden Grove putting those fees in their annual budget?
Those fees are used to make improvements at parks and facilities throughout the city. These improvements are guided by the Parks and Facilities Master Plan that was established with community input and approved by Council. https://ggcity.org/sites/default/files/PRF-Master-Plan.pdf
-What is Garden Grove doing with those fees? Where is that money going exactly?
All the funds as of Fiscal Year 2024-2025 have been allocated to ongoing 5-year capital improvement projects listed in the City's budget on the City's website: https://ggcity.org/finance/budget-and-financial-reports
Starting on page 161, the projects are listed as Park Improvements with Fund source "Citywide Park Fee" and "Park Fee."
-Are there any ongoing park maintenance or projects that Garden Grove is working on that this money is going towards?
See previous response (starting on page 161, the projects are listed as Park Improvements with Fund source "Citywide Park Fee" and "Park Fee.")
-And lastly, what is the specific number of total fees that the city has gotten in the last three years?
That information would come from a report by our Engineering Division that would need additional time to obtain. However, the total amount we have to allocate to projects is listed in the budget by adding all the total project cost that have "Citywide Park Fee" and "Park Fee" listed in the report.