Markham/ Brown projects get nod from City Council

The Vacaville City Council unanimously approved a master plan for improvements in the Brown Street/Markham Avenue area and gave feedback on possible projects for grant funding at Tuesday’s meeting.

The discussion took place as the city was in the midst of trying to apply for a Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program (SPP), which allows Proposition 68 funds to be available for a competitive program to create new parks and recreation opportunities in underserved communities across California. Prop. 68 — also known as the Parks, Environment, and Water Bond Act — was passed by California voters in 2018.

For the program, Housing Director Emily Cantu outlined three potential projects in the Brown/ Markham area that the city could apply toward grants for: improvements at Trower Park, redeveloping a vacant city- owned property

on Brown Street and the Markham Avenue South Trailhead/Rocky Hill Master Trail Plan.

For the Trower Park project, staff have conducted surveys and hosted a virtual community meeting on what residents would like to see in the park. The top suggestions were covered group picnic areas, a splash pad, an enhanced tot lot with additional play elements, areas for skateboarders, and a flat grass turf area.

For the Brown Street project, Cantu said a draft master site plan was being prepared as part of the city’s capital improvement projects. The development would include a city building for the Housing Services Department, shared community meeting and office spaces, and an outdoor public recreation component.

“When the draft site plan is complete, a robust public outreach process will occur to receive feedback including, but not limited to, the desired elements for the outdoor recreation area,” she said.

The Markham Avenue South Trailhead/Rocky Hill Master Trail Plan seeks to continue improvements to the area following years of upgrades that began with work by the Youth Reach Coalition. The Rocky Hill Trail was completed in 2016 and extended in 2018. The project also includes a public art component, the piece of which will be selected through input from the community.

Earlier in 2020, Cantu said, the Youth Reach Coalition partnered with the University of California, Davis and the Vacaville community to develop the Rocky Hill Trail Corridor Master Plan. A grant application has been submitted to implement part of the plan, and the SPP grant funding would be used to complete the southern boundary of the trail.

“Together, these community-based projects form a strategic neighborhood action plan to improve public recreation facilities serving this area,” Cantu said.

That evening, the council was asked to approve what was known as the BrownMarkham Neighborhood Public Recreation Improvements Plan as well as a resolution to apply for SPP funding for one or more of the projects while also directing staff to look into alternative funding. Cantu said the next steps would be to continue to work with the city’s grants management contractor to select the most competitive application or applications, resume community outreach and complete any applications by Dec. 14. Councilwoman Dilennas Harris said she felt all three projects were “critically important” to the area. The Brown Street project, in particular, was one she said had gone through several iterations over the years and the “real use of space” for the area was a topic frequently discussed when she was first elected to the council in 2008. With the city trading land on the property with Solano County, she asked if having something like a gym there was still feasible.

“Does that negate our ability to put something a little more substantial in that project that would benefit the children?” she asked.

Harris also inquired about the likelihood of all three projects being included as part of the grant. Cantu said the amenities provided for Brown Street would be dependent on what the community wants to see. She also said staff were continuing to work with the grant consultants to determine how best to present the projects, whether separately or combined, to guarantee the “best chance for getting the most bang out of our buck, if you will, to get as much of these improvements completed in the community.”

Councilman Nolan Sullivan said the project was one of the most important during his two years on the council and supported all three projects. In particular, he supported improvements to Trower Park as he said kids in the neighborhood do not always have the mobility to use the amenities at other parks in the city.

“If you think about a hot summer day, getting your kid to the swimming pool at Three Oaks is impossible,” he said. “Getting a kid to the skateboard park is impossible, so a couple of the suggestions for Trower Park were spot-on.”

In a public comment, resident Alicia Minyen said many plans have been made over the years to improve the Brown Street lot and the city even applied for a Housing and Urban Development loan in 2000, but nothing came of it. She felt the project should be prioritized and even suggested using General Fund money if grants are not received.

“There’s gotta be some money you can scrounge up to give them the dream that (the residents) deserve,” she said.

Edward Russell, Vacaville resident, said he liked the ideas that were brought up but suggested the city utilize the Brown Street space for long-term projects that would benefit the community such as sustainable gardens or areas for children to build windmills.

“I know children need recreation,” he said. “But in five years, you’re probably going to be redoing the slide or the bark… let’s utilize the money in a practical, efficient and effective way.”

Harris assured that there was a garden in the area that has been used for years and that the city would not put a project in the area just to have something there.

“Our city staff and the council have been very cognizant of needs beyond just putting a playground in,” she said.

Amber Robitaille, a lifelong Brown Street resident and City Council candidate, said the project was a “long time coming” for her neighborhood.

“This can really be a positive impact to our neighborhood, and it can bring some real energy to our neighborhood that we haven’t seen in a long time,” she said.

The council voted 5- 0 to approve the master plan and resolution.

In other business, the council voted to approve Mayor Ron Rowlett’s respective appointments to the Solano Commission for Women and Girls, and the Vacaville Parks and Recreation Commission: Edith Thomas and Ralph Berumen. The votes were unanimous, although Sullivan abstained from voting for Thomas due to a lack of familiarity with her work.