SR-6-G (83)
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EPWM CP AA DB BB\s \sp1541\cc1541c Santa MOnica, CalifornIa
CounCil MeetIng May 11. 1999
TO Mayor and CIty Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Authonze the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute
Two Cooperative Agreements wIth the State of California to Accept TItle to
the StaIrs, Paths and Underlymg Land ProvidIng Pedestnan Access Between
Palisades Park and Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) at Broadway and
Montana Avenues. Receive FundIng from the State of California, Appropnate
the Funding Into CIP Accounts and Authonze an Amendment to Contract
7267(CCS) with Valley Crest Landscaping, Inc for Intenm Repairs m the
Amount of 5100.000
Introduction
ThIS report recommends that the City CouncIl authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute two cooperatIve agreements wIth the State of California to accept title to the stairs,
paths and underlYIng land provldmg pedestrian access between Palisades Park and PacIfic
Coast HIghway (State Route 1) at Broadway and Montana Avenues, receive a total of
$800,000 from the State to use for repair and mamtenance of the access routes,
appropriate $100,000 of thiS funding to the appropnate CIP accounts, and authonze a
contract amendment In the total amount of $100.000 to Contract 7267(CCS) with Valley
Crest LandscapIng. Inc for Interim repaIrs
The tItle transfer does not Include the pedestnan bridges over PCH at Broadway and
Montana Avenue These Will remain under the control of Caltrans
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Backqround
The Caltrans-owned wooden staIrs down to Pacific Coast Highway from Palisades Park
at the foot of Montana Avenue were constructed In 1980 Over the years, there has been
a general lack of routine maintenance of the stairs As a result of the Northndge
Earthquake and heavy storms that followed, minor damage to the stairs occurred The
stairs are currently overgrown with shrubbery and other debris, are Improperly lit, and
require leveling They have been closed to the public since 1994 Santa MOnica residents
have complained about the Inconvenience this causes, as the next closest overpass IS
1.000 feet away
The area of the Palisades Bluff Just north of the Semor Center above the Broadway path
has had a history of severe eroSion, resulting In periodic closures of the path due to mud
overflow To date. Caltrans has not corrected the erosion problem nor prOVided routine
maintenance of the path dUring wet weather
The City has requested that Caltrans repair the Montana staIrs and Broadway path and re-
open them to the publiC on numerous occaSions, Without success The City's englneenng
staff prepared an engineering estimate of $796,000 for the cost of optimal stair and
pathway repairs for the two locations
DIScussion
There are several compelling reasons for the City to seek control of these pathways which
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Include Improved access to the beach, enhanced maintenance and Improved aesthetIc
appearance In order to obtam control of the staIrs, two agreements must be executed with
the State When the agreements with Caltrans are executed and the $800,000 IS received,
the City will make interim repairs to the Montana Avenue stairs and construct temporary
erosion control measures at the Broadway path to reopen both access sites to the public
In time for commissIoning of the Palisades Park - Phase II project These temporary
measures will cost $50,000 each. for a combined total of $100,000 to be used for interim
repairs
Valley Crest Landscaping Company IS currently on site Implementing the Palisades Park
renovations. and It would be timely and effiCient for their firm to undertake the interim
repairs so that the stairs and pathways can be opened to cOincide with the completion of
Palisades Park
Long term Improvements will Include additional landscaping, lighting and slgnage at the
Montana Avenue stairs and slope stabilization, landscaping and added lighting at the
Broadway path The cost of these long term Improvements at both sites IS estimated at
S550.000, bringing the total cost of repair and rehabilitation to $650,000
The City's Parks and Sports DIVISion currently maintainS Palisades Park adjacent to the
Montana Avenue stairs and the Broadway path Staff estimates that the Incremental
Increase for taking on annual maintenance costs wlH be $5,000 per year ThiS maintenance
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cost will be funded from the $150.000 balance of the $800,000 received from the State
Budr::JetlFlnanclallmpact
Lump sum payments from the State of $470.000 for the Montana Avenue stairs and
$330.000 for the Broadway path will be held In deferred revenue accounts #01-000-000-
00000-9870-04976 and #01-000-000-00000-9870-04977 respectively
It IS requested that $50.000 ofthe S470,000 be approprrated Into CIP account 01-770-402-
20099-8900-99750 (Montana Avenue stairs) and $50,000 of the $330,000 be appropriated
at CIP Account 01-770-402-20099-8900-99751 (Broadway path) for the anticipated Intenm
repairs
As actual expenditures are made up to 5100,000 at these accounts, deferred revenues Will
be moved to revenue account #01-130-224-00000-0417-10000 In an equal amount The
FY 1999/00 budget Will reflect an Increase of $100,000 at this revenue account
The $5,000 Increase In annual maintenance cost Will be reflected In the budget with a 1
FTE Increase In the overtime line Item
Staff RecommendatIOn
Staff recommends that the City Council
1 Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute two cooperative agreements
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with the State of California to accept title to the stairs, paths and underlymg land
providing access between Palisades Park and PacifiC Coast Highway at Montana
Avenue and Broadway,
2 Authonze the CIty Manager to receive from the State the lump sum payments of
$470,000 and $330,000 for the Montana Avenue stairs and Broadway path,
respectively, to be held m deferred revenue accounts 01-000-000-00000-9870-
04976 (Montana Stairs) and 01-000-000-00000-9870-04977(Broadway Path),
3 Appropnate $50,000 Into CIP account 01-770-402-20099-8900-99750 (Montana
Stairs) and $50.000 mto CIP account 01-770-402-20099-8900-99751
(Broadway Path) for mtenm repairs of these pedestnan access Sites, and
4 Authorize a contract amendment to Contract 7267(CCS) with Valley Crest
Landscaping. Inc In the total amount of $100,000 to construct Interim
Improvements to the Montana Avenue stairs and the Broadway pathway
Prepared by Craig Perkms. Director of EnVIronmental & Public Works Management
Anthony Antlch, P E , City Engineer
Barbara Stinchfield, Director of Community and Cultural Services
Judith Meister, Beach Manager
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