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Council Meeting July 13, 1999
Santa MOnica, California
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Authonze the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a
Contract with Culbertson/Adams Associates, Inc for Preparation of Separate
Environmental Impact Reports for the Virginia Avenue Park Expansion Project
and for the Airport Park on Non-AViation Land at Santa Momca Airport
Introduction
This report recommends that the City CouncIl authOrize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a contract With Culbertson, Adams & Associates, Inc for the preparation of
environmental documents In compliance With the Callforma Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Virginia Avenue Park
Expansion Project and In compliance With CEQA for the Airport Park on non-aviation land
at Santa Monica Airport The contract amount shall not exceed $148,085 Including $10,495
In contingency funds
Background
VirginIa Avenue Park ExpanSion - The Virginia Avenue Park ExpanSion project IS a major
element of the City's strategy to enhance the PIca neighborhood and address the
recreatronal needs of the commumty The community deSign process for the Initial
expansion site at the northwest corner of PICO and Cloverfield Boulevards was completed
In February, 1999 As thiS concept planmng process was neanng completion, CIty CounCil
approved the purchase of two parcels located adjacent to the eXisting park to the west In
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order to Incorporate these two new parcels Into the concept design for the park expansion,
Takata Associates, the project archItect, has augmented Its consultant team to Include the
architectural firm of Komng Elzenberg Associates A working group comprised of
representatives from the Recreation and Parks Commission, Virginia Avenue Park AdvIsory
Board, Planning Commission and neighborhood youth representatives has been formed and
has begun holding public meetings wIth the commumty, city staff and the consultant team
to direct the incorporation of these two new parcels Into the proposed concept plan Once
a concept plan for the park expansion IS approved by the City Council In late fall 1999,
envIronmental revIew must be performed ThIs may Include the need to amend the Federal
Environmental Assessment required by NEPA for the purchase of the sites since COSG
funds are Intended to be used for the construction phase of the project
Alrporl Park Project - In July 1997, the City Council conceptually approved the Airport Non-
AViation Land Use Feasibility Study Funds for the necessary environmental review were
budgeted In FY98-99 The project Includes 5 acres of play fields with lawn areas,
playground eqUipment and restrooms, an off leash dog area and parking, all In the area
Immediately north of Airport Avenue It also Includes streetscape Improvements to Airport
Avenue
As part of the City CouncIl's conceptual approval, staff was directed to analyze Includmg
artIst live/work space at the airport In the EIR A study of the feasibility of developmg
live/work/affordable studio space for artists throughout the community IS underway ThiS
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study will evaluate the feasibility of locating these uses along Airport Avenue Staff
recommends that an evaluation of the environmental Issues associated with specific artist
live/work space Identified In this study be performed separately from the EIR for the Airport
Park
DIScuSSion
City staff Issued a Req uest for Proposal (RFP) to seven firms for the preparation of the two
environmental documents and received proposals from two teams - Culbertson Adams and
ASSOCIates (WIth Kaku ASSOCIates and Mestre Greve ASSOCIates as subconsultants) and The
Chambers Group (With Kaku ASSOCiates and LFR Levlne-Fncke as subconsultants) The
proposals were reviewed by staff from the Departments of Community and Cultural
Services, Planning and Community Development, Resource Management and
EnVironmental and PublIc Works Management Based upon thiS review and the receipt of
posItive references, It IS recommended that the City negotiate with Culbertson, Adams &
ASSOCiates, Inc to prepare these two EIR's
Culbertson, Adams & ASSOCIates, Inc IS a full service planning consulting firm that
specializes In the preparation of environmental documents Since their establishment In
1981, the firm has worked for many governmental agencies Including the CitIes of Los
Angeles, Mallbu, Irvme and Newport Beach They have assembled a team ofexpenenced
traffic engineers and nOise consultants who are very familiar with Issues In Santa MonIca
In addition to proceeding With the EIR for the proJect, staff IS prepanng a Request For
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Proposals (RFP) for design services for Implementation of the park project A
recommendation on the selectIon of a design team for the Improvements will be brought to
Council In Fall 1999
BudqetlFrnanclallmpact
Funds are available In the amount of $148,085 In the following CIP accounts
Account number
01-740-511-20096-8900-99188
Amount
$17,19350 (Includes $311500 In contmgency)
19-740-511-20096-8900-99188
$46,626 50
01-740-511-20099-8900-99666
$84,265 OO(lncludes $7380 00 In contingency)
TOTAL
$148,08500
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Cou nCll authonze the City Manager to negotiate and execute
a contract with Culbertson, Adams & ASSOCiates, Inc In an amount not to exceed $148,085
including $10,495 In contingency funds, for preparation of environmental analysIs reqUired
In accordance With CEQA and NEPA for the Vlrgmla Avenue Park ExpanSion and In
accordance With CEQA for the Airport Park on non-aviation land at Santa Monica Airport
Prepared by
Barbara Stlnchfreld. Director
Karen Ginsberg, ASSistant Director
Department of Community & Cultural Services
Jeff Mathieu, Director
Bob Tnmborn. Airport Manager
Resource Management Department
Suzanne Fnck, Director
Planmng and CommunIty Development Department
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