Loading...
SR-9-A (81) Ce-nivad #-11.{.)0 eCS ~I+ CCS JM F \CCSADMN\SHARE\BIG\palrest wpd City Council Meeting February 9, 1999 FEB - 9 1999 Santa MOnica, CA TO Mayor and City Council FROM City Staff SUBJECT PresentatIon and PossIble CouncIl ActIon on Alternate locatIon for Palisades Park Restroom near Idaho Avenue Introduction This report presents a possible alternate locatIon for the restroom In Palisades Park near Idaho Avenue that IS bemg replaced as part of the Beach Improvement Group (B I G) Project, Palisades Park, Phase II Improvements (as shown as Option A m Attachment A) If the City Council approves the alternate location. the report requests authorization for the City Manager to negotiate and execute a payment agreement with the Hotel Oceana for all additional costs associated with the restroom relocation, and approve a Categorical ExemptIon from Callforma EnVIronmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Class 3, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures Background At the December 22, 1998 Council meetmg. after hearing from reSidents of 833 Ocean Avenue and representatives from the Hotel Oceana. the City Council dIrected staff to ldentrfy alternative locations for the restroom that was to be moved north from the Craftsman Arches to a location across from these bUildings (as shown as Option B In Attachment A) The deCISIon to relocate the restroom from the Craftsman Arches was approved by the City Council after an extenSive pubhc process for the BIG Project qA FER - 9 1999 This process began In 1996 with a number of community meetings during March and April, Including open houses, a self-gUIded walking tour of Palisades Park and South Beach, and a workshop More than 400 people participated In these events The design team used the feedback from the community process to develop the concept design which was then presented to five boards and commissions (Planning Commission, Architectural ReView Board, Arts Commission, Landmarks Commission. and Recreation and Parks Commission) as well as the Pier Restoration Board and Convention and VIsitors Bureau dUring June and July, 1996 Dunng the board and commiSSion reView, the Issue of relocating the restroom from Its eXisting location, the Craftsman Arches, was raised by the Architectural ReView Board and the Recreation and Parks Commission These comments were transmitted to the City CounCil at the time the CounCil approved the concept deSign on July 30. 1996 The relocation of the restroom was not Incorporated Into the deSign at that time since It became apparent that available PrOpOSition A funds would not be sufficient to Incorporate all of the elements that were Important to the public, boards and commiSSions The City sought addltlonai funding under the Los Angeles County Park Beach and Recreation Act of 1996 to fund Improved pathways In Palisades Park and along the beach, and to significantly Increase the appearance and safety of the public restrooms In the project area The City'S request for funding was Included In the proposed Act and subsequently passed by the voters In November. 1996, resulting m a additional $1 7 million for the BIG Project This additional fundmg enabled the City to further modify the '1 "- ./" design As a result of comments and mput from boards, commiSSions. the public. and the City Council dunng the concept desIgn reView, a number of changes were made In the final desIgn mcludlng the relocation of the restroom from the Craftsman Arches, also known as the Idaho Gates These Craftsman-style gates of fieldstone and kiln-fired bricks were bUilt In 1912 They are decorated with tiles made by Ernest Batchelder of Pasadena As a park preservation project, the design focused on enhancmg the hlstonc elements of the park such as the Rose Garden, the Pergola, and the Craftsman Arches To restore the dignity of the Craftsman Arches and to open thiS area to the expansive view of the coastline, the options of moving the restroom from the arches or splitting the restroom within the arches were conSidered and presented dUring the final deSign review process A Community Open House was held on Apn112. 1997 for the public to view the final deSign and hear a presentation by the deSign team The final deSign was presented to the Planning CommIssion, Arts Commission. Landmarks, Commission, Architectural ReView Board, Recreation and Parks Commission, and Pier Restoration Corporation dunng May, 1997 The relocation of the restroom was discussed at each of the public presentations and there was overwhelming support for movmg the restroom away from the arches The deSign team conSidered the sight lines from across Ocean Avenue In the re-sltlng of the restroom as well as the location of the park trees To preserve sight lines. the restroom was situated between two adjacent properties across the street All ., .) trees were preserved The City Council approved the final design for Palrsades Park. Phase II and South Beach Improvements on June 17, 1997 After another public hearing. the California Coastal Commission granted Coastal Development Permits for the BIG Project on March 10, 1998 All of these proceedmgs were publicly noticed Discussion Construction of the Palisades Park renovations began In September, 1998 When the demolition of the restroom began, reSidents and representatives of the Hotel Oceana contacted the City to express concern With the new restroom location City staff and the BIG Project deSign team looked at options for moving the restroom. available options Included moving the restroom back to the Craftsman Arches, splitting It Into two bUildings wlthm the arches, or shifting It further to the north which reqUired removal or relocation of trees Dunng the December 22, 1999 Council dISCUSSion. reSidents and representatives from the Hotel Oceana asked that the restroom be moved back to or near the Craftsman Arches location The Hotel Oceana offered to pay for the additional costs associated With the restroom relocation and suggested a location Just north of the arches There was agreement among Council members that openmg up the view at the Craftsman Arches was a sound deCISion and returning the restroom to ItS former locatIon was not an option The area In which to fmd an alternate location was clearly defmed as 4 between the most northern arch and the site under construction While staff and the design team have tned to find an alternate location that IS a "wln-wm" solution, this IS not possible to achieve because of the large number of trees In this area The tradeotfs for movmg to a location with the least Impact on views are the removal of one tree, the elimination of storage for park maintenance equipment, and the reduction of the number of stalls from eIght to SIX The tree to be removed IS a Red River Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensls). approximately 30 feet high and 3D" trunk diameter According to the City's Community Forester, relocation IS probably not feasible There are SIX Eucalyptus trees In thiS area, Including four Red River Gums and a multi-trunk specimen tree, Mallee (Eucalyptus spp), that IS directly In front of the proposed restroom location There are 111 Eucalyptus trees among the 1,035 trees In Palisades Park As had been reported dunng the design approval for Phase II. all of the 655 eXisting trees In thiS portion of the park were to be retained, 19 of the eXisting palms will be relocated, and 60 cOniferous trees and 30 palms Will be added The onglnal restroom design called for a total of eight stalls To fit In the area Just north of the arches, It would be necessary to reduce both the Width and length of the restroom bUilding To protect the large Mallee (Eucalyptus spp ) Just east of the bUilding, the number of stalls would be reduced from four on each Side to three on each Side With thiS reductIon, the total number of stalls In Palisades Park (26) Will equal the number 5 prior to construction (26) The central storage area would be eliminated and needs to be replaced In another part of the park A possible location IS an expansion of the small tool shed near the Rose Garden An Informational meeting was held on January 27, 1999 to present the alternate restroom location to the commumty Notices were sent to residents and busmesses along Ocean Avenue In the VICinity of the restroom, from California Ave to Pahsades Ave, and other commumty members Interested In the restroom location and tree Issues While most of the 25 people attending the meetmg expressed support for the alternate location. several people VOiced concern about the removal of the tree If the alternate location IS chosen, Council should approve a Categorical Exemption from CEOA under Class 3, New Construction or Conversion or Small Structures, CEOA GUidelines Section 15303. With the follOWing findings The project consists of the construction of a new 370 square foot restroom In Palisades Park wh Ich WIll be located 13 feet north of the northernmost Craftsman Arch, north of Idaho Avenue The restroom Will consist of SIX stalls, a SIX foot high screen wall that IS 7 %" WIde Will run parallel to the north and south facing walls The restroom Will be screened from Ocean Avenue by an eXlstmg 35-40 foot high, 87 mch combined trunk diameter Mallee(Eucatyptus spp) tree, thereby preserving eXisting views and the overall Visual character of Palisades Park While one Red RIver Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensls) tree Will be removed to allow placement of the restroom In thiS location, It has been determined that removal of the tree Will not result In slgmficant Impact In that the tree IS not conSidered a specimen tree due to ItS co-dommant stem With a weak union. and there are four Red River Gums m thiS area With a total of 111 Eucalyptus trees In Pahsades Park 6 The scenic quality of Palisades Park IS enhanced by the relocation of the eXisting restroom from between the Craftsman Arches to a more SUitable place nestled among a grouping of trees Standing at the edge of the park on Ocean Avenue. the view through the Craftsman Arches IS open and the pathway to the beach IS vIsible Additionally. by relocating the restroom away from the Craftsman Arches, the onglnal siting and historical character of the arches will be enhanced Coastal CommiSSion staff has confirmed that the relocation of the restroom IS covered under the current Coastal Development Permit for Palisades Park, Phase II Budget/Financial Impact There are additional costs associated with the relocation of the restroom Construction work to date, including excavation for footings and Installat[on of utilities IS approximately $34.000 Additional deSign work plus the net new construction costs for remoblllzatlon. materral handling. resurveYing, filling In excavated hole, relocation of Irrigation and drainage lines, revised planting, and utility layout IS expected to be $46,000 While the exact amount cannot be determined until the deSign IS completed, the Hotel Oceana has agreed to pay the additional costs, including the work completed at the orrglnal site and the net new costs for relocation, estimated at $80,000, pursuant to a payment agreement with the City These revenues will be recorded at revenue account #01-130- 224-00000-0417 -10000 There IS currently suffiCient budget authorrty to cover thiS addlt[onal work which would be completed as a change order to the construction contract The City Council authorized the Issuance of any necessary change orders to complete addItIOnal work at the time Contract # 7267 was awarded for the BIG Project construction on June 9, 1998 7 Recommendation Staff recommends the City Council take the following actIons 1 Consider the alternate restroom location In Palisades Park Just north of the Craftsman Arches and the expansion of the tool shed near the Rose Garden for replacement of the storage area 2 If the relocation IS approved. authOrize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a payment agreement With the Hotel Oceana for all additional costs assocIated With restroom location In the event that negotiation IS not successful, direct the City Manager to proceed WIth construction at the onglnally proposed location 3 If the relocation IS approved. approve a Categorical Exemption from CEQA under Class 3, New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures Prepared by Barbara Stmchfield. Director Judith Meister, Beach Manager Department of Community and Cultural Services Craig Perkms, Director Tony Antlch, City Engineer Department of EnVironmental and PubliC Works Management Attachment A Site Plan of Current and Alternate Restroom Locations 8 Attachment A ~ 0, 0 ..., ,ID 031 .... ~ g~ "0' !::t-< !:t' g 1J g < v ii)'OJ ~ o . ~ (11 0 Q. :c. 9 1 o. )> !, CD!:!" ,0 o ~ ~)> is ~ , G -:0 I.. 8 . : ~'il i ~- ! :1 ' Q -9 1;} II I DAHO AVEI I I r I