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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Attachment A
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