SR-513-008 (3)
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City Council Report
City Council Meeting: February 6, 2007
Agenda Item: 'B-E
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Craig Perkins, Director - Environmental and Public Works Management
Additional Funding and Status Update for the 2nd and 4th Streets
Pedestrian Streetscape Improvement Project
Subject:
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council direct staff to take the steps necessary to utilize
$2,308,061 in Community Development Block Grant Funds for the 2nd and 4th Streets
Pedestrian Streetscape Improvement Project.
Executive Summary
The 2nd and 4th Streets Pedestrian Streetscape Improvement Project consists of eight
blocks of pedestrian and streetscape improvements along 2nd and 4th Streets between
Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue. Since the project received initial Federal
grant funding in the 1999 Metropolitan Transportation Agency Call for Projects,
construction cost have increased dramatically. The project costs are currently
estimated at $7,661,639, resulting in a current project shortfall of $2,308,061. The
scope of work for the project must remain the same in order to preserve grant funding
and award the project prior to August 13, 20007. Staff recommends the use of
Community Development Block Grant Funds for the project shortfall.
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Discussion
Backqround
During the 1999 Call for Projects, the City received a Federal Transportation
Enhancement Activity (TEA) grant in the amount of $2,169,000. Additional project
funding in the amount of $2,422,578 was budgeted during the City's Capital
Improvement Program process. The City was also awarded an additional $762,000
TEA grant through the 2006 Supplemental Call for Projects. The project design, with
the addition of tree uplighting, was approved on October 11, 2005.
Current Project Status
Since the project design was approved, staff has completed the design documents with
the addition of the tree uplighting requested by Council and the preservation of
additional mature trees. The final design adds the two blocks directly next to Santa
Monica Place utilizing the same design approaches. The project has been submitted to
Caltrans and is currently in their review process, which is anticipated to be completed by
February 9, 2007. The City also received an eight month extension to the original TEA
grant that was subject to lapse and discussed in detail in an Information Item on
November 9, 2006. In order to meet the terms of the extension, Council must award a
construction contract by August 13,2007.
Fundinq Needs
Currently, the estimated cost for the project is $7,661,639; however, only $4,591,578
was budgeted for the project, leaving a budget shortfall of $3,070,061. Additional TEA
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funds in the amount of $762,000 have been awarded from the 2006 Supplemental Call
for Projects. Staff recommends the use of $2,308,061 in CDBG Funds for the
remaining project shortfall. Staff will return to Council on May 8, 2007, for the annual
CDBG hearing process to request funding for the project. As part of the Fiscal Year
2007 -08 budget, staff will present recommendations that CDBG funds allocated for this
project that otherwise could have been used for affordable housing be replaced with
Redevelopment Earthquake Project Area funds that are not designated or required to
be designated for affordable housing (80% funds). This recommendation provides the
opportunity for the City to most effectively use CDBG and RDA funding within the
spending timeframe requirements and without reducing funding for affordable housing.
BudqetlFinanciallmpact
There are no budget impacts at this time. Staff will return to Council when funds are
ready for programming.
Prepared by: Don Patterson, Assistant to the City Manager, Management Services
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Craig Perki s
Director - nvironmental and Public
Works Management Department
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'8....
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Santa lUoniea"
Information Item
Date: November 9,2006
To:
Mayor and City Council
From:
Eileen Fogarty and Craig Perkins
Implementation Update of 2nd and 4th Streets Pedestrian and Streetscape
Improvements Project
Subject:
Introduction
This is to provide an update on the 2nd and 4th Streets Pedestrian and Streetscape
Improvements Project as refined through final design.
Background
On October 11, 2005 City Council conceptually approved the schematic design
elements for eight blocks of pedestrian and streetscape improvements along 2nd and 4th
Streets between Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue. These improvements were
initially identified in the Downtown Urban Design Plan. The project is partially funded
through a grant received from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
Discussion
The schematic design project components include: new closely spaced pedestrian
lighting, curb extensions at the mid-block crosswalks, replacement of alternating Ficus
trees with two Ginko trees, Ficus tree uplighting and curb ramp accessibility
improvements. During the final design phase several adjustments were identified:
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. Curb Extensions at Mid-Block Crosswalks: The flanks of the curb extensions will be
treated with colorized lithocrete similar to that used at the new Main Library rather
than with low levellandscaping/groundcover as identified in the schematic plan. The
revision was recommended because the curb extensions are not large and there
was a concern that the high volume of pedestrian traffic would encroach into the
planted areas and create heavy replacement/maintenance requirements.
. Tree Preservation Opportunities: The detailed design phase presented the
opportunity to refine and enhance the tree placement plan. Individual trees were
evaluated and approximately 8-9 of the larger "specimen" trees were able to be
retained. The preservation of these trees allows the spacing necessary for the
pedestrian lighting and other amenities with a slight variation in the pattern of the
Ficus and Ginko trees.
. Tree uplighting: As recommended by City Council, the proposed uplighting of the
Ficus trees using LED technology has been designed and funded. Although
specified for white lighting, the system included in the design package allows for a
range of colored lighting, if ever desired.
. Santa Monica Place blocks: During the schematic design phase it appeared that the
west side of 4th Street and east side of 2nd Street between Broadway and Colorado
would be addressed as part of comprehensive redevelopment expected at Santa
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Monica Place. The two block faces were not included in the schematic plans or the
project budget. Since then, a smaller remodeling project is proposed that does not
include reconstruction of the entire block faces along the 2nd and 4th Streets. The
City has applied to obtain funding for these two block faces through the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority's (Metro) 2006 Supplemental Call for Projects, but will not
know whether funding has been approved until early in 2007. In the event that
funding is approved, the bid package will contain a bid alternate. It is proposed that
the two block faces will mirror the design of the opposing block faces.
. Cost increase: The total project cost is currently estimated at $6.5 million. Based on
current available funding of $4.3 million, the project has an estimated budget
shortfall of approximately $2.2 million. The estimated shortfall is primarily the result
of construction cost increases. Staff is identifying additional funding that may be
available for the project, as well as potential design elements that could be cut from
the project.
. Federal Grant Funding: A large portion of the construction funds ($1.8 million) were
obtained through a Metropolitan Transportation Authority grant of Transportation
Enhancement Activities (TEA) funding, a federal source that is administered by
Caltrans and allocated by the California Transportation Commission (CTC). The
CTC guidelines require that a construction contract be awarded within 6 months of
allocation. The funds for this project were allocated in June, 2006. Although
Caltrans is currently reviewing the final bid package, the bid solicitation and award
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process will not be completed within the six month timeframe. As a result, staff has
applied to the CTC for a one year extension. The extension request is formally
supported by both Caltrans and the MTA. The extension request will be presented
by City staff and considered by the CTC at their December 13, 2006 meeting.
As a result of the potential funding lapse for this project, City staff is evaluating
alternatives to ensure that outside funding commitments for the existing and future
capital projects are maintained. We are also reviewing our internal processes that will
allow us to streamline the implementation of capital projects.
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