SR-303-021 (3)~~ . .
City Council Report
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Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: July 11, 2006
Agenda Item: ~ " ~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Craig Perkins, Director - Environmental and Public Works Management
Subject: Award a Construction Contract for Euclid Street Neighborhood Park
Project
Recommended Action
It is recommended that City Council:
1) award a contract to Thomsen Landscape for the construction of the Euclid
Street Neighborhood Park Project in the amount of $622,005 plus a 10%
contingency ($62,201) in the event unforeseen conditions should arise for a
total of $684,206; and
2) authorize the City Engineer to issue any necessary change orders to complete
additional work within budget authority.
Executive Summary
In April 1999, the City purchased 1523-1525 Euclid Street to use as a housing and
community meeting space with eventual plans to create an attractive neighborhood-
gathering place for residents. The existing historic Spanish-Colonial-Revival style
building on the property, formerly known as the Los Angeles County Mental Health
Center, was renovated and completed in late 2003 as a combined housing and
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community meeting space project with assistance from the City's housing trust fund.
The adjacent 15,000 sq. ft. parking lot on the property was used for the housing project
construction staging and is now available for the Euclid Neighborhood Park Project.
The total project cost should not exceed $684,206.
Staff will return to Council at a later date regarding naming of the park.
Discussion
The park design balances opportunities for positive, spontaneous neighborhood use
with the stated public safety concerns expressed by nearby residents without creating
barriers to community access. Given the small site and scarcity of private open space
in the densely-built neighborhood, the designers developed the park concept with a
"backyard" neighborhood theme, incorporating features that typically are found in
residential rear yards, yet still appropriate for public use. These features, including a
children's play area (with swings and climbing apparatus), a garden area, three circular-
shaped seating areas, two small green lawn areas, and a trellis entry linking the open
space with the adjacent meeting rooms are designed to promote positive, daily use of
the park with activity that complements the neighborhood without negatively impacting
adjacent residences.
Public Outreach
The community design process began in September 2004, with a survey sent by mail
and e-mail to over 3,000 area residents. More than 250 survey responses were
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received, with respondents indicating a desire for seating, a lawn area, shade, and
children's playground equipment. Security issues and homelessness were identified as
top concerns and comprised the bulk of write-in comments.
Two widely-noticed public meetings were held at the park site. At an open house
workshop on October 23, 2004, the design team presented the survey results and a
range of design ideas in order to gauge community preferences for park amenities such
as seating, plant materials, playground equipment, lighting, picnic facilities, and other
park furnishings. At the public meeting on December 5, 2004, three themed design
options were presented, and comments and suggestions from the community were
received. Addressing neighborhood security issues and providing a gardening
component in the park were discussed. Additionally, on February 2, 2005, the
Community Relations Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department hosted a
neighborhood meeting at the site to discuss security concerns in the vicinity of the park
site, including recent crime statistics and trends. A neighborhood watch meeting
followed the Police Department presentation and discussion.
Previous Council Actions
On Mav 11, 2004, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a
professional services agreement with Rios Clementi Hale Studios for design of the
Euclid Neighborhood Park Project. On June 14, 2005, Council reviewed and approved
the proposed concept design and plans for the project.
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Commission Action
Prior to Council's June 14, 2005, concept design approval, the Recreation & Parks
Commission reviewed the concept design at its February 17, 2005 meeting and
consequent design changes to the plan at its March 17, 2005 meeting and
recommended approval of the final proposed concept design. In addition to the
Recreation & Parks Commission review and recommendation, the Arts Commission
reviewed and unanimously approved the art concept envisioned for the park on April 5,
2005.
Contractor/Consultant Selection
A Notice Inviting Bids was published in the Los Anqeles Times on April 13 and 14,
2006, and the bid package was sent to eleven public plan rooms. The City Clerk's
office received three sealed timely bids and three sealed late bids, which were publicly
opened and read aloud on May 11, 2006. The bids were:
Bidder Bid
Thomsen Landscape $622,005
TLD Construction, Inc. $634,400
Zuma Canyon Construction $726,738
The City Engineer's cost estimate ranged from $650,000 to $700,000.
Following analysis of the bids, contractor construction history, licensing record, and
reference checks, Thomsen Landscape is recommended as the best overall bidder.
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The contractor has recently satisfactorily completed numerous park beautification
projects in Southern California and several site work projects for the City of Santa
Monica involving demolition, fencing, irrigation or landscaping work including Joslyn
Park, Virginia Avenue Park, Mount Olivette Reservoir, and Ocean Park Branch Library.
Thomsen Landscape has no adverse records with the Center for Contract Compliance
and the State Contractors' License Board verified that the Contractor's license is
current, active, and in good standing.
BudgetlFinancial Impact
The contract will be awarded in an amount $622,005 plus a 10% contingency ($62,201)
for a total of $684,206. Funds in the amount of $684,206 are available in the following
capital improvement accounts:
Account Name
Euclid Avenue Park
Expansion
Euclid Site Acquisition
and Improvements
Euclid Avenue Park
Expansion
Euclid Park
TOTAL
Account Account
Number Total
C190673.589000 $ 67,962
C010673.589000 $250,000
C040673.589000 $116,244
C200673.589000 $250,000 ~
$684,206
Future park maintenance is proposed in the Community and Cultural Services budget
for fiscal year 2006-07.
Prepared by: Lauren Friedman, City Architect
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Approved:
Craig Perk~s
Director - nvironmental and Public
Forwarded to Council:
~Camont
ity Mana~
Works Management Department
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