SR-120208-1DCity Council Meeting: December 2,2008
Agenda Item:
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lee E. Swain. Director of Public Works
Subject: Design Services for City TV Facility Tenant Improvements
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council
1) authorize the City Manager to .negotiate and execute a professional services
agreement with Nonzero Architecture for design and bid preparation documents
for the tenant improvements at the new City TV facility for an amount not to
exceed $198,550;
2) authorize the Director of Public Works to issue any modifications to the
agreement; and
3) approve budget changes as set forth in the Financial Impacts and Budget
Actions section.
Executive Summary
On July 8, 2008, City Council approved the leasing of a building located at 1654 19~n
Street to be used as City TV's new studio and office location. The building is
approximately 4,700 sq. ft and is currently being used as an automotive repair shop.
Tenant improvements are needed at this building in order to meet the operational and
space needs of City TV. Tenant improvements include a studio and control. room,
lighting, sound proofing, acoustics, equipment, edit bays, and painting and carpeting.
The anticipated completion of the tenant improvements is December 2009. Funds are
available in the Special Revenue Source Fund, requiring an appropriation as identified
in the Fiscal Impact Section of this report.
Discussion
City TV is responsible for programming and operating four local cable channels and one
radio station for the City of Santa Monica. Historically, City TV has rented studio space
to produce shows, or has gone on location in lieu of videotaping in a studio. The lack of
1
studio space has made it difficult for City TV to produce new shows or initiate new
concepts. Operational costs incurred for renting available studio space has been as
much as $30,000 a year. Given that City TV's programming is an integral part of the
City's multimedia community outreach, on-site access to astate-of-the-art broadcast
facility would greatly enhance operational efficiencies as well as provide the capacity for
expansion of community programming:
Since 1999, City TV staff has occupied leased office space at 525 Broadway. The
current lease for this space expires in 2009, and the owner of the property is not
renewing leases due to pending redevelopment plans. In the past, City TV has rented
studio space outside the City due to limited space at their current TV studio. The new
facility will eliminate the need to rent outside studio space.
On July 8, 2008, City Council approved the leasing of a building located at 1654 19t"
Street to be used as City TV's new studio and office location.
Consultant Selection
On August 22, 2008, a Request for Proposal was advertised on the City's website for
professional services and a total of 12 proposals were received. A selection committee
consisting of staff from City TV and Civil Engineering and Architecture Services
reviewed the proposals and created a short list of qualified consultants. City TV
performed phone interviews, and contacted references for each of the short listed
consultants. Based upon the. proposals, qualifications and interviews with consultants,
the selection committee selected Nonzero Architecture.
Nonzero Architecture is an architecture, planning and .design group that has been
involved in the planning of buildings and building improvements for media facilities for
more than seventeen years. Their client list includes major motion picture studios,
record companies, private companies, educational institutions, independent. artists,
composers, producers, and engineers. Some of Nonzero Architecture's completed
2
media facility projects include the Game Show Network in Culver City; Fox Newman
Scoring Stage in Los Angeles; Level Audio in Hollywood; Launch Media in Santa
Monica; James Newton Howard Studios in Santa Monica; and Remote Control
Productions in Santa Monica. Nonzero- Architecture is also currently working as the
media facility architect for the DreamWorks studio in Glendale.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
An appropriation of $198,550 (includes a 10% contingency) at Account
0044018.589000 Cable TV Facility is required. It is also necessary to release the fund
balance designation Adelphia Settlement (4.345187) by the same amount to fund the
project.
Prepared by: Karen Domerchie, Civil Engineering Associate
Approved: Forwa~~d to Council:
-%~~ ,~t
Lee E. Swain, Director P. Lamont Ern
Department of Public Works ity Manager
3
Reference Contract No.
9014 (CCS).