AGENDA
ITEM
1 AGENDA STAFF REPORT
CALEXICO
DATE: November 22, 2022
TO: Mayor and City Council
APPROVED BY:
REVIEWED BY: Sandra L. Fonseca, Interim Finance Director PREPARED BY: Liliana Falomir, Public Works Manager - Administrative Talen SUBJECT: Discussion and/or Potential Action Regarding the Closure of Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street.
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Recommendation:
It is recommended that the City Council approve one (1) of the following options:
Keep Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street open and reimburse all costs associated with said $250,000 grant to Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and $25,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Program. The City has incurred expenses for said project; therefore the City will need to absorb any related cost and return the funding to appropriate
2. Close Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street only on weekends.
City will need to discuss this option with SCAG and Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Program due to change in scope of work.
3. Continue with the closure of Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street (this option will include one-lane for traffic for loading and uploading).
4. Continue with the closure of Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street for a period of six (6) months.
Background:
Back in 2018, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) AGENDA issued a call for grant application under their Sustainable Communities ITEM Program - Quick Build Demonstration Project. One (1) of the grant requirements is that SCAG would be the lead applicant and the City of Calexico would be the co-applicant. In addition, the City would need to procure a construction contractor to perform the work. The City went ahead and submitted a grant application for Rockwood Avenue (Downtown) Promenade between 1st Street and 2nd Street. The project will consist of implementation of a Quick Build to test out temporary improvements along Rockwood Avenue between 1s' Street and 2nd Street to make it safer and more enjoyable to walk. Improvements will include improved crosswalks and a promenade to increase space for pedestrians on the corridor.
In 2021, SCAG awarded an architectural and engineering consultant agreement to KOA Corporation for our Rockwood Roll-Out Project. Since Dec. 2021 to present the following items have been completed:
• Formation of Community and Technical Advisory Committee • Data collection and existing condition analysis
• Three (3) out of seven (7) community touch points
• Monthly meeting with KOA, City, Bloomberg and Calexico Arts Council, Inc. • 100% of the plans for Rockwood Roll-Out Project
Discussion & Analysis:
On November 17, 2022, during public comments several downtown business owners and merchants requested that the City Council reconsider the closure of Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street. City staff is recommending that the City Council approve one (1) of the following options:
1. Keep Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street open and reimburse all costs associated with said $250,000 grant to Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and $25,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Program. The City has incurred expenses for said project; theretore the City will need to absorb any related cost and return the funding to appropriate agencies. In this case, SCAG and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Ciose Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street only on weekends.
City will need to discuss this option with SCAG and Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Program due to change in scope of work.
Continue with the closure of Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street (this option will include one-lane for traffic for loading and uploading).
Continue with the closure of Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street for a period of six (6) months.
In Attachment No. 1, City Council will find the list of milestones and upcoming events for said project for reference.
Fiscal Impact:
Unknown at this time, fiscal impact will be determined once an option has been selected by City Council.
Coordinated With:
City Manager's Office.
Finance Department.
Public Works Department.
Attachments):
1. Milestones of Rockwood Ave Promenade Project.
ATTACHMENT #1
CITY OF CALEXICO
ROCKWOOD AVENUE PROMENADE PROJECT
MILESTONES:
February 16, 2016 City Council discussed the closure of Rockwood Avenue between First Street and Second Street for a Pedestrian Plaza Area.
December 14, 2018 City submitted grant application for Rockwood Avenue Promenade Quick Build Project to Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) under their Sustainable Communities Program.
Applicant: SCAG Co-Applicant: City
Requested Amount: $225,000 Local Match: $25,000.00
April 23, 2019 SCAG issued letter of award to City of Calexico for Rockwood Avenue Promenade Quick Build Project (Exhibit A).
May 14, 2022 Walk and Bicycle Audit and Community Touchpoint (Exhibit B).
June 15, 2022 Presentation to City Council by Public Works Manager on Rockwood Roll-Out Project (Exhibit C).
September 1, 2022 City and KOA met via Zoom with representatives from Business Improvement District (BID) and The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Calexico.
September 13, 2022 KOA Corporation performed canvassing to thirteen (13) businesses on Rockwood Avenue between 1 Street and 2nd Street. In addition, KOA Corporation attended Recreation Department Viva Mexico Art Exhibit event at Carmen Durazo Cultural Art Center (Exhibit D).
September 14, 2022 City Council approved the following:
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Calexico Ratifying the Submittal of Asphalt Art Grant Application in the Amount of $25,000.00 and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Agreements and/or Any Documentation Pertaining to Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative Program.
2. Approval of $3,000.00 from Fund No. 223 - Art in Public Places for Local Match.
3. Approval of $6,502.00 from Fund No. 111 - General Fund and Fund No. 231 - Streets for City Staff In-Kind Services (Exhibit E).
October 1, 2022 KOA Corporation mailed 60 postcards to the property owners of downtown with Rockwood Roll-Out Project information (Exhibit F).
October 19, 2022 City Council authorized the City Manager to Sign Memorandum of Understanding between the SCAG and the City of Calexico regarding Rockwood Roll-Out Project (Exhibit G).
1 CITY OF CALEXICO
ROCKWOOD AVENUE PROMENADE PROJECT
November 2, 2022 City Council approved the Bid Documents for SCAG Local Demonstration Initiative Project - Rockwood Avenue and Authorize the Public Works Department to Send the Project Out to Bid (Exhibit H).
November 2, 2022 City Council authorized City Manager to Sign Agreement of Professional Services with SLA Paving, Inc. in the amount of $51,990.00 to overlay Rockwood Avenue between 1st Street and 2nd Street (Exhibit 1).
November 10, 2022 City staff began advertising Notice of Road Closure in English and Spanish (Exhibit J).
November 14, 2022 SLA Paving began paving Rockwood Avenue between 1' Steet and 2nd Steet.
November 16, 2022 SLA Paving completed the paving of Rockwood Avenue between 1s Street and 2nd Street.
November 17, 2022 City Council authorized the installation of the City's Christmas Tree at Rockwood Avenue Promenade, Schedule the Rockwood Avenue Promenade Tree Lighting/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for December 8, 2022 at 5:30p.m. and Adopt Budget Amendment Resolution for Fund No. 255 - American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)(Exhibit K).
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Week of November 28, 2022 Installation of primer for Asphalt Art Initiative Project and furnishings for Rockwood Promenade Project.
December 3, 2022 Calexico Arts Council, Inc. Asphalt Art Initiative Project Week of December 5, 2022 Installation of Christmas tree and final furnishings for Rockwood Promenade Project
December 8, 2022 Christmas Tree Lighting/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Rockwood Promenade Project
December 2022 thru May 2023 Rockwood Promenade Project Quick Build 2