To the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date4l~iScA ✓ cc~/
CM_✓AlM_A M ✓ocM(3)_V_
April 3, 2025
Council Memorandum
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2025027
To: Honorable Mayor Blackburn and Members of the City Council From: Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services Kyle Lancaster, Parks & Recreation Director
Via: Sheila Cobian, Assistant City Manager~
Re: Veterans Memorial Park Project Update (District 2)
This memorandum provides an update on the Veterans Memorial Park Project, Capital Improvement Program (CIP} Project No. 4609.
Background
On July 30, 2024, the City Council adopted a resolution awarding a professional services agreement to Romtec, Inc., to provide design services and pre-engineered building material kits for three buildings for the Veterans Memorial Park Project, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,650,995.
On November 19, 2024, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing execution of an application and agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric to provide, install, and maintain electric vehicle charging station infrastructure as part of the Veterans Memorial Park Project.
At the time of the above actions by the City Council, staff had anticipated the completion of the Veterans Memorial Park Project in late 2026.
Discussion
The Veterans Memorial Park Project is a 91.5-acre park development project located southeast of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. This new park will be the city's largest community park. The intent of its design is a park designed for families, offering a mix of activities and amenities for people of all ages and abilities, with both active and passive recreational features.
This park development project is currently in the construction documentation phase, when the plans and specifications are created by the design team and checked by several departments of the city and other entities. This particular site contains extensive variations in topography, which the park's design, created through substantial community engagement, respects. In planning for the intended mix of activities and amenities within the park, while respecting the variations in topography, staff must ensure the city remains compliant with the latest requirements related to grading elements, structural components, and stormwater treatment.
Community Services Branch
Parks & Recreation Department
799 Pine Avenue, Suite 200 I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 442-339-2926 t
Council Memo -Veterans Memorial Park Project Update (District 2) April 3, 2025
Refinements to the project's plans and specifications, to thoroughly address all of these requirements, must include input from multiple disciplines on design team and coordination from staff on the subsequent review by city departments and other entities. These refinement and review processes have taken a longer period than initially scheduled.
Additionally, based on the early draft of the plans and specifications, staff had scheduled a project construction period of approximately 18 to 20 months. Based on the latest draft of the plans and specifications, including the noted refinements, staff and its construction management consultant is scheduling the project construction period for up to 24 months.
In consideration of the above, staff now anticipate the completion of the Veterans Memorial Park Project in mid-2027. The park development project's webpages and other communications will be updated accordingly.
Next Steps
Staff anticipate returning to the City Council for approval of the park's plans, specifications and contract documents, and authorization to advertise the project for bidding in late spring to early summer 2025, after a contractor pre-qualification process has been completed. cc: Geoff Patnoe, City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager, Public Works
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services Jeff Murphy, Community Development Director
Zach Korach, Finance Director
Sarah Lemons, Interim Communication & Engagement Director