CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA
Special Meeting
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
2:00 PM
City Council Chambers
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
MAYOR
Rita Lamb
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mayor Pro Tem
Mark Carnevale
Councilmember
Nancy Ross
Councilmember
Raymond Gregory
Councilmember
Ernesto Gutierrez
• CALL TO ORDER
• ROLL CALL
1. AGENDA ITEMS
A. Staffing Review of the Fire Department
Recommendation: This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
B. Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface
Recommendation: Review the use and status of the Fountain of Life art and the surrounding soft surface.
ADJOURN
NOTES TO THE PUBLIC:
The City of Cathedral City complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you require special assistance to participate in this meeting, please call the City Clerk’s Office at (760) 770-0322 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
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If you desire to address the City Council during the meeting, please complete a Request to Speak F orm available at the entrance and present it to the City Clerk. Speakers will be called upon at the appropriate time.
Any documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection i n the City Clerk’s office at City Hall located at 68 -700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero during normal business hours. In addition, such documents will be posted on the City’s website at www.cathedralcity.gov.
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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 1.A
Meeting Date: April 5, 2023
From: Mike Contreras,
Title: Staffing Review of the Fire Department
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is presented for information, discussion and direction only.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 biennial budget process and timeline, this is the opportunity to brief City Council and our constituents on the roles and responsibilities of the Fire Department.
DISCUSSION:
The Fire Department currently includes the following divisions:
1. Administration
2. Fire Prevention
3. Emergency Services
4. Emergency Management
STAFFING FY13-14 FY20-21
COVID
FY22-23
Adopted
Change from
FY 13-14
Administrative staff 3.5 4 4 + .5
Safety personnel 21 42 39 + 18
Ambulance Operators 0 0 9 + 9
Total Fire Personnel 24.5 48 52 + 27.5
112% Increase
In 2012, the City experienced fiscal challenges. To address the challenges, the fire department paused hiring to backfill retirements and staffing shortfalls. The decision to reduce minimum daily staffing is reflected in the FY13/14 staffing levels. In subsequent
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years, the department restored minimum staffing levels to bring the department closer to National Fire Protection Association ( NFPA) standards, thus increasing firefighter safety and increasing effectiveness in emergency response.
Administration
Administration includes the following staff positions:
• Fire Chief
• Administrative Assistant II (confidential)
• Administrative Assistant II (AFSCME)
In FY 2023/2024 and FY 2024/2025, the department’s administrative staffing levels remain the same. This division of the department provides the following services to the community:
• Financial management, including cost recovery.
• Department planning.
• Records management and request fulfillment
• Facilities and equipment maintenance
• Personnel management
• Oversight of all department divisions
Addition of a Deputy Fire Chief (FY24/25)
Under general direction of the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief.
• Assists Fire Chief in managing and direc ting the department as acting Fire Chief in the absence of the Fire Chief.
• Will participate and represent the Fire Department in county and regional fire meetings and committees.
• Develops and oversees the departments professional standards and organizational development program.
• Allows the Fire Chief to build a long-term succession plan for the department. • Assists the Fire Chief in the strategic planning and goal setting for departmental long-range needs with respect to administration, operations, equipment , apparatus, facilities, and personnel; supervises the implementation of such plans.
• Assists the Fire Chief in the establishment of policies and procedures for the department to implement directives from the City Manager and City Council.
Coordinates with contiguous fire departments and develops mutual aid assistance programs.
• Assists the Fire Chief in the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, guidelines, and mentoring programs.
• Directs, manages, coordinates, and supervises perso nnel and activities of the Operations, Training, and Administrative Divisions.
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• Commands and coordinates emergency incidents including fire suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, and hazardous material response.
Addition of a Staff Battalion Chief (FY23/24)
Add 1 Staff Battalion Chief for up to four months or 960 hours to assist the Fire Chief with the establishment of a professional standards unit and assist with the completion of CPSE Accreditation . This temporary assignment will not require a n addition to the budget but will be funded through salary lapse.
Fire Prevention
The Fire Prevention Division is staffed with one fire inspector, and administrative support is provided by the Administrative Assistant II (confidential).
With the absence of a Fire Marshal, plan review is largely outsourced to a contract vendor (CSG). CUP plan review, outsourced plan review processing, billing, project scheduling and enforcement documentation are completed by an administrative assistant. Inspections are completed by the Fire Inspector on an as-needed basis.
Engine company business inspections were restricted during the pandemic, and will resume in spring 2023, bringing the Division’s inspection program back to a more pro - active role.
Addition of a part-time Fire Marshal (FY23/24 and FY24/25)
Adding a part -time Fire Marshal affords the department with much needed expertise.
The Fire Marshal will provide oversight of the department’s inspection program and provide code training to safety personnel, mento rship, and training to the fire inspector, and will assume responsibility for plan review and for the fire department’s role in community development. This position will free the Fire Chief’s Administrative Assistant of fire prevention duties, bring plan review in-house, and increase levels of services to both our internal and external customers. The fire marshal will create and support a predictable and timely plan review approval process and address fire prevention/life safety issues in an efficient, effective, and timely manner.
• Investigates complaints and follows-up on complex fire crew inspections. • Reviews findings of inspection(s) with owner/occupants and explains requirements for meeting compliance with codes and regulations. • Conducts follow -up ins pections for violation abatements and establishes alternate means and methods with developers and business owners. • Maintains records of findings and prepares reports.
• Performs fire safety permit inspections for issuance of special permits. • Conducts buildin g plan reviews and assists with final building inspections; consults with building trades as required.
• Inspects and supervises public displays or gatherings.
Emergency and Ambulance Services
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Emergency Services includes the following staff positions:
• (3) Battalion Chiefs
• (9) Fire Captains
• (9) Engineers
• (18) Firefighters
• (9) AO’s
Emergency Services provides the following services to the community:
• Emergency response
• Non-emergency response
• Patient assessment
• Patient treatment (non-transport)
• Patient transport
An 8% increase in 9 -1-1 calls for service drove the department’s need for a third full - time ambulance to be placed in service in March 2023. An increase in staffing to accommodate the community’s demand led the department to implement an Ambulance Operator (AO) Program, largely staffed with Emergency Medical Technicians ( EMT’s).
AO’s are not safety personnel, and free up firefighters to perform rescue and firefighting operations while ensuring Emergency Medical Services ( EMS) services to the community.
Emergency Management
Emergency Management is managed by a Battalion Chief, and disaster response operations are initiated by the BC on duty.
In FY 2023/2024 and FY 2024/2025, this Division will provide the following services to the community:
• Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) training (adult and teen) • Emergency Operations Center readiness
• Staff training in the Standard Emergency Management System (SEMS) and the National Information Management System (NIMS).
• Updating of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) • Updating of the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)
FISCAL IMPACT:
The original published budget for the Fire Department (all divisions) for FY 22/23 was $14,781,044.
Total personal increase requests (all divisions):
• Addition of a part-time Fire Marshal (FY23/24 and FY24/25) - .5 FTE • Addition of a Staff Battalion Chief (FY23/24) – no FTE required • Addition of a Deputy Fire Chief (FY24/25) – 1.0 FTE
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Total operating budget increase requests (all divisions):
• FY 2023/2024 $249,500
• FY 2024/2025 $241,500
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Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 1.B
Meeting Date: April 5, 2023
From: Kevin Biersack, Deputy Finance Director
Title: Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface
City Council
RECOMMENDATION:
Review the use and status of the Fountain of Life art and the surrounding soft surface.
BACKGROUND:
The development of the “Fountain of Life” was meant to be something truly special – a monument symbolizing the ambition of an entire community as well as a fun gathering place for citizens of Cathedral City. The “Fountain of Life” features a central structure of three highly decorated stone bowls, at different heights, each level with various jets and cascades, set atop columns rising into the desert sky. Water tumbles, sprays and cascades from these bow ls and other jets on the center structure, spilling onto a soft surface surrounding the fountain. All around this vertical structure are sculpted animal figures – a whimsical counterbalance lending a light touch to the composition and opens the whole setting to children at play.
In 1998, Casa de Cantera in Oxford, CA was hired to provide the carved stone elements and the General Contractor was Glen Dobbs of Fountain & Landscape Enhancements in Bakersfield, CA. The project was designed by Jennifer Johnson w ith Cock-a-Doodle- Doo of Palm Springs, CA. Johnson worked with architect Roe Young, also of Palm Springs.
Initially, a substructure was created and installed to support the massive water shape. A template was used to get the positions of plumbing and supp orting columns to within tolerances for the sub -base. Once the sub -base was completed, metal columns were then installed to support the fountain’s towers and another layer of concrete was poured to create the main pad. Surrounding this structure are variou s animals, including a ram, turtle, fish, iguana, rooster and rabbit, all partially decorated in tile and many including water jets.
The stonework, the central structure and the animal structures, were carved of granite mined in Guadalajara, Mexico. The specific granite used is known as a “light pinion”- not rare, but not commonly quarried and carved. These pieces were quarried in the
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mountains near Guadalajara over a three -week period. The center element took 59 custom-carved pieces, taking more than five months to complete in Guadalajara. This was done through local sculptors and craftspeople, focused on this project for the duration.
Once the fountain was set, all the pieces were clearly marked to simplify the reassembly. The individual pieces were tran sported to Cathedral City and were put together like a layered cake, one level at a time. At the same time, a central structure was built for the perimeter drain system to prepare the area to receive the soft surface.
As assembled, the center element weig hs in at nearly 100 tons, which naturally called for a significant foundation. A Structural Engineer from Oxnard, CA, designed a 12 -by- 14-foot pad, 4 feet thick. The pad was created in two pours to assure proper placement of the conduits, which are routed through large iron standpipes ranging in diameter from 6 to 14 inches.
The center fountain structure was built on three levels. The first row was laid on the pad around the standpipe. Slots were cut into the bottom of the base stones. Loops of rebar were then cemented in place using a special epoxy/mortar mixture. Holes were cut in the tops and sides of the stones for more rebar. Stubs for the loops were then used to stitch the second and third levels of stone to each other.
On the first two levels, a lar ge void was left in the center of the stones. After the pieces were put together, this was filled with concrete, flush to the top. Once the center structure was complete, columns for the bowls were added and lowered over each standpipe. Separately, plumbin g runs were set up to the animal’s supporting foundations and an encircling gutter system with a 60-foot diameter to allow for flow and drainage of the water system.
To the east of the fountain is the subterranean equipment vault with two 10 -horsepower pumps driving the water features. The control panels and plumbing configurations program 35 different water elements with a variety of nozzles and spray effects in a system holding approximately 10,000 gallons of water drawn from a subgrade surge tank. To co mpensate for the rapid evaporation in the desert, an auto -fill system was created.
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The project was started in early 1998 and was completed by spring of 2000. Due to the amount of water, chemicals for sanitation and heat in the desert, the major repairs o ver the past 20+ years have focused on the soft surfacing replacement, averaging every 2-3 years. More than six years ago, one of the bowls on top of the fountain was replaced.
Aside from these repairs, general maintenance has been annual cleaning, pump & electrical repairs, and surge tank replacement.
DISCUSSION:
The fountain has not been operational for the past six months. There are areas of soft surface deterioration, safety concerns, slip and fall issues, and potential structure issues – with varying degrees of risk associated with operating the fountain as an interactive , climbable water feature. Staff has had the opportunity to inspect the fountain and soft
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surface. After internal inspection of the fountain and soft surface, staff reached out for a third-party review conducted by David Peterson of Watershapes Consulting, a structural engineering firm, and Eric Dobbs, the original general contractor’s brother . A report was filed with the City addressing various issues in the attached document. The is sues identified can be categorized into these three groups with rough order of magnitude financial impacts: (1) mechanical, electrical and plumbing ($100K), (2) fencing ($75K) and (3) stone and decking ($75K). Within Staff capabilities, e.g., electrical, w e plan to address any mechanical, electrical and plumbing issues in the near term with internal resources.
In addition, the soft surface’s lifespan is generally every two to three years depending on a variety of factors. The combination of heat, water an d the potential hydrogen (pH) factor of the chlorination for health and safety purposes along with the increased use makes it extremely challenging to maintain the soft surface a longer period.
Due to potential structural issues, deterioration and damage to the soft surface and the associated risk with it being an interactive, climbable feature , staff is recommending the Fountain of Life be dedicated to being a central art piece in our downtown . With City Council concurrence, staff plans to engage a third -party consultant to create a conceptual design (estimated at a cost of $15,000) for the Fountain’s proposed use to include these considerations:
• Fencing (potentially made of recyclable materials) to protect and safeguard the art.
• Concrete and/or soft surface options inside and outside fencing • Water flow and drain
In the upcoming Parks Improvement Project (PIP) Plan, staff has proposed additional and improved water features in various parks throughout the City:
• Add a water feature to the grounds of:
o Town Square – but not within the Fountain of Life core (FY 2023/2024) o Century Park (FY 2024/2025)
• Improve the water feature at:
o Ocotillo Park (FY 2025/2026)
o Panorama Park (FY 2026/2027)
These additional water features and upgrades to existing water features a t our City parks are being proposed to mitigate the potential future use of our Town Square Fountain as a visual only water feature.
With introducing these additional upgrades and new installations to include Spray grounds (Splashpad) with re-circulated water, Staff needs to take into consideration these “ special purpose pools” are monitored under State of California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (CCDEH) and Riverside County Department of Environmental Health guidelines and protocols. These Spray grounds (water features) encourage public interaction and are constructed and designed so there is no accumulation (ponding of water) on the surface of the ground. With w ater being
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stored in an underground reservoir, a separate booster pump system is used to introduce treated water to the spray ground through various features (i.e., jet nozzles, tumble buckets, water cannons, etc.). After the water hits the ground, it drains back to the reservoir. A re-circulation system draws water from the reservoir where it is filtered, disinfected, and returned to the reservoir. Spray Grounds should be constructed with available potable water source, underground water storage tanks, adequate pumping system to maintain required turnover rates, filtration system, automatic water level controller, automated chemical injection controllers and ultraviolet light disinfection units to maintain required chemical/disinfection balance and surfacing that is easily cleaned and maintained.
FISCAL IMPACT:
For information, discussion and Council direction.
It is noteworthy that as part of the Facilities Master Plan, the City’s Town Square will be one of 14 facilities to be evaluated as part of the Facilities Condition Assessment. In the upcoming biennial budget, staff has included $150K to address potential issues with the Fountain of Life in the first budget year.
ATTACHMENTS:
Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 CCDEH_Guidelines
Riverside County DEH 46-06-DES-Pool-Spa-Maintenance
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140 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Suite 202 Solana Beach, California 92075-1252 USA O: 858.720.1001 E: [email protected] www.watershape.com CSLB# 840976
March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore
City of Cathedral City, CA
68700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
RE: FOUNTAIN OF LIFE
Summary of Findings
Dear Eddie,
This letter summarizes the findings from my visit of February 5, 2023.
1. Fountain of Life sight and surroundings
The Fountain of Life is primarily a structure that overflows with water onto a blue zero-depth splash pad. The water flows across the soft blue deck to a circular trench drain. The trench drain collects the water which is directed to a tank in the lawn at the east side of the fountain.
Water is pulled from the collector tank by pumps in a subterranean vault located in a planter area at the northeast corner of the fountain area. The water is filtered and treated before returning to the fountain, completing the cycle. The fountain has been out of operation for months.
Of particular note, it is unlikely that this fountain could be constructed and operated in it’s current condition if it was permitted. There are critical safety concerns that would prevent its operation as an interactive feature. There are also slip and fall issues and safety concerns with kids climbing the wet structure and being more than 30 inches above the soft deck.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
2. One of the primary concerns with the feature is that it is frequently climbed by children.
It is relatively easy to get high on the structure and, unfortunately, easy to fall from that height without any guardrails. The height is at least five feet.
Climbing also appears to be damaging the relatively soft Cantera stone.
The solution to fixing the fall safety hazard and the damage to the Cantera stone is to fence-off access to the central structure. A decorative fence would allow guests to enjoy the structure and feel the water in some areas but it should eliminate most of the climbing.
Conceptually, the fence would be relatively low (42”) and would be made entirely of painted stainless steel. Although glass could be used, we expect that the water would create a lot of maintenance problems for the glass. The stainless steel fence could be a whimsical design of sea creatures to match the decorative animals attached to the Cantera stone sculpture.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
3. There are several other Cantera stone sculptures surrounding the central water feature element. Most would not require fencing because they are so low to the ground.
However, the ram sculpture is also tall and climbed by guests and should be fenced off as well. From a design standpoint, we were thinking that the custom stainless steel fencing would look like tall grasses which would feel more natural with the ram as opposed to the aquatic theme that is already defined at the central core feature.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
4. The image below shows the deterioration of the approximately ½” thick soft deck material. Below that is a couple inches of recycled tire material used to absorb the impact of a falling guest. It too is deteriorating. Although these materials cover the entirety of the deck surface, there are several unprotected Cantera stone bases of the sculptures that guests can impact if falling from the sculptures. It is the bases around the central core feature and below the ram sculpture that appear to be problematic enough that decorative fencing is warranted.
5. The soft deck material has shrunk back from the channel drain, leaving a gap of almost 1” wide.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
6. The image below shows a part of the base at the central core feature. I captured this image while climbing on the structure. If I had fallen I would have hit the base at the center of the photo and I would have missed the soft deck material at the right side of the image. This seems to be enough liability for the city to justify adding a fence around the feature.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
7. The image below shows a crack in the Cantera stone at one of the columns. There does not appear to be any pending structural collapse but if left unaddressed these cracks will expand and eventually lead to more severe damage, failure and potential injury to guests. Fencing off the central fountain feature will prevent guests from climbing the structure and causing more damage as well as proving a safe zone so that potential future failures are contained and isolated from the public.
Cantera stone is relatively porous and weak. Cracks can start simply due to expansion and contraction between the heat of a hot summer day and the cold of a winter night.
Repairs can be done by replacing stone, epoxy injection, and non-shrink cementitious grouts. No repairs will look great as new stone will certainly be a color mismatch, epoxy can be noticeable, and cementitious grouts often require the cracks to be opened up even more.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
8. The image below shows a cementitious grout used at a joint running left to right at the center of the image. Part of the grout has already spalled out. Left in its current state I would expect the grout to continue to spall out, causing more damage to the stone on either side, the structural connection of the two pieces of stone, and the decorative tile at the more visible side of the joint.
9. This image shows another crack running mostly left to right. Instead of opening up the entire joint and grouting, I recommend drilling steel injection packers into the crack and injecting with a urethane. Then the packers should be immediately removed and patched with a color-matched grout. Excess urethane would be immediately wiped away.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
10. The fabricated palm leaves shown below are covered with calcium that needs to be removed by chemical and mechanical means. This is best handled by removing them and doing the work off-site.
11. Another image of the fabricated palm leaves. . .
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
12. A broken light lens that is normally submerged at an upper basin of the feature.
Unfortunately, this area is currently relatively easily accessible to guests climbing the structure. It poses an electrical shock hazard, tripping hazard and broken glass hazard.
Obviously the light fixture needs replacement but preventing future access is important.
13. The open pipe shown below is likely a return line that introduces more water to this upper basin of the feature. It is missing a cover but, more importantly, it is another tripping hazard in a submerged location under disturbed water where a climbing guest won’t see it well. The fall from this upper basin is at least five feet with no guardrail.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
14. Water is introduced to this bowl through an open pipe as well as the stainless steel spray head. Cracks are noted at the approximate 5:30 and 10:00 positions. My concern here is that the crack will continue to propagate across the floor of the bowl until it is split into two halves, collapsing in dramatic and dangerous fashion. This bowl should be replaced completely. A temporary urethane injection and new interior waterproofing may solve the problem but close monitoring would be required.
15. This image shows the crack extending towards the pipes at the floor.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
16. Concrete over one of the PVC pipes has spalled off, exposing the pipe in the upper basin of the water feature.
17. There are several joints similar to this horizontal joint where water intrusion will cause more damage over time. Sealing these joints with a flexible sealant will allow the various components to expand and contract independently while sealing the water out.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
18. The image below shows pipes entering and exiting the equipment room. The equipment room is poorly designed. There is enough headroom to have two levels of equipment but everything is located at the floor level with virtually no room to move around in the space.
19. The image below shows the single stainless steel cartridge filter. This is not a safe pit to be working on a cartridge filter where the wet and heavy filter elements (blue pleated filters at the lower left) would need to be taken up the ladder for cleaning. We would recommend using sand filtration that could be backwashed using a phone app.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
20. The electrical box is open and this does appear to be a functioning box with live circuits.
21. The control panel is large and fully mechanical. There are smaller panels with digital control systems that could be monitored using phone apps now. The controller should be easily programmable to change operating hours, adjust pump flow rates for variable speed pumps, etc.
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
22. In a couple of locations there appears to be incomplete plumbing that could simply be removed.
23. There is so little space in the equipment vault that if emergency personnel needed to help someone it would be very difficult. A new equipment layout (and potentially a second vault) could improve safety significantly).
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) March 15, 2023 CATHEDRALCITY-01
Mr. Edward Moore Fountain of Life
In conclusion, it is my recommendation that the Fountain of Life gets a renovation to improve safety for both the guests and employees servicing the equipment. It is difficult to estimate the potential cost of this work at this early stage of the project but if the existing mechanical room is large enough to fit a new layout then I think all new mechanical, electrical and plumbing could be roughly $100k. To add new custom stainless steel fencing around the central water feature and ram would probably be roughly $50-75k. Repairs to the Cantera stone and soft deck around the feature would probably be around $75k. Without changing anything else this brings the total to around $250k but these are very rough numbers presented without any design or bids from contractors.
My recommendation is that a formal design for these elements is completed so that bids can be obtained from local contractors. We could certainly handle the construction documents and if the city is interested in expanding the concept to include more splash pad elements around the perimeter then we can incorporate that as well.
If you have any questions please call me at 858.720.1001.
Sincerely,
David J. Peterson, P.E., IWI
President/CEO
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Attachment: Watershape Consulting Fountain of Life Assessment 03.15.2023 (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health Recreational Health Technical Advisory Committee
GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF
SPRAY GROUNDS
BACKGROUND
Spray grounds typically consist of water spray or jet devices located in an area accessible to the public.
They are intended to provide individuals with a means to play in the water without going into a swimming pool. These spray grounds are becoming very popul ar in settings around swimming pools and in non- traditional settings, such as outdoor malls and amusement parks.
In the recent past, spray grounds have been associat ed with the transmission of waterborne disease outbreaks of shigellosis and cryptosporidiosis.
The purpose of these guidelines is to clarify the requirements necessary to properly construct and operate spray grounds in a safe and sanitary manner.
SCOPE
These guidelines apply only to spray grounds as de fined below, regardless of where the attraction is located.
DEFINITIONS
SPRAY GROUNDS: Spray grounds with re-circulated water are considered specia l purpose pools. Spray grounds are water features where interaction with the water by the public is encouraged and not discouraged. These types of pools are constructed and designed so that ther e is no accumulation or ponding of water on the surface of the ground. Water is stored in an underground reservoir. A separate booster system is used to introduce treated water to t he spray ground through various features (i.e., jet nozzles, tumble buckets, water cannons, etc.). Afte r the water hits the ground it drains back to the reservoir. A re-circulation system draws water from the reservoir where it is filtered, disinfected and returned to the reservoir.
ENFORCING AGENCY: The local health agency having jurisdiction over the spray ground.
SPLASH ZONE: The area of the spray ground that comes in direct contact with re-circulated water from the water features.
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Attachment: CCDEH_Guidelines (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface)
REQUIREMENTS
1. A plan review and approval is required by the Enforcing Agency prior to construction.
2. All parts of the spray grounds must be designed, constructed, mainta ined and operated so there are no slip, trip or fall hazards or other conditions that may pose a safety hazard.
3. The splash zone must be properly sloped so that only water from the features flows back to the reservoir. Areas adjacent to the splash zone mu st be sloped away from the collection drains.
Plants, vegetation or other safety hazards within the immediate area of the splash zone are prohibited.
4. A continuous clear deck shall surround the entire spray pad perimeter. It shall be not less than four feet wide. The deck shall be of a uniform, easily cleaned, impervious material.
5. Hose bibs shall be provided to facilitate flushing of the spray pad and deck area.
6. There shall be no ponding of water within the splash zone.
7. The spray devices must be designed, constructed and installed so that they do not create a safety hazard. Nozzles that spray from the ground level must be flush wi th the ground, with openings no greater than one-half inch. Spray devices that extend above the ground must be high enough so they can be clearly seen and are not a trip hazard.
8. All foggers and jet nozzle sprays that produce finely atomized mu sts must be connected to a separate potable water source.
9. The re-circulation pump must be in operation at all times that the spray ground is open for use and a minimum four (4) turnovers prior to opening for proper disinfection and filtration.
10. Artificial lighting shall be provided so that all portions of the spray ground and deck may be easily seen. A minimum 3 foot-candles (f.c.) of artificial light shall be provided, measured 30” from the deck, at all pray pads which are used at night or which do not have adequate natural lighting.
11. The total volume in the reservoir, including all piping, must be at least 4,000 gallons. The volume in the reservoir, including all piping, must be a mini mum of 3 times the flow rate of all attraction pumps and the re-circulation pump combined (e.g. if the flow rate of all pumps is 2,000 gpm, a volume of at least 6,000 gallons would be needed).
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Attachment: CCDEH_Guidelines (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface)
12. The turnover rate shall not exceed 30 minutes.
13. An adequate number of sanitary facilities shall be provided for all spray grounds. These facilities shall include restrooms, showers and drinking fo untains. Additionally diaper changing facilities must be provided at the restrooms.
14. The suction intake of the water features’ pump in the reservoir must not be located in the immediate vicinity of the suction intake of the re -circulation pump. It must be located as close as possible to the re-circulation return line. The locati on of inlets shall facilitate good circulation of water to all areas of the reservoir.
15. The suction intake from the re-circulation pump must be located in the lowest portion of the reservoir. An overflow pipe to convey excess water to waste through a suitable air gap must be provided.
16. The spray pad reservoir shall be constructed of ma terials which are corrosion resistant, non-toxic, and watertight such as concrete, fiberglass, or stainless steel, which can withstand all anticipated loads under full and empty conditions. The reservoi r design shall be wet stamped by a California Registered Structural Engineer. Reservoir floors shall be smooth to facilitate vacuuming of silt and debris.
17. A potable water source shall be pr ovided with an automatic water le vel controller for the spray pad reservoir. The makeup water shall be introduced into the spray pad reservoir through an air gap or by another method which will prevent backflow and back-siphonage.
18. The reservoir must be designed to have easy access for cleaning and inspec tion. Reservoir shall have at least one ladder access. Provide one thre e foot by three foot (3x3) access opening for every six (6) feet of reservoir length. Lids shall be locked or require a tool to open.
19. A free chlorine residual of at l east 3.0ppm and pH of 7.2 – 7.6 must be maintained at all times the fountain is in operation. This le vel must be present as measured at the spray ground features. An automatic controller shall be provided for continuous ly monitoring and adjusting the disinfectant and pH.
20. The spray ground feature pump must be provided with an automatic shut-off that shuts down the feature pump of the chemical controller registers a reading below 650mv.
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Attachment: CCDEH_Guidelines (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface)
21. U. V. light disinfection units:
a. Treatment systems shall include an ultraviole t disinfection system unless another treatment process is provided that has been determined by t he State Department of Public Health to be capable of providing the e quivalent level of reduction of crypto sporidium as the ultraviolet light disinfection system specified in this section. All water that is provided to the spray pad shall be treated with ultraviolet light during spray pad oper ation. The ultraviolet light unit validated dosage shall be equivalent to 40mJ/cm² or greater at the end of lamp life. b. All ultraviolet light units mu st be validated. The validati on process must determine the ultraviolet light unit’s disinfection performance by indicating that a dose of 40mJ/cm² (at end of lamp life) is achieved at a flow rate equal to or greater than the design flow rate at the set point intensity. Validation testing must be performed by an independent agency. c. An accurately calibrated ultraviolet light intensity meter, properly filtered to restrict its sensitivity to the disinfection spectrum shall be installed in the wall of the disinfection chamber at the point of greatest water depth from the tube or tubes.
d. The unit shall be designed to pr otect the operator against elec trical shock or excessive radiation.
e. UV system must have an automatic wiper.
f. UV systems must be certified to NSF standards 50.
g. A spare ultraviolet lamp and other necessary equi pment to affect prompt repair by qualified personnel properly instructed in the operation and maintenance of the equipment shall be provided on-site.
h. The ultraviolet light unit sha ll be located between the spray pad water feature pump discharge and the spray features.
i. The UV systems must be equipped with an automatic shutdown feat ure to inactivate the water feature pump if the UV dosage rate drops below 40mJ/cm².
22. A divert valve shall be installed on the spray ground drainage piping before th e reservoir to divert rain water to the storm drainage system when the splash ground is closed for the season.
23. A removable and cleanable catch screen or basket shall be installed on the spray ground drainage pipe before it enters the reservoir to prevent larger debris from collection in the reservoir.
24. Each spray ground must be provided with one or more signs stating:
CAUTION:
WATER IS RE-CIRCULATED
DO NOT DRINK
4” lettering must be provided. Signs must be visible from any part of the spray ground.
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Attachment: CCDEH_Guidelines (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface)
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
County of Riverside
OFFICES IN: RIVERSIDE, BLYTHE, CORONA, HEMET, INDIO, MURRIETA AND PALM SPRINGS For more information call (888) 722-4234
Department Web Site – www.rivcoeh.org
INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN NO. 46-06-DES
DISTRICT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION
POOL AND SPA MAINTENANCE INFORMATION
1. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS COMMONLY USED
ACID - A granular or liquid product used to neutralize alkaline salts in water and lower the pH. (Note: Does not include cyanuric acid)
ACIDIC - Condition when the amount of acid in the pool water causes the pH level to be less than 7. ALKALINE – Condition when the amount of alkaline or basic salts in the pool water causes the pH level to be greater than 7.
ALGAE - Tiny plant growth in the water which may appear green, brown or black and may be spots on the shell or may appear as a green cloud suspended in the water.
ALGAECIDES – Sanitizer particularly suitable to kill algae and prevent new algae growth. BACTERIA - Microscopic organisms which are continuously entering pool water via swimmers, dust, dirt, etc. CHLORINE – The most common disinfectant used in swimming pools to purify water and kill bacteria and algae.
Common forms of chlorine used in swimming pools include sodium hypochlorite (liquid), calcium hypochlorite (granular or tablet), lithium hypochlorite or chlorinated isocyanurates. When any of these compounds contact water, they release hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the active sanitizing agent. Chlorinated isocyanurates, such as dichlor and trichlor combine chlorine with a stabilizer and are usually found in tablet form. COMBINED CHLORINE (Chloramines) – The portion of total chlorine in the water that has reacted and combined with ammonia, nitrogen-containing contaminants and other organics such as perspiration, urine and other swimmer waste. Chloramines can cause eye irritation and are the source of odors that people associate with chlorine.
CYANURIC ACID (AKA Stabilizer, Conditioner) - Cyanuric acid can be purchased on its own or is included in many dry chlorine products to help slow the loss of chlorine in water due to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. FREE CHLORINE - The portion of the total chlorine remaining in chlorinated water that has not reacted with contaminants, and is "free" to go to work to kill bacteria and other contaminants. Test kits must be able to measure free chlorine and combined chlorine.
PPM - Parts Per Million, the standard measure of concentration in swimming pools. An example is one penny in 1,000,000 or one penny in 10,000 dollars.
pH - The reading on your test kit that indicates acidity or alkalinity level of water; readings above 7 are alkaline; readings below 7 are acidic; and 7 is neutral. California Code of Regulations, Title 22 requires pH of public swimming pools to be maintained between 7.2 and 7.8 as measured with a test kit. SODA ASH - A chemical which increases pH and total alkalinity. Used primarily to bring pH up when pool water is below 7.2.
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Attachment: Riverside County DEH 46-06-DES-Pool-Spa-Maintenance (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) OFFICES IN: RIVERSIDE, BLYTHE, CORONA, HEMET, INDIO, MURRIETA AND PALM SPRINGS For more information call (888) 722-4234
Department Web Site – www.rivcoeh.org
STABILIZER - Same as conditioner.
SUPER CHLORINATION - (Shock Treatment) The practice of adding 5-10 times the normal daily chlorine dose to destroy algae, or to prevent problems after heavy bather loads or severe rains.
TOTAL ALKALINITY - A measure primarily of the carbonates and hydroxides which, if kept around 100 PPM will help the pool water resist changes in pH. (ie: a buffer that stabilizes the pH) TOTAL CHLORINE - The total of both the free chlorine and combined chlorine levels.
2. COMMON POOL/SPA PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
ALGAE - Green, cloudy water and/or dark green or black spots on pool shell.
CAUSES
A. Insufficient chlorine
B. Not following routine pool maintenance, including testing and shock treating C. Plaster in bad shape (ie: etched or cracked)
REMEDIES
A. Superchlorinate
B. Adjust pH 7.2 - 7.6
C. Brush spots with algae brush
D. Use approved algaecide
E. Refinish pool surface
CLOUDY WATER - Water appears murky or cloudy looking
CAUSES
A. Algae
B. Inefficient recirculation and/or filtration
C. Improper chemistry (pH and disinfection levels)
D. Calcium particles coming out of solution
REMEDIES
A. Inspect recirculation equipment for proper size and operation.
B. Adjust pH 7.2 - 7.8
C. Maintain proper chlorine levels
D. Check water balance
SCALE - White, gray or brownish deposits on tile, railings, and the pool shell.
CAUSES
A. Calcium deposits caused by excessively hard water
B. Accumulation of dissolved solids (particles left as water evaporates)
REMEDIES
A. Adjust pH to 7.2 - 7.8
B. Use Scale of Iron Remover with a brush to remove scale deposits on plaster and tile C. Check water balance
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Attachment: Riverside County DEH 46-06-DES-Pool-Spa-Maintenance (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) OFFICES IN: RIVERSIDE, BLYTHE, CORONA, HEMET, INDIO, MURRIETA AND PALM SPRINGS For more information call (888) 722-4234
Department Web Site – www.rivcoeh.org
EYEBURN AND CHLORINE-LIKE ODORS
CAUSES
A. Improper pH
B. Combined chlorine
REMEDIES
A. Shock treat
B. Adjust pH to proper 7.2 - 7.8 range
C. Maintain proper levels of pH, total alkalinity, and free chlorine residual
3. TESTING THE CHEMICALS IN THE WATER
Testing your pool water is a key step in keeping your pool water clean, safe and sparkling blue. This Department recommends and uses the DPD Test Kits.
Take samples about 18" below the surface of the water and away from return lines and swimmers. Perform tests out of direct sunlight.
Store your kit out of direct sunlight in a dry, cool dark place. Fresh test kit reagents ensure accurate test results.
Replace your test chemicals at the beginning of each season. Your PROFESSIONAL POOL DEALER carries the complete line of replacement agents.
4. MAINTAINING THE PROPER pH LEVELS
The pH of your pool water should always be between 7.2 and 7.8. If it is lower or higher, the chlorine in your water won’t work properly. The right pH is also important to your comfort in water. The eye irritation that most people blame on chlorine is really caused by the wrong pH balance. Low pH also causes etching of the plaster and corrosion of the metal portions of the recirculation system; high pH can turn pool water cloudy. To balance the pH, apply pH Plus (Soda Ash) or pH Minus (Acid) according to the manufacturer’s directions.
5. MAINTAINING THE PROPER FREE-CHLORINE LEVEL
Chlorine is used to kill bacteria and algae and will keep your pool water clear and clean. Chlorine is important for maintaining the overall health of the individuals in the pool/spa as well as maintaining the life of the pool/spa itself. There are different ways to chlorinate a pool/spa. Some offer a built-in stabilizer and more convenience, but all adequately keep your pool water sanitary. To adjust chlorine levels, refer to the manufacturers guidelines on the chemicals used to chlorinate your pool/spa.
The minimum and maximum concentrations of disinfectant residuals in public pool water are as follows:
Free-Chlorine Residual Bromine
Residual Without CYA With CYA
Min Max Min Max Min Max
Public Pools 1.0
ppm
10.0 ppm
2.0 ppm
10.0 ppm
2.0 ppm --
Public Spas, Wading
Pools, and Spray
Grounds
3.0 ppm
10.0 ppm
3.0 ppm
10.0 ppm
4.0 ppm --
CYA = cyanuric acid; Min = minimum; Max= maximum; ppm= parts per million.
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Attachment: Riverside County DEH 46-06-DES-Pool-Spa-Maintenance (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface) OFFICES IN: RIVERSIDE, BLYTHE, CORONA, HEMET, INDIO, MURRIETA AND PALM SPRINGS For more information call (888) 722-4234
Department Web Site – www.rivcoeh.org
6. MAINTAINING THE PROPER COMBINED CHLORINE LEVELS
High combined chlorine is the portion of chlorine in the water that has reacted and combined with ammonia, nitrogen-containing contaminants and other organics such as perspiration, urine and other swimmer waste. High combined chlorine (chloramines) results in reduced sanitizer efficacy. Take remedial action to reduce combined chlorine such as super chlorination (shock treatment). Other signs of combined chlorine includes sharp chlorine- like odor
and eye irritation.
7. MAINTAINING THE PROPER CYANURIC ACID LEVELS
Cyanuric acid is a chlorine stabilizer that is present in many granulated chlorine products. The level of cyanuric acid in the water should be tested periodically and should never exceed 100 PPM. If it does, the pool must be partially drained and refilled to lower the levels. Excessive levels can interfere with the effectiveness of the chlorine.
8. SPRAY GROUNDS AND WATER FEATURES WITH UV DISINFECTION In addition to disinfectant residuals, spray grounds are required to have ultra violet light disinfection systems. The UV light must operate continuously at a minimum of 40 mJ/cm² while the spray ground features are in use.
*Document available in an alternate format upon request
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Attachment: Riverside County DEH 46-06-DES-Pool-Spa-Maintenance (3663 : Town Square Fountain of Life and Soft Surface)