BACKGROUND:
The City’s Gregory S. Pettis “Fountain of Life” was developed/built over a two-year period from 1998 – 2000. It was meant to be something truly special – a monument/”work of art” symbolizing the ambition of an entire community as well as a 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 bowls 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.
As assembled, the center element weighs 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, 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 large 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, plumbing 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 a 25-year-old 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 compensate for the rapid evaporation in the desert, an auto-fill system was created.
There are areas of soft surface deterioration, safety concerns, slip and fall issues, and potential structure issues, e.g., cracks in the bowls – with varying degrees of risk associated with operating the fountain as an interactive, climbable water feature. In winter 2023, Staff had the opportunity to inspect the fountain and soft surface. After internal inspection of the fountain and soft surface, staff reached out early in spring 2023 for a third-party review/assessment. A report was filed with the City identifying issues categorized into these three groups with rough order of magnitude (ROM) financial impacts: (1) mechanical, electrical and plumbing ($100K), (2) fencing ($75K) and (3) stone and decking ($75K). The fountain was not operational for those seven (7) months from October 2023 through April 2023. Due to potential structural issues, deterioration and damage to the soft surface and the associated risk with it being an interactive, climbable feature on the actual art pieces, staff (with City Council concurrence) secured the fountain with temporary fencing and signage to make it a central art piece. City staff addressed basic mechanical, electrical and plumbing issues to make the fountain water flow operational. The fountain’s water flow has been operating since May 2023.
With City Council concurrence, staff engaged a third-party consultant (Verde Design) to create a conceptual design (at a cost of $8,200) 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 addition, staff asked Verde Design to consider alternatives for proposed water features – one at Town Square and another at one of the City’s existing neighborhood parks, e.g., Century Park.
DISCUSSION:
Verde Design provided three options for consideration. For each option, there is an attached diagram and a ROM cost:
1. Town Square Art Feature @ $118,300 (Attachments 1 & 2) with three primary elements:
i. Guardrail (Fencing)
a. As portrayed, first three segments with pickets and every 4 th segment has graphic
b. Have all segments with the same pickets – potential to save cost with no graphic panels.
c. Use Art in Public Places funding to have an artist rendering for every 4th panel to replace the picket (or graphic)
ii. Colored Concrete Base
iii. Potential for Artistic renderings through the Arts Commission and funding, similar to what was done for the Ofelia Bringas Bridge
With the soft surface’s lifespan is generally every two to three years depending on a variety of factors. The combination of heat, water and 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. As a result, the recommendation is to replace the soft surface with a concrete base, which will result in a $50,000+ savings every two - three years.
Staff proposes two options for Council consideration:
A. Town Square Art Feature – no water @ $118,300 (Attachments 1 & 2) B. Town Square Art/Water Feature – $118,300 plus an additional $22,500 - $50,000, comprised of:
oWith the subterranean equipment vault being 25 years old, these items need to be replaced or added to optimize the efficiency (approximately $22,500 10% includes contingency):
•Filter units
•Automated time controller
•Isolation Valves
•Shunt-trip units
oOptimally, we should consider including these additional features (approximately $27,500 includes 10% contingency):
•Ultraviolet lighting
•Automated chlorination system with booster pump
•Variable frequency drive motor pumps
•Paint plumbing and walls
2. Town Square Splash Pad and Water Play Area Reduced (NW Corner) @ $648,200 (Attachments 3 & 4)
i. Splash Pad (1)
ii. Water Feature
iii. Retaining Wall
3. Neighborhood Splash Pad and Water Play Full Scale @ $926,200 (Attachments 5 & 6)
1. Splash Pads (3)
2. Water Features
3. Seatwall
4. Retaining Wall
5. Equipment Enclosure
Waterplay Renderings and Cut Sheets are included in Attachment 7.
FISCAL IMPACT:
For information, discussion and Council direction.
As part of the Facilities Master Plan, it is worth noting the City’s Town Square is one of 18 facilities evaluated as part of the Phase I deliverable of the Facilities Condition Assessment. In the current biennial budget’s first year, staff has included $150K to address potential issues, whether for the Facilities Master Plan Phase II or for repairs to the Fountain of Life.
The Parks Improvement Plan included in the FY 2023/2024 & FY Y2024/2025 Biennial Budget includes $300K for a Town Square water feature in FY 2023/2024 (year one) and $300K for a Century Park water feature in FY 2024/2025 (year 2).
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal B: Community Investment
Action B-7: Maximize the use of existing resources to include underutilized parks… Action B-17: Develop and Adopt a Facilities Master Plan