Staff Report
City Council
Item No. {{section.number}}.A
Meeting Date: September 11, 2024
From: John A. Corella, Director of Public Works
Title: Esperanza Park - Construction Update September 2024 RECOMMENDATION:
The Esperanza Park construction update September 2024 is for the City Council's information and discussion only.
BACKGROUND:
In December 2021, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (more commonly known as California State Parks) awarded the City of Cathedral City the amount of $8,498,000 in grant funds from the statewide park program (SPP) Round 4 for the design and construction of a park in the Dream Homes neighborhood (Project). Following the notice of award in February 2022, the city received authorization from California State Parks to proceed with the design and construction of the Project.
In June 2022, the City Council awarded Verde Design, Inc. a professional services agreement for professional landscape architect, design, and engineering services for the design of the park project. Verde Design completed the Project’s plans, specifications and estimates on September 22, 2024, and is still providing construction support during the construction of the park project.
In August 2023, the City Council authorized the procurement of specialized park equipment and amenities by means of existing cooperative purchasing agreements. The purchased items included shade structures, exercise equipment, playground equipment, rubber soft surfacing, site furnishing items (benches and barbeque pits), and a pre-engineered restroom building.
On October 11, 2023, and November 8, 2023, the City Council awarded construction contracts to Urban Habitat for the construction of the park perimeter wall and the park project.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the park site on April 3, 2024, with the participation of city staff, council members, and representatives from the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), Agua Caliente Elementary School, Desert Healthcare District, El Sol Neighborhood Education Center, Loma Linda University, and the Desert Water Agency (DWA).
With the park’s construction underway, the Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) was tasked to recommend a name for the city’s newest park to City Council. PACE appointed a subcommittee to collect park names from city residents (including students from Agua Caliente Elementary School). PACE considered many names at its May 7, 2024, Commission meeting. After discussion and consideration, PACE provided the City Council with their overall top-ranked three names. Thus, at the May 22, 2024, City Council meeting, the City Council considered the names and officially adopted Esperanza Park as the name for the city’s newest park in the Dream Homes neighborhood.
Lastly, as of the initiation of the park construction, the California Department of Parks and Recreation issued Amendment No.1 to the Grant Contract 2018 Parks Bond Act, Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization, extending the grant performance period from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2028. The Director of Public Works has executed this extension. This extension was provided to all State Parks grantees under this program.
DISCUSSION:
The construction of Esperanza Park is on schedule due to the constant coordination and collaboration between city staff, our contract grant coordinator (MVR Consulting), the project designer (Verde Design), and the contractor (Urban Habitat). The site visits, biweekly construction progress meetings, city staff inspections, and timely email correspondence have all aided to the project's construction efforts.
As the project enters its ninth month of construction, the contractor has completed or made progress in the following areas:
Site Preparation
•Clearing and grubbing (removal) of unwanted surface material and vegetative matter.
This also include the demolition of concrete walkways and other conflicting structures (block walls, chain link fence, etc.) within the limits of the park. •Over-excavation and soil compaction for the park axillary structures (playground equipment, shade structures, restroom, etc.).
•Rough grading and shaping the entire project site. As well as exporting soil material. •Utility coordination between Desert Water Agency (DWA) and Southern California Edison (SCE).
Park Improvements
•Installation of concrete curb and gutter for the north parking lot near Mia Place. •Installation of concrete slabs for the playground equipment and fitness areas. •Construction of the 10-feet wide concrete walkway and emergency vehicle path. •Installation of electrical conduit, poles, and light heads for pathway, parking, and monument lighting.
•Domestic water, and sewer line connections in coordination with DWA. •Perimeter fencing/wall (block wall and decorative wire fencing).
Cooperative Purchased Park Equipment and Amenities
•Fabric shade structures for the dog park, fitness area and playground equipment areas furnished and installed by USA Shade & Fabric Structures, Inc. •Playground equipment furnished and installed by Landscape Structures, Inc. •Hardtop shade structures furnished and delivered by ICON. Currently being installed by the contractor.
•Site finishing (benches and barbeque pits) and exercise equipment have been delivered to the site.
•Romtec (restroom/ storage facility supplier) has obtained approved building plans and permits. Romtec is scheduled to begin construction of the restroom/storage facility by the end of September 2024.
Park Safety and Security
There have also been coordination meetings between the City’s Engineering Department, IT Department, and Urban Habitat for procuring and installing the six (6) security cameras and appurtenances. The cameras will be placed at the entry/exit points of the park on Mia Place, the Central Plaza, and on Chia Place, and inside the park along the 10-foot-wide concrete walkway/emergency vehicle path. In addition to the security cameras, the park will also feature security lighting, which will remain on from dusk to dawn.
Safety is one of the goals and objectives of the Cathedral City 5-Year Strategic Plan adopted by the City Council. Therefore, the city will maximize the resources available within the Police Department to patrol and serve the park and surrounding areas. Should the City become part of the Desert Recreation District (DRD), similar to other cities in the Coachella Valley (Palm Desert, Thousand Palms, Indian Wells, Bermuda Dunes, Indio, Coachella, Thermal and Mecca), additional resources will be available to enhance security and monitoring at the park. As with all our neighborhood parks, the city will also rely on the support from the Dream Homes neighborhood residents to be vigilant and report any unlawful activities at the park.
Construction Tasks Remaining
Within the next months the installation of irrigation lines, storm drain facilities, CV Link Connector pathway, concrete/hardscape paving work, and the installation of landscape material will take place. The project is estimated to be completed by March 2025.
For City Council information, comment, and discussion at today’s City Council Study Session meeting, city staff will provide a construction update on the Esperanza Park Project, its amenities and features completed and/or in progress.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The project is funded by the California State Parks Statewide Park Program (SPP) Round 4 grant program in the amount $8,498,000. The City Council also approved a budget amendment in the amount of $2,481,211 from the city’s General Fund account; and approved $108,000 for qualifying park amenities from the Environmental Conservation Fund; and $534,404.51 from the city’s Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Fund for the construction of CV Link Connector and concrete pathway.
DESCRIPTION GENERAL
LEDGER
ACCOUNT CODES
PROJECT
CODE
AMOUNT ONE TIME
or
ONGOING
2024-
2025
Capital Improvement
Project (CIP) – State
Parks Statewide Park
Program Grant
331-100-150-156-
8800-8802 C07021 $8,498,000.00 One Time
2024-
2025 General Fund 100-100-150-156-
8800-8802 C07021 $2,481,211.00 One Time
2024-
2025
Environmental
Conservation Fund
246-900-910-911-
8800-8802 C07021 $108,000.00 One Time
2024-
2025
Capital Improvement
Project (CIP) – CVAG
Reimbursement
331-100-150-156-
8800-8802 C07021 $534,404.51 One Time
2024-
2025 Total $11,621,615.51
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL B: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained.
ATTACHMENTS:
None