TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: MATTHEW BAUMGARDNER, P.E., DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
DATE: JANUARY 23, 2024
SUBJECT: REPORT ON POTENTIAL FUTURE SPORTS LIGHTING AT THE FURMAN
PARK BASEBALL FIELDS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider receiving and filing an update on lighting at the Furman Park baseball fields. At this time, there is a concept to add lighting for these sports fields as part of the Furman Park Stormwater Infiltration Project. This project will involve excavation at the park to create an underground infiltration basin to collect diverted stormwater that would otherwise be directed to the Rio Hondo River. As a result of this excavation, the existing baseball fields will be removed, and new fields will be added at the completion of the project. Following the installation of the new baseball fields, there is a concept to add approximately nine (9) sports field light poles to allow for extended hours of play.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Receive a report, as well as provide staff with any desired feedback, on the addition of sports field lighting at the Furman Park baseball fields following a request from City Council at its November 14, 2023 meeting.
BACKGROUND
The Furman Park Stormwater Infiltration Project was added to the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) list as part of the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Budget. The intent of the project is to intercept and divert stormwater and dry weather runoff that would normally enter the Rio Hondo River through a County storm drain along Florence Avenue and direct it through new piping to Furman Park. The new pipe enters underneath the park at the Northeast end off of Rives Avenue and eventually connects with an underground storage and infiltration basin that will be constructed in the vicinity of the existing baseball fields on the southeast end of the park (Attachment A). Funding for the majority of this project will come through a grant the City received in 2022 from the Safe, Clean Water Program (Measure W), administered by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District (LACFCD). As part of this grant application and agreement with the
REPORT ON FUTURE SPORTS LIGHTING AT THE FURMAN PARK BASEBALL FIELDS JANUARY 23, 2024
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LACFCD, the project scope of work included the design and construction of the infiltration system, as well as a number of amenities that match the mission and goals of the program to build parks; create green space for communities; and ensure greener, healthier, and more livable spaces. These amenities include creating native garden trails; improving and building new shade structures; adding new trees; creating new ball fields, and adding sports field lighting. The City entered into a transfer agreement with the LACFCD to receive $12,325,670 in funds based on the project scope following action take by the City Council at its January 25, 2022 meeting. These funds are disbursed over a 5-year period, with the majority of the funds being provided to the City in Fiscal Years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. The Council took further action at its April 12, 2022 meeting when it approved a Professional Services Agreement with Craftwater Engineering, Inc. (Craftwater) to develop and design the plans for the project, including the project amenities mentioned above.
ANALYSIS
The lighting plan for this project is still currently in the development process, but the concept would include adding up to nine (9) light poles to provide illumination for both ball fields. Approximately four (4) light poles would be added between the west end of both fields and the existing trees (shown as number 10 in Attachment A). Approximately five (5) additional lights would be added between the outfield section of both fields and a new tee ball field (shown as number 5 in Attachment A), along the third base side of the northernmost field near new trees (shown as number 11 in Attachment A), and along the first base side of the southernmost field. As part of the plan, the lighting designer would conduct a photometric study to see how the lighting will affect the surrounding neighbors close to the ball fields and will use fixtures that would have casings that would reduce any backlighting that might spill into the surrounding homes and focus lighting on the fields of play. Once developed, details of the lighting plan will be shared with the community during public engagement efforts for the overall project prior to the completion of the final design.
Project Timeline
The project is currently in the design and environmental phase, which staff anticipates will be completed by Fall 2024. Construction of the overall project would likely take between 12 and 18 months, with the completion of amenities being undertaken in Spring 2026.
Public Engagement and Input
A lighting design for the baseball fields would be addressed as part of the project design plans and would go through an environmental review process along with the other elements of the project under the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Opportunities for the community to provide input and comments on the design elements, including lighting, would be available during this process, as well as through outreach and engagement that the City and Craftwater will be conducting in 2024 prior to completion of the final design, as required under the agreement with LACFCD. The Measure W program stipulates that the recipient of grant funds must hold engagement activities with the community, such as pop -ups at City events or public workshops, to provide education on the project and seek input on design elements.
REPORT ON FUTURE SPORTS LIGHTING AT THE FURMAN PARK BASEBALL FIELDS JANUARY 23, 2024
PAGE 3
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Infrastructure & Parks
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A — Preliminary Landscape Plan for Furman Park Stormwater Infiltration Project
-URMAN
PARK
• IMPROVEMENTS
• , DOWNEY, CA
SITE PLAN LEGEND
O EXISTING PARK
O EXISTING SHADE STRUCTURE
Q RENOVATED COURTYARD
O NEW LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL FIELD WITH 60' AND 70' PEGS
O NEW TEE BALL FIELD
O NEW SHADE STRUCTURE
O STORMWATER CAPTURE SYSTEM FOOTPRINT
0 HABITAT GARDEN TRAIL
O NEW PEDESTRIAN POLE LIGHTING AT TRAIL
Q EXISTING TREES
0 NEW TREES
N
20 0 20 40
SCALE: 1 ".40'-0"
Attachment A