EAST PALO ALTO
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
DATE: February 7, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Melvin Gaines, City Manager
BY: Maurice Baker, Acting Community Services Manager
Patrick Heisinger, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: Proposed Amendment to Contract with Verde Designs for Additional CEQA Review of MLK Junior Park
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a final contract amendment, in a form approved by the City Attorney, with Verde Designs for an additional $55,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $341,394.60 to complete a master plan for the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Park; and
Appropriate $55,000 from the General Fund Reserve for the additional services associated with the Martin Luther King Junior Park Master Plan.
Alignment with City Council Strategic Plan
This recommendation is primarily aligned with:
Priority No. 7: Enhance Community Services and Parks
Background
On June 7, 2022, City Council approved an amendment to the agreement with Verde Designs to continue their work for the Martin Luther King Junior Park Master Plan. An outcome of this work determined that the Beech Street parcel of the updated park design would require additional soil testing under the CEQA environmental review. City staff was notified on December 19, 2022 that the unused contingency would not be enough to cover the additional soil testing. As the City is currently in negotiation for acquisition of the Beech Street parcel, it is vital to know the contamination levels of this property if the City seeks to include it in the redevelopment and expansion of Martin Luther King Junior Park. The completion of the CEQA process for the park is tentatively set for May 2023. As part of the 2020-2021 Priority Setting process, the City Council reinforced the importance of completing the Parks Master Plan (“Master Plan”). Staff has been notified by Verde Design, the City’s retained master plan consultant, that no other significant fee increases will be required.
Amount Descriptions Total
Initial Investment $271,713
Amendment #1 $14,681
Proposed Amendment #2 $55,000
Total Cost $341,394
Analysis
During the process of receiving the additional project description for Martin Luther King Junior Park, Verde Design laid out the CEQA project timeline that had included technical studies in the areas of photo simulation, air quality, biology, noise, and transportation. A major portion of this process is the Environmental Phase I review. During this review, it was determined that the currently undeveloped parcel of land on Beech Street may be contaminated and requires additional review considered Environment Phase II Soil Quality Evaluation. The following tasks will be completed during this stage.
· Pre-Field Activities
· Preliminary Soil Quality Evaluation
· Sampling and Laboratory Methodology
· Data Interpretation and Reporting
· Additional Conditional Soil Testing (tentative)
· Additional Technical Study Review and Initial Study Preparation Proposed Contract Amendment with Verde Designs
To stay on schedule for a completed design by May 2023, staff recommends an amendment to the current contract with Verde Designs to address the following tasks:
1. Environmental Phase II Soil Quality Evaluation on the Beech Street parcel of land that will aid in the expansion of the park.
2. Response by technical consultants to anticipated public comment from review of the park design project.
Please see Attachment 2 for the revised design of Martin Luther King Junior Park with Beech Street parcel and seasonal wetland inclusion.
The estimated cost to complete the tasks outlined above is $55,000. If Council approves the proposed amendment with Verde Designs, the new total not-to-exceed amount of the contract would be $341,394.60. Staff recommends the additional cost be funded from the General Fund Reserve.
Fiscal Impact
An additional appropriation of $55,000 is being requested from the General Fund Reserve.
Public Notice
The City was provided notice of this agenda item by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official bulletin board outside City Hall and making the agenda and report available at the City’s website and at the San Mateo County Library located at 2415 University Avenue, East Palo Alto.
Environmental
The proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3).
Attachments
1. Resolution to Verde Designs Amendent 2
2. Updated Park design for Martin Luther King Jr. Park