Fremont City Council Meeting: 07/18/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4932) DOC ID: 4932
Updated: 7/11/2023 8:36 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 1 CENTRAL PARK COMMUNITY CENTER - Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $5,040,000 (including 20% Contingency) for Architectural and Design Consultant Services for the Central Park Community Center Project (PWC9087); Adopt Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a State Grant Funding Agreement; and Find Actions are Exempt from CEQA Review.
Contact Persons:
Name: Khandan Bahmani Hans Larsen
Title: City Engineer Public Works Director
Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4768 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate the planning and design of a new Central Park Community Center. The project planning and design phase is funded by a State Budget grant administered by the California Natural Resources Agency.
BACKGROUND: In March 2022, the City Council adopted a new Parks and Recreation Master Plan. A high priority identified, based on extensive public outreach, was a need to modernize and expand facilities for recreation and community activities. The proposed Central Park Community Center (CPCC) will include a gymnasium, exercise and studio classrooms for art & technology, a full-service kitchen, parking, roadway access, outdoor plaza spaces, and a banquet hall for larger indoor events and celebrations at Central Park.
The CPCC will be a signature building in the 433-acre Central Park, prominently located adjacent to and with viewsheds of Lake Elizabeth, and with expansive views of Mission Peak and surrounding hills. The proposed project area is centrally located, adjacent to the current Fremont Main Library, at the corner of Stevenson Boulevard and Paseo Padre Parkway. The proposed community center will replace the existing Fremont Community Center and Teen Center located at Central Park at two different locations.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: In April 2023, the City issued a Request for Proposals for Architectural and Design Consultant Services for the Central Park Community Center Project.
Sixteen proposals were received from the following firms, listed alphabetically: Adjaye Associates and PYATOK, Dahlin Group, Inc., ELS Architecture and Urban Design (ELS), Eric Owen Moss Architects, FOG Studio, Group 4 Architecture, Jayson Architecture, Kevin Daly Architects, Leddy Mastum Stacy Architects, Nelson Worldwide, Noll & Tam Architects, Perkins & Will, RMW Architecture and Interiors, Shah Kawasaki Architects, Studios Architecture and WRNS Studio.
An evaluation panel, comprised of City staff, evaluated all the proposals based on the completeness of the proposal, understanding of the projects scope, overall experiences to perform the required services, previous and current work with public entities, Council Staff Report (ID # 4932) Meeting of July 18, 2023 Updated: 7/11/2023 8:36 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 2 evaluation of assigned personnel and their experience, billing rates, and evaluation of their overall approach.
Based on the results of the evaluation process, five firms were interviewed by a panel consisting of City staff from Public Works, Community Services and Community Development. Firms interviewed, listed alphabetically were: Dahlin Group, Group 4 Architecture, Noll & Tam Architects, Perkins & Will, and WRNS Studio. The firms were evaluated based on criteria listed above, as well as the presentation and answers to questions during the interview. Follow up reference checks were completed for the top- ranked firm.
The consultant team led by Group 4 Architecture is recommended for the Central Park Community Center project. They are a Bay Area based architectural firm with significant recent experience with the design of civic buildings including community and recreation centers. Examples of their work can be viewed on their website (see link below).
An agreement with Group 4 Architecture has been prepared to address services related to planning, community outreach, environmental clearance, and final design for the Central Park Community Center. The cost of services is in the amount of $5,040,000, which includes a 20% contingency. The project schedule anticipates design services to be completed in Summer 2025.
Project Cost and Funding
The total estimated cost of the Central Park Community Center Project is $58 million, which includes $53 million for the building and $5 million for the external park development surrounding the building. Currently, Capital Improvement Program appropriations include $21 million from the General Fund, $3 million from park capital funds, and $8 million from a State grant facilitated by State Assemblymember Alex Lee, and administered by the California Natural Resources Agency. An additional $3 million of park capital project funds is projected to be included in the next capital budget process. The remaining funding amount to construct the Central Park Community Center Project is $23 million, for which funding is proposed to be secured from State and Federal grants, as well as private donations.
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding for the planning and design phase of this project, consisting of $8 million from a California Natural Resources Agency grant, has been appropriated and budgeted into PWC9087. Based on the contract amount and project costs, there are sufficient funds budgeted to cover the recommended agreement and associated contingency, $5,040,000, and to cover City staff time for project management.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Approval and implementation of these agreements constitute administrative and fiscal activity, which is not a project that has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and therefore, is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)). Each of the foregoing provides a separate and independent basis for exemption.
Appropriate environmental review will be conducted as part of the project environmental clearance process.
LINKS: Group 4 Architecture (https://g4arch.com/)
Council Staff Report (ID # 4932) Meeting of July 18, 2023 Updated: 7/11/2023 8:36 AM by Alberto Quintanilla Page 3 ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution - CPCC
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the following actions related to the Central Park Community Center Project (PWC9087):
1. Find the action is exempt from environmental review, as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance, under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378 (administrative and funding activity not a “project” under CEQA) and Section 15061 (no possibility the activity may have significant effect on the environment). Environmental review will be conducted as part of the project environmental clearance process.
2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $5,040,000 for architectural and design consultant services.
3. Adopt a resolution authorizing City Manager to execute a funding agreement with the California Natural Resources Agency in the amount of $8,000,000.