Agenda Item No. 11
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: January 8, 2024 FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Erin Wiggin, CIP Manager
Steve Kahn, Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer SUBJECT: Ramona Garden Park (CIP 1259) Update
RECOMMENDATION
Receive an update on the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1259) Phases 3 and 4 and provide staff direction on the design.
BACKGROUND
Ramona Garden Park is an approximately two-acre multi-use facility bounded by 9th and 10th streets to the west and the east and Ramona Avenue and Brighton Avenue to the south and north. While the park is geographically connected to the downtown district, aspects of the current layout and features do not enhance this connection. In late 2019, the Council entered into a consulting services agreement with RRM Design Group (RRM) for development of the Ramona Garden Park Master Plan (Master Plan). The Council adopted the Master Plan on November 16, 2020. The Master Plan provides a high-level “road map” for the City to utilize in planning and constructing the park improvements. This Master Plan is divided into 4 phases, to assist in obtaining funding (Attachment 1).
To pursue funding opportunities to implement the improvements in the Master Plan, the City Council awarded the production of construction documents to the Wallace Group in May 2022.
As the design has progressed, Wallace has recommended minor changes including removing trees that conflict with the grading or proposed use of the space, installing pickleball courts in the location previously identified for an outdoor classroom and fitness equipment, and altering other elements depicted on the original Master Plan (See Attachment 2 for the revised Master Plan). In November 2022 the City Council and the Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Committee met at a joint workshop to review the overall revised Master Plan and review the details of Phase 1 and 2 construction documents. There was consensus by the Commission and Council that the revisions to the Master Plan were acceptable.
Phase 3 of the park design includes the park entrance, the main plaza, and the Veteran’s Memorial Plaza. The preliminary cost estimate for Phase 3 is approximately $1.7M. Staff is seeking Council’s input on the concepts for the park entrance, the main plaza, and the Veteran’s Memorial Plaza/entrance. The bid documents will be completed based on the selected concepts. These concepts were presented to the Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Commission (PRBC) on September 14, 2023 and they provided recommendations to the Council, discussed below.
Phase 4 of the original master plan included an outdoor classroom and reconstruction of the library parking lot. Through the interactive design process, this phase has been modified to Staff Report: Ramona Garden Park Design (CIP 1259) Page 2 January 8, 2024
construct pickleball courts rather than the outdoor classroom, which would help to further activate the park.
The following is additional information about these design elements. Staff would note that the draft five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) presented to the Council on March 27, 2023, recommends deferring funding for the start of construction of the park improvements until FY 2025-26 given other General Fund funding needs over the next two years. However, staff is pursuing a grant opportunity for Phases 1 and 2 which could accelerate this project.
Phase 3 - Park Entry: The park entry is off Ramona with a short wall at the entrance. The concept includes a themed mosaic wall that includes the name of the park similar to what is shown in Attachment 3. Two options were presented to the PRBC and the Commission recommended a hybrid version of both options, and suggested that the park entrance sign have a beach theme and include “Grover Beach.”
Phase 3 - Main Plaza: The overall rendering shows a circular plaza with an art piece in the center. Wallace Group has developed a concept with decorative concrete and a beach color scheme as shown in Attachment 4. The plaza includes Blue and Gray lithocrete and concrete with a sand finish, which is consistent with the PRBC recommendations.
Phase 3 - Art: The overall rendering includes an art piece in the center of plaza. With the understanding that the selection of artwork can be a subjective process, Wallace has coordinated with two artists that specialize in public art and the concepts are shown in Attachment 5:
1. The Stainless-Steel sculpture is about 8-10 feet high. The estimate for this piece is approximately $30,000.
2. The colorful sculpture shown is about 8’ tall and the estimate for this piece is approximately $50,000.
The PRBC has recommended proceeding with a more colorful piece like what is shown in Option 2. The Commission has also recommended hiring a local artist for this structure. As this will not be constructed for several years and funding has not been identified, staff is seeking input on high level concepts for the artwork but does not recommend including this information in the bid documents at this time. Wallace group will finalize the bid documents with the plaza and a pedestal design appropriate for an art piece that is 10 feet tall. It should be noted that large public art installations and public works projects require specific components that might be challenging to procure locally. These components include details for the structure to withstand the coastal elements such as UV degradation and corrosion, and Contractor requirements including licensing, registration with the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), and various insurance requirements.
Phase 3 - Veteran’s Memorial Plaza: The overall rendering shows the Veteran’s Memorial Plaza Entrance at 9th and Ramona Avenue. The concept shows a concrete etched wall, the flag poles, and a circular area with donor pavers as shown in Attachment 6 consistent with the PRBC recommendation.
Phase 4 - Library Parking Lot and Pickleball Courts: Phase 4 shows reconstruction of the library parking lot with pavers. This provides a more decorative lot and it could be considered for flexible use for events. As previously mentioned, the adopted master plan includes an outdoor classroom, but at the joint PRBC and City Council workshop it was recommended to proceed with pickleball courts to further activate the park. City Council should be aware of noise complaints from pickleball that have been challenging for other agencies. While the design will Staff Report: Ramona Garden Park Design (CIP 1259) Page 3 January 8, 2024
include some noise mitigation or reduction elements, these will not eliminate the noise. The PRBC has previously expressed interest in installing adult fitness equipment at a park in the City, and the Council could consider constructing adult fitness equipment here instead of pickleball. The costs are similar with $750,000 for Pickleball and $700,000 for adult fitness equipment. Staff is seeking Council input and direction to finalize the bid documents for the park.
FISCAL IMPACT
The construction estimate for Phase 3 is approximately $1.7 million. The estimate for Phase 4 with the pickleball court option is $750,000 and the cost for outdoor fitness equipment option is $700,000. These two phases are not currently included in the City’s five-year CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) since they would not be constructed until fiscal year 2029 or 2030.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Receive an update on the Ramona Garden Park Rehabilitation Project (CIP 1259) Phases 3 and 4 and provide direction to staff on the design; or
2. Provide alternative direction to staff.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Attachments
1. Park Phasing Diagram
2. Revised Park Master Plan
3. Park Entry
4. Main Plaza
5. Public Art
6. Memorial Plaza
Attachment 1 Playground
Amphitheater Park Entry
Pickleball or
Adult Fitness
Attachment 2
Attachment 3
Attachment 4
Attachment 4