Administrative
Report
N.6., File # 22-3848 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE PLANNED SCOPE OF WORK AND
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT DOMINGUEZ PARK
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pursuant to the City Council’s adopted Strategic Plan, staff is providing this report on the scope of work and implementation schedule for the capital improvement projects at Dominguez Park. There are two primary projects listed in the Capital Improvement Program adopted in the City’s FY 2021-22 Budget. The first, Dominguez Dog Park Improvements - Job No. 30780, is for improvements to the dog park and related amenities along the northern edge of the park. The second, Dominguez Park Play Equipment, Landscape and Walkways - Job No. 30730, is to address the playground equipment and surrounding pathways and landscaping.
A third item, approved by the City Council during the Mid-Year Budget Review on February 15, 2022, targets stabilization and landscaping of the northern slope along 190th Street. This work will be carried forward with the Dog Park project due to proximity and causation related to drainage from the dog park area.
The purpose of this report is to provide updates on the planned scope of work for the two projects, the status of current project activity, the schedule for project implementation, and to receive any further direction on the projects provided by the City Council.
BACKGROUND
Dominguez Dog Park Improvements: Staff have worked with the Friends of the Dog Park group to develop a list of improvements needed at the Dog Park. The list, as detailed below, includes repairs and upgrades to existing amenities and features to ensure the safety and comfort of the dog park users. Some improvements have been completed, others are underway or in the planning stage.
Gas Company Work
Following the Gas Company’s periodic inspection of the pipe line station in Dominguez Park, the utility replaced 500 feet of dog park fencing, 25 trees and shrubs and approximately 10,000 square feet of sod in the lower end of the park.
N.6., File # 22-3848 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
New Fences and Gates
The existing perimeter and interior fencing have met their life expectancy and need to be replaced.
The exterior chain link is showing signs of degradation. It is sagging and the vinyl coating has deteriorated. Staff is in the process of ordering new fencing and expects to have it installed within the next 60 days. The entry gates within the Dog Park have been replaced and new concrete entrance vestibule areas have been poured to reduce trip hazards.
The projected cost to replace the perimeter and interior fencing is $80,000.
New Benches
Throughout the Dog Park there are 14 concrete benches that give users a place to relax and enjoy watching their pets. Over the course of many years, a number of benches have been added and replaced, including several memorial benches. Unfortunately, some of the benches do not meet the standards for the Dog Park or have deteriorated significantly. To address this issue, six concrete benches, which can accommodate a memorial plaque, have been ordered and should be delivered in April. Existing benches which either do not meet the Dog Park bench standard or are in poor condition will either be relocated to another City facility or be recycled.
The cost for the bench replacement is estimated at $12,000.
New Trash Receptacles
The 30 trash receptacles throughout the park are converted water barrels that have been in use for at least 15 years. While effective, they have served their useful life and should be replaced with the standard and more attractive trash receptacles that are in use throughout the City. The receptacles are being ordered and should be received and installed in approximately eight weeks.
The cost to replace the 30 receptacles is $42,000.
Heritage Court/Dog Park Parking Lot Light Upgrades
The lights for the Dog Park and Heritage Court parking lot were used in the 1940s and 1950s on Catalina Avenue and were re-located to preserve their historic value. Time and weather have had a heavy impact on the light fixtures and require attention to restore functionality and appearance. The City is currently restoring historic lighting on El Redondo and should consider including the lighting fixtures in Heritage Court and the Dog Park.
The projected cost to restore the street lights is $35,000.
Optional Element - Replacement of the Exercise Stations Along the Dominguez Park walking path there are exercise stations that were installed in the late 1980s. These exercise stations have met their useful life and, in some cases, have been removed due to safety issues. Consideration should be given to replacing the stations as part of a joint project between the Dog Park Improvements CIP and the Dominguez Park Improvement CIP.
The projected Cost for workout station replacements is estimated to be $90,000, using cooperative purchasing program pricing.
The Project Budget is $306,500. Estimates for the above listed improvements (including the optional exercise stations) is $259,000, which would leave $47,500 of the budget unallocated.
N.6., File # 22-3848 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
North Slope Stabilization and Landscaping: Attempts to stabilize and replant the slope along the park’s northern boundary have met with only limited success. Drainage patterns within and adjacent to the dog park discharge water over the slope in a way that creates rivulets in the soft ground, eroding both dirt and plant material. Solutions to the problem will require engagement of geotechnical and civil engineers and/or landscape architects who can study existing conditions and provide structural and sustainable plant-based solutions. Until these professionals are engaged it is difficult to estimate the cost of the stabilization work. Staff plans to engage the services of the appropriate design professionals through its on-call service contracts and develop a more detailed scope of work.
The available budget to address erosion and landscaping of the park’s north slope is $200,000.
Dominguez Park Play Equipment, Landscape and Walkways: The scope of this project is to replace badly worn play equipment at Dominguez Park and to reposition the play areas, maintenance drives, landscaping and pedestrian walkways in the playground area to create a less conflicted space. In May 2018, the Recreation and Park Commission (RPC) approved an outreach plan to discuss replacement of the play equipment. Outreach began in August 2018 and the volume of feedback was modest but informative and was presented to the RPC in December of that year. That discussion raised concerns about the area around the play equipment and the FY 2019-20 CIP adopted a few months later included a broader scope of work for the project to include the adjoining landscaping and pathways. Additional funding was also provided as part of the FY 2020-21 CIP, bringing the total project funding to $1,281,425.
In December of 2019, a landscape architect was engaged through an on-call contract with the City to develop a conceptual design for the reimagining of the 1.25-acre area around the play equipment.
Several priorities were given by the city for the design including new playground equipment, rubberized surfacing, new pathways and trail layout, a joined playground incorporating the lower level in a way that is “fully inclusive/full spectrum, focusing on both the physical and social aspects of inclusion and development through play.” Other project items included increase natural elements, less structure, more connectivity, improved ADA accessibility, new shade elements, more durable surfaces and a review of the maintenance access road location. The consultant was also responsible to support the public outreach through attending design workshops that would be scheduled by staff. Lastly, a preliminary project construction estimate was to be provided.
Site visits were completed in January 2020 and a community meeting was held at the park on February 22, 2020. Approximately 50 people attended to provide feedback. That meeting included a presentation of conceptual elements for the park to gauge interest and a discussion of spatial programming, see attachments. A discussion of all CIP projects, including reporting on the community meeting for Dominguez Park Playground was being planned for the Recreation and Parks Commission’s April 2020 meeting, which was cancelled due to COVID concerns. Finally, in October of 2020, the RPC was able to review and discuss the conceptual design prepared by the consultant and provide comments. The conceptual design is included as an attachment.
In November 2020, the former Director of Community Services, who was managing the public outreach portion of the project, left employment with the City. His replacement started work with the City in May of 2021. In addition, the City’s associate engineer assigned to the project also left employment with the City in that timeframe. Due to these discontinuities and the reordering of priorities during the COVID crisis, the project was stalled until January of 2022. At that time, the new
N.6., File # 22-3848 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
priorities during the COVID crisis, the project was stalled until January of 2022. At that time, the new Director of Community Service and staff were briefed on project progress and direction was given to proceed with next steps using the vetted conceptual design as the starting point. The consultant was asked to provide a current cost estimate of that design for budget purposes.
The budget level cost estimate for the project envisioned in the conceptual design is $1.75M, which includes a $245,000 allowance for the playground equipment. Next steps include engaging a design services firm to provide design development and construction documents for the civil site work. That work will be managed by the City’s Engineering Services Division of the Public Works Department.
In a parallel process, the Community Services Department will begin to engage playground equipment manufacturers to assist in affirming desired playground elements received through the community feedback in 2018; and solicit competitive designs of the playground equipment in a process similar to what was used for the Veteran’s Park playground equipment project completed a couple of years ago.
Design of the civil site improvements will require about ten to twelve months to reach a point where they can be advertised for bidding. This project is high priority due to it being stalled by COVID and staff vacancies. Engagement with civil site designers will begin this spring. The timeline for the playground design competition and the completion of final design is the third quarter of 2022.
COORDINATION
Information in this report and the continued work to bring the project forward is coordinated between the Public Works and Community Service Departments.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to receive and file the report. Project estimates at this time are developed only to a budget level and fall within the appropriated funding for the project. More detail on costs will be known as the projects progress. As described above, funding for the Dog Park Improvements Project totals $306,500. Cost estimates for the identified improvements total $259,000. The North Slope Stabilization and Landscape Project has a budget of $200,000. The cost for construction is currently unknown. Funding for the Dominguez Park Play Equipment, Landscape and Walkways Project totals $1,281,425 and the current rough construction cost estimate is $1.75M. Additional funding will be requested as more detailed construction cost estimates are developed.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Community Meeting Outreach Materials
2. Conceptual Play Ground Replacement Design