Administrative
Report
N.4., File # 22-3845 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE THE FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF SKATE PARK FEATURES AT THE REDONDO BEACH PIER PAD 10 LOCATION AND TO
MODIFY THE REDONDO BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE TO AUTHORIZE SKATEBOARD USE ON
THE PIER AT THE NEW SKATE PARK LOCATION
RECEIVE AND FILE A STATUS REPORT ON THE INSTALLATION OF SKATE PARK FEATURES AT
PERRY PARK
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City’s project to install skate facilities at Perry Park and the Redondo Beach Pier’s Pad 10 (Skate Facilities, - Perry Park and Pad 10 Locations Project, Job No. 30740, the “Project”) is advancing and now requires additional input from the City Council. The Perry Park features have been installed in accordance with the conceptual plan approved by the City Council following various public meeting discussions in 2020. The installation of skate park features at Pad 10 required certain entitlements from the Harbor Commission before work could begin and those were obtained on February 14, 2022. Minutes from the February Harbor Commission meeting are attached.
During the design process for Pad 10, several comments were received regarding the possibility of expanding the size/number of proposed skate elements if additional project funding could be identified. As a result, staff worked with Spohn Ranch, Inc., the design-build contractor for the project, to better understand the potential. Spohn Ranch agreed to develop a “master plan” of skating elements for review as part of the Harbor Commission’s entitlement consideration. In the application to obtain those entitlements, staff presented a layout of skating elements envisioning an ultimate buildout (dubbed the “master plan”) for Pad 10 that exceeds the current budget for the project. This was done to avoid having to return to the Harbor Commission for additional entitlements if additional funding is identified and committed to the project by the City Council.
Within the entitlement application documents for the “master plan”, there is also a “base plan”, which is the plan previously approved in concept by City Council, and which can be built within the current project budget. The “base plan” will be a fully functional facility but will lack some additional skating elements that were presented in the concept for the “master plan”. The attachments to this report contain exhibits depicting the “base plan” and “master plan”. Some exhibits also include depictions of graphical artwork that might also be considered in the future. Neither the current design-build contract nor the Harbor Commission’s entitlements include the artwork as depicted in these exhibits.
N.4., File # 22-3845 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
The Harbor Commission’s adopted resolution includes approval of the “master plan” project as presented and specifying that design of railings encircling the skate facility, which is to be completed through another vendor as part of a separate City project, mirror the pier railing design. The Harbor Commission approved the CUP for the site to allow operating hours of the skatepark from 9 AM to sunset. The Harbor Commission also recommended that City Council find funding for the “master plan” buildout.
Staff is seeking direction whether to direct the design build contractor to complete the design for and install the “base plan” at the contract price already approved ($140,000 less about $30,000 to install Perry Park features) or to complete the design for and install the “master plan” if additional funds are appropriated for the project. The estimate for the “master plan” is $281,000, meaning additional funding in the amount of about $171,000 (~$188,000 when including standard contingency) would be needed for the “master plan”. The design build contractor has provided an estimate for each plan, which is included with the attachments. Selection of the “master plan” would require a contract amendment/change order with Spohn Ranch and a budget modification resolution appropriating the additional project funds that would have to be returned to City Council for approval.
The project schedule adopted when the design-build contract was approved targeted installation of the Pad 10 elements in May 2022. However, scheduling to meet with the Harbor Commission to secure the entitlements has delayed the project slightly. It is likely construction will extend past the anticipated completion date and into the summer period at the pier. Selecting to build the “master plan” in lieu of the “base plan” will add an estimated four weeks to the overall schedule. Regardless of the level of improvements chosen, the Skate Park area can be isolated with construction fencing to complete the work at the earliest possible date and should not significantly impact summer patronage at the Pier.
In addition to selecting what layout will be built under the current contract, staff is also seeking direction to make modification to portions of the Redondo Beach Municipal Code (“RBMC”) Section 12-2.07 Bicycle and skateboard riding (within Title 12 HARBORS AND BEACHES, Chapter 2 PIERS AND WHARVES) to allow skating (skate boarding, roller skating and in-line skating) at these facilities by the intended user groups. The Harbor Commission, in its approved motion, recommended that City Council direct staff to change the ordinance that prohibits skateboarding on the pier. Currently RBMC allows skating in parks where designated by signage at locations approved by the City Manager. However, skating on the pier per RBMC Section 12-2.07 is prohibited. During the project’s design build process, staff can return to City Council with a proposed draft ordinance as early as April 5th after consultation with the City Attorney’s office.
To summarize, staff is seeking direction on two topics. The first topic is regarding the selected scope of project work. The options include:
1. Build the “base plan” as already contracted and close the project;
2. Build the “master plan” (after returning to Council with a funding appropriation resolution using unallocated General Fund Balance and a contract amendment for Spohn Ranch);
3. Build the “base plan” first and return at an undetermined future date with an amendment or new contract to construct the remaining “master plan” elements of the skate park only after funding is identified.
The second topic is to direct staff to draft an ordinance with proposed changes to the RBMC to
N.4., File # 22-3845 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
The second topic is to direct staff to draft an ordinance with proposed changes to the RBMC to legalize use of the facilities for skating at the Pier.
BACKGROUND
On August 4, 2020, City Council received a presentation on the feasibility of development of skate facilities at five park locations around the City. The parks analyzed included Franklin Park, Anderson Park, Perry Park, Lilienthal Park and Czuleger Park. Czuleger Park was determined to be too close to residential properties and the Council requested that the feasibility study be updated to include another harbor adjacent location identified as Pad 10 on the Redondo Beach Pier.
On October 20, 2020, City Council received an update to the Skatepark Feasibility Study, which included consideration of a project location at Pad 10. As part of the presentation, staff reported on activity and comments from the Harbor Commission meeting held on September 14, 2020, when the Harbor Commission voted in favor of siting a skate facility at Pad 10. At the October 20, 2020 meeting, City Council directed staff to develop a solicitation for design build services for skate facilities at two locations, Perry Park and Pad 10, in accordance with the Skatepark Feasibility Study recommendations for those sites.
On October 5, 2021, the City Council approved a design-build contract with Spohn Ranch, Inc. to provide and install skate facilities at the two identified locations. The installation at Perry Park was to consist of skating features that could be installed along concrete areas historically used by the skating community. These features would define a “skate spot” integrated among other uses rather than a fully dedicated skating area more commonly known as a “skate park”. The Perry Park installation had an estimated cost of $30,000. The Pad 10 installation was to be a little larger and in a space that is more removed from other uses. The Harbor Commission recommendation from September 2020 was for a space that, while dedicated to skating during its hours of operation, could also be used for other public activities (outdoor movies, concerts, exercise classes) when not being used for skating. The design-build contract outlined a $110,000 budget for the Pad 10 facility.
The Perry Park facility, being smaller and located within a public park, had an easier pathway to implementation and has now been installed. The Pad 10 facility, required certain entitlements since it is located not in a park but on the City’s Pier. On February 14, 2022 the Harbor Commission provided the essential entitlements needed to implement the Pad 10 project on that site. As preparations were being made to complete the application for entitlements, staff received several comments regarding the expansion of the project to meet the needs and desires of the skating community and to utilize the full capacity of the Pad 10 space. Spohn Ranch agreed to develop a more robust facility design than their existing budget allowed them to build, for the purpose of maximizing the entitlements, in the event additional funding was identified. Staff presented and the Harbor Commission approved a project “master plan” that exceeds the scope of the current designbuild contract, in the event that the City Council later elected to build out the skate facility at this location to its maximum appropriate size and scope. This step eliminates the need to return to the Harbor Commission for further entitlements if the larger project is funded and authorized in the future.
The process to obtain entitlements was dependent on coordinating with the meeting schedule of the Harbor Commission, which has led to about a month delay in the project schedule. The minor delay was not due to any fault of Spohn Ranch, and liquidated damages charges are not anticipated at this time. However, the delay will likely push completion of the project past the proposed Memorial Day date anticipated in the current contract to either late June or late July depending on the final
N.4., File # 22-3845 Meeting Date: 3/15/2022
date anticipated in the current contract to either late June or late July depending on the final approved scope of project work.
The Harbor Commission also recognized that certain portions of the RBMC needed to be changed to allow skate board use on the Pier. Staff is seeking direction from City Council to provide proposed changes to the RBMC to allow use of skateboards on the Pier, specifically at this Pad 10 location.
Staff believes very similar language that allows skating in City parks at designated locations (RBMC 4-35.13-14) could be used to modify the code section currently prohibiting these activities on the Pier.
COORDINATION
The acquisition of entitlements and implementation of the project are being coordinated with the Waterfront and Economic Development Department, the Community Services Department and the Public Works Department, in addition to the Harbor Commission.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the “base plan” is available and has been appropriated to the City’s adopted Capital Improvements Program, Job No. 30740, which includes money from the Subdivision Parks Trust (“Quimby”) Fund, the City’s Capital Projects Fund and a $25,000 grant from the Los Angeles Kings Foundation. Funding for the project envisioned by the awarded contract is presented in this table.
No additional funding is required to build the “base plan”.
Funding Expenditures
Subdiv. Parks Trust Fund $150,000 Geotechnical Services $19,866 Capital Projects Fund $50,000 Feasibility Study $15,000 LA Kings Foundation $25,000 Legal Services $20,072
Design-Build Contract $140,000
Contingency/PM/Insp. $30,062
Total $225,000 Total $225,000
The “master plan” project would require an additional appropriation by the City Council. The additional cost of the master plan is $188,000, which includes the cost of construction, project management, contingency, and inspection.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. February 14, 2022 Harbor Commission Meeting Minutes
2. Project Exhibits - Base Plan and Master Plan Layouts and Cost Estimates