Administrative
Report
N.3., File # 22-3916 Meeting Date: 7/12/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: CAMERON HARDING, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING USE OF THE VETERANS PARK COMMUNITY CENTER/HISTORIC LIBRARY (“FACILITY”)
RECEIVE AND FILE INPUT PROVIDED BY THE COMMUNITY, RECREATION AND PARKS
COMMISSION, AND PUBLIC ART COMMISSION ON PREFERRED FACILITY USES
PROVIDE DIRECTION ON THE PROCESS AND SCOPE OF SERVICES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR FUTURE OPERATION OF THE FACILITY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 1991, the City Council approved the repurposing of the former Main Library building located in Veterans Park as a banquet and special events center to be operated by a private concessionaire.
The building was re-named the Veterans Park Community Center (“facility”) and was seismically retrofitted and renovated to accommodate the new use. The facility was operated this way until 2020 when the agreement with the previous concessionaire expired and the facility was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather than resuming banquet and special event uses at the facility post pandemic, the City Council on January 4, 2022, directed staff to identify alternative opportunities and reach out to the community to obtain input on how the facility should be operated. The community outreach included an online survey, two Open Houses, and consideration by the Recreation & Parks and Public Art Commissions on April 13 and June 1, respectively. Feedback from the three groups indicated the facility should be operated with an art-focus; provide opportunity for shared use with a variety of special attractions; and be open to the public for greater community use.
BACKGROUND
The Veterans Park Community Center is an 11,400 square foot landmark building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It served as the city’s Main Library from 1930 through 1991. In January 1991, the building incurred substantial seismic damage as a result of the Sierra Madre earthquake, forcing its closure to the public. In late 1991, the City Council approved the repurposing of the facility as a banquet and events center and initiated plans for construction of a new library facility adjacent to the Civic Center. The former main library building was renamed the Veterans Park Community Center (“facility”) and was renovated to include seismic upgrades and a historic restoration to accommodate its new use. Following completion of the renovation in 1995, the City issued an RFP for the facility’s catering and management operations. Spectrum was awarded the
N.3., File # 22-3916 Meeting Date: 7/12/2022
issued an RFP for the facility’s catering and management operations. Spectrum was awarded the contract for operation of the facility in 1996. This contract was renewed in 2013 and remained active until its expiration on October 31, 2020. At that time, the vendor elected not to pursue a renewed contract and vacated the facility. It has remained closed due to precautionary measures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
On January 4, 2022, Staff presented a draft RFP to the City Council that would provide an opportunity for a concessionaire to manage the facility in a similar model as was done previously by Spectrum. The City Council requested that staff conduct outreach with the community to solicit feedback on how the facility should be used and to determine if there are other preferred uses and operating models for the facility. Staff developed a series of outreach opportunities for the community to provide input. They included the following:
· Online survey for the community and potential concessionaires from March 7 - 24; · Open Houses held on Thursday, March 10 from 10:00am to 12:00pm, and Wednesday, April 27 from 4:00 to 6:00pm. Combined, an estimated 75 people attended these events; and, · Community discussions held at several Commission meetings including the Recreation and Parks Commission meeting on April 13, and the Public Art Commission meeting on May 25.
A copy of the outreach promotional material is included as Attachment 1.
Community and Concessionaire Survey
A series of surveys were made available online from March 7 - 24 including a community survey, consisting of six questions; and a concessionaire survey consisting of five questions. The community survey received a total of 312 responses and the concessionaire survey received eleven. A copy of the survey data is included as Attachments 2 and 3.
Overall, staff is pleased with the volume of survey responses as well as the thoughtful feedback provided by the community. Results from the community survey included the following:
· 91% of respondents were residents of Redondo Beach;
· On average, approximately 75% of respondents were relatively familiar with the facility; · 50% of respondents have attended an event or activity at the facility before; · An outdoor patio space and a performance area/bandshell were the two most desired new amenities; and
· A traditional community center and a pop-up space for rotating uses were the two most preferred facility uses. Other uses such as an art museum, an art gallery, café or daily food service, and a rental facility for private events were relatively equal in score thereafter.
Additionally, survey respondents provided valuable qualitative data by way of comments and suggestions, which included the following most popular themes:
· Desire to utilize the facility in a way that would provide for events or meetings at a low cost to residents;
· Utilization of the facility with an art-focus such as a gallery, museum, and/or sculpture garden; and
· Utilization of the facility as a café or restaurant that would extend to an outdoor patio or picnic
N.3., File # 22-3916 Meeting Date: 7/12/2022
· Utilization of the facility as a café or restaurant that would extend to an outdoor patio or picnic space.
Responses received from potential concessionaires were supportive of similar facility uses.
Open House Events
In an effort to provide the community an opportunity to view and provide input from inside the facility, two Open Houses were held on March 10 and April 27. Collectively, approximately 75 people attended these events and were given access to the main level, the mezzanine area, and the kitchen and meeting rooms located in the lower level of the building. Many visitors expressed their happiness in being able to view the facility, which was difficult to do under the previous concessionaire without a monetary commitment to rent the space. Overwhelmingly, those that attended expressed a desire to keep the space available for the community to use and enjoy in some fashion.
Recreation & Parks and Public Art Commission Input
The Recreation and Parks Commission reviewed the survey data and community input at its meeting on April 13 followed by the Public Art Commission on June 1. Staff requested the Commissions further refine key elements of the input received through the community survey to better inform recommended uses of the facility. The following questions were asked of the commissions:
1. Considering the desire to utilize the facility as a pop-up space:
a. Are there certain uses you would prefer?
b. Are there certain uses that would not be favorable?
2. What preferred uses should be considered as part of a shared use concept?
3. How best can the City support the community’s desire to have the facility available to them for low cost while utilizing it to its fullest potential?
Further details on the Commissions’ discussion and input on each question are included below.
Included as Attachment 4 is a side-by-side comparison of this feedback.
QUESTION 1: Considering the desire to utilize the facility as a pop-up space, are there certain uses you would prefer? Are there certain uses that would not be favorable? Pop-up spaces are venues that are meant to be temporary, anywhere from one day to several weeks. Essentially, vendors or concessionaires would utilize the facility for a short time to allow a different type of use to follow. Examples of different types of pop-up space uses that were provided to the Commissions included an art gallery or art studio; a café or restaurant; or a live performance venue.
Input received from the Recreation and Parks Commission included the following:
· An overall favorability to the pop-up space concept to allow a greater audience to enjoy the space.
· A desire to include usage of the outdoor space, if possible. · Consider a way to prioritize community groups’ usage of the facility at low cost. · A general agreement regarding an art-focused use of the facility.
N.3., File # 22-3916 Meeting Date: 7/12/2022
Input received from the Public Art Commission included the following:
· An art-focused use of the facility including music and visual arts. · A general desire to include usage of the outdoor space, if possible.
QUESTION 2: What preferred uses should be considered as part of a shared use concept? A shared use concept is similar to a pop-up space in the fact that it allows for a variety of uses.
However, this concept does not allow for a regular or ongoing rotation of vendors or concessionaires. For example, a model that was extrapolated from the survey data could include uses such as an art gallery/museum during the day and then a private rental facility in the evenings for meetings or small gatherings. Other examples provided to the Commissions included an art gallery/museum with a café or restaurant component utilizing the outdoor space west of the facility, or usage of the facility during the day for community classes/activities followed by private rentals for meetings or small gatherings in the evenings.
The Recreation and Parks Commission provided the following input on this concept:
· A general favorability to this concept with concern ensuring the facility remains accessible to the community.
· A desire to utilize the space for community classes and activities; private rentals; art-focuses; and a café.
The Public Art Commission overwhelmingly preferred to utilize the space for an art-focused use while dedicating space for a café or food service opportunity that could be enjoyed by guests of the facility.
QUESTION 3: How best can the City support the community’s desire to have the facility available to them for low cost while utilizing it to its fullest potential? Considering the overwhelming desire for the space to be utilized by the community, as expressed in the survey comments as well as comments received at the Open House events, staff asked the Commissions to provide creative approaches to achieving this while being mindful of how the facility could be used to its greatest potential. Some examples that were shared included the designation of certain areas throughout the facility that could be utilized by local groups at a low-cost such as a meeting or existing storage room. Another example included the development of a unique resident rate for private usage of the facility.
The Recreation and Parks Commission generally liked the idea of dedicating a certain space in the facility for community use if it can coexist within other uses of the facility. Overall, there was support for a sliding fee scale or reduced rate for residents. The Public Art Commission favored a reduced facility use rate for residents only.
Overall, the Commissions’ input was aligned in their support for an art-focused use of the facility; usage of the outdoor space; incorporating a café or food service option; and providing use of the facility at a reduced rate for residents. Staff requests the City Council provide direction on its preferred use of the facility. Depending on the desired use, staff will research the most effective way to implement the Council’s direction and return with an updated Request for Proposal document/process at a subsequent meeting.
N.3., File # 22-3916 Meeting Date: 7/12/2022
COORDINATION
The Community Services Department developed this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact is unknown at this time and will be determined once a dedicated future use of the facility is determined.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Community Outreach Flyer
2. Community Survey Results
3. Concessionaire Survey Results
4. Side-by-side Comparison of the Rec. & Parks and Public Arts Commission’s Feedback
5. Letter from the Library Commission