Administrative
Report
N.2., File # 22-4694 Meeting Date: 9/6/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
ELIZABETH HAUSE, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE DRAFT CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR
BEAUTIFICATION AND LANDSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS ON THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
EDISON RIGHT OF WAY PROPERTY LICENSED BY THE CITY WEST OF PACIFIC COAST
HIGHWAY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
One of the City’s strategic plan objectives is to bring forward a conceptual plan for beautification and landscape improvements on the recently-licensed Southern California Edison (SCE) right-of-way site, west of PCH (Licensed Site). To perform this task, staff engaged the services of Architerra, a landscape architecture firm that has extensive experience in open space preservation and California Native demonstration gardens. Per the City’s request, Architerra has prepared visioning documents and a conceptual site analysis / plan for the Licensed Site that is ready for discussion and consideration.
Architerra analyzed the full five-plus acre Licensed Site and identified the potential for at least three plant and landscape communities that should meet SCE requirements. Due to budget limitations, it is recommended that the City execute the project in phases, with the first phase addressing the upper plateau (eastern side) of the property closest to PCH. The report’s attachments include exhibits from the full analysis and the suggested first phase improvements.
This item provides an opportunity for the community to review and give input on the draft plan and allow the City Council to direct the next steps on the final design of the site’s landscape improvements. Approximately $450,000 of dedicated funding is available to complete design and construction of the project.
BACKGROUND
In September 2019, SCE completed a Method of Service study to determine the feasibility of removing the power lines along SCE’s 190th Street right-of-way (ROW). The study verified that the lines along the 190th corridor can be removed or relocated once the AES power plant is retired; this finding opened the opportunity for the City to consider developing the right-of way into a greenbelt and passive open space. While the date when the SCE ROW might become available for use as a greenbelt is uncertain, the City did recognize the opportunity to license the roughly five-acre parcel immediately west of PCH to allow public use and access, similar to the license agreement between
N.2., File # 22-4694 Meeting Date: 9/6/2022
SCE and the City for the parcels occupied by the North Redondo Beach Bikeway.
In April 2021, the City entered into preliminary discussions with SCE regarding the potential licensing of their ROW space located along Herondo Street and Catalina Avenue. The majority of the 5.1-acre Licensed Site surface is vacant with the exception of six power poles, associated 220-kv and 66-kv transmission lines, and a few soil retaining structures. There are multiple underground pipelines beneath the surface that further encumber the use of the property. SCE will continue to operate and/or host these transmission and distribution facilities and requires the site to be accessible to their maintenance and operation staff as well as outside contractors. The site’s acreage has been minimally utilized, occasionally serving as an overflow parking lot during large community events or for off-site construction project staging as licensed by SCE. Currently, the Licensed Site is covered in both native and non-native vegetation with dispersed mounds of foreign soil and other mixed dirt material. The City’s vision is that the parcel can be occupied with publicly accessible passive open space amenities, such as demonstration gardens and walking pathways.
On May 17, 2022, City Council approved a License Agreement with SCE for City use of the site. In response to a Strategic Plan objective, staff engaged the services of Architerra to develop visioning documents regarding certain open space amenities for future Council discussion such as grading and trails, planting scheme/palettes, accessibility, irrigation and signage. Architerra is one of the City’s on -call landscape architecture firms with expertise in open space preserve planning and enhancement projects as well as California Native demonstration gardens. After site assessment and initial conceptual design work was completed, the cost for construction improvements for the entire fiveacre parcel was estimated to be approximately $1.5M.
Given budgetary constraints, staff worked with Architerra to generate a modified design plan and cost estimate that would allow for the landscaping and construction of passive open space on only a portion of the site, namely the flatter eastern portion of the site (FY2022-23 Budget Response Report #45, see attached). The modified design plan generated a cost estimate of $400,000-450,000. As part of the FY 2022-23 Budget, the Council allocated an additional $312,000 in funding towards the installation of this modified park design. Combined with the initial budget allocation of $150,000, less fees spent for the conceptual design work, the remaining funding available for the implementation of the modified design plan is $450,000.
The attachments include exhibits from the conceptual design analysis provided by Architerra for both the full site and a first phase for the eastern portion of the site, along with the cost estimate. The attachments also include plant palette options provided to staff by the South Bay Parkland Conservancy. This information has since been provided to Architerra, but it is not reflected in the site analysis, as the draft plan was completed prior to the distribution of information.
These exhibits are meant to start the conversation around what the Licensed Site can become. Staff is seeking Council’s direction on moving forward to develop the design, using Architerra or another design firm, the process for public outreach, prioritization with other CIP work, and elements to be considered in the final design of the first and subsequent phases. As staff moves forward with design, it should be noted that all site elements and features must comply with SCE requirements for site use. A copy of the license agreement with SCE and the appendices discussing these limitations is attached to the report.
Of particular note in these constraints is SCE’s prohibition to installing any plant or tree species that is protected by state or federal law. For obvious reasons, SCE is not prepared to subject their site to
N.2., File # 22-4694 Meeting Date: 9/6/2022
is protected by state or federal law. For obvious reasons, SCE is not prepared to subject their site to environmental regulations that may interfere with their ongoing operations and does not want the site to become categorized as one of special environmental significance. That said, Architerra has identified a wide waterwise plant palette that can be utilized to improve the attractiveness of the property’s landscaping and make it a place that is used by birds, pollinators and other wildlife.
Following comments on the design scheme and direction from the City Council on the selection of the final design consultant, the City will contract and work with the design professional to develop construction plans and specifications for review by SCE and approval by the City Council.
COORDINATION
This item has been coordinated by the Public Works Department and the City Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to review the conceptual plan analysis and provide direction to staff regarding preferred design elements. The remaining project budget of roughly $450,000, which includes carry over funding and funding adopted as part of the FY 2022-23 budget motion, should be sufficient to cover final design and construction costs for the first phase of site development, which covers the eastern portion of the site.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
SCE License Agreement
Budget Response Report #45
SCE ROW Improvements - Illustrative Site Analysis
SBPC Recommended Plant Pallete