Administrative
Report
N.2., File # 22-4994 Meeting Date: 10/18/2022
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING APPROVAL OF THE DRAFT PUBLIC
AMENITIES PLAN FOR KING HARBOR
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Revitalization of the waterfront has been a key strategic priority for the City for many years. Key to the revitalization effort is the need to upgrade or replace many of the public amenities within the waterfront to improve recreational, educational, and entertainment offerings available to residents.
The proposed draft plan will act as a framework for recreational and operational needs along the waterfront, and provides an implementation plan to guide the City through specific recommendations.
The draft plan document captures the recommendations and comments from the public, as well as the Amenities Plan workgroup. On September 12, 2022, the Harbor Commission reviewed the draft plan and recommended City Council approve the Draft Plan subject to specific changes, further outlined below.
This item will provide an opportunity for the community to provide input and allow the City Council to discuss, comment, and ultimately either: 1) approve the document pursuant to the recommendations outlined by the Harbor Commission, 2) further edit the draft plan and approve the document, or 3) continue the item to a future City Council meeting for further consideration.
BACKGROUND
The Public Amenities Plan shall be used as a starting point to provide clear direction for future redesigns of the public amenities offered within the waterfront based on community feedback. Once adopted, additional steps are required to bring these ideas to life, which includes seeking funding sources to pay for each amenity and pursuing a variety of request for proposals (RFP) to select vendors to design key areas within the waterfront. Each RFP will include additional community outreach to guide final designs of the amenity, and public hearings before the Harbor Commission and/or City Council where additional public comments will be heard before ultimately issuing permits and starting the construction and inspection processes.
The intent of the Public Amenities Plan is to guide the third-party vendors that are awarded specific RFP’s for each individual amenity with a list of design criteria that must be included during the final design process. The Plan also assists staff by providing clear direction on next steps to achieve redevelopment. For example, the implementation section identifies the need for a traffic circulation study and parking study prior to finalizing the design of the new public boat launch to ensure the approach not only meets minimum standards but does not result in on-site or off-site congestion.
The plan acts as a guide book for staff to determine which amenities should be sought in the shortPage 1 of 10 N.2., File # 22-4994 Meeting Date: 10/18/2022
The plan acts as a guide book for staff to determine which amenities should be sought in the shortterm, mid-term, or long-term, as well as necessary studies required to ensure each amenity is designed to be successful.
The Amenities Plan is organized into five key areas. The first describes the existing conditions. The second covers the community outreach approach that occurred throughout the duration of the planning effort. The third covers the proposed cohesive identity for the Harbor. The fourth focuses on specific design elements that are considered “must have’s” at key interest areas such as Seaside Lagoon, Sportsfishing Pier, and Moonstone Park along with others. The fifth details the implementation plan including phasing, funding, and next steps. The focus of this Administrative Report will be to highlight the most “actionable” elements of the Draft Plan within Chapter 5, Connectivity Framework, and Chapter 7, Key Area Recommendations and Chapter 8, Implementation.
It is important to note that while the Plan includes mock site plans of specific key areas within Chapter 7, the site plans are conceptual only and were created to provide insight as to what the area could look like if the identified elements were included in its eventual design. When reviewing the document, please focus on the list of proposed program elements for each key area instead of the conceptual site plan. These key elements will be considered minimum requirements when the design process for each area commences during the RFP process for each amenity.
Chapter 5: Connectivity Framework
Access to the waterfront is integral to the Plan. The Plan seeks to improve wayfinding and paths to help direct visitors to the water. Five key character zones were established to create a unique identity within each zone and improve upon the connections between the zones via pedestrian paths, bicycle lanes/sharrows, and vehicle ingress/egress. Of note is a Waterfront Promenade that has been created to provide a visually clear waterfront experience for pedestrians that connects all five zones. It starts at the Pad 10 site of Basin III and wraps around the waterfront continuously to Moonstone Park.
Character zones were identified based on the programs and amenities located within the areas. The zones help create the identity of the space but also considers general guidelines to ensure there is a cohesive design for the entire harbor. Specific designs for each of the public amenities within the zones would be formed with the assistance of community outreach during the RFP process, as well as the public hearing process at Harbor Commission and City Council for each individual project.
Design of the connection points for the entire Harbor inclusive of pedestrian paths, bicycle sharrows, bike racks, landscape, lighting, trash, signage, etc. would be a separate RFP to ensure a harmonious design connects all five zones. The five character zones are:
Natural (Moonstone Park) - The Natural zone provides a passive and open space experience. It is generally located further away from some of the other highly active areas of the harbor and will continue to operate water recreational uses, such as the outriggers with designed viewing areas to watch boats traverse the marina. Visitors can access the natural zone via automobiles, bicycles, and pedestrians along Marina Way, providing an east/west connection to Harbor Drive. In addition, the Waterfront Promenade will provide pedestrians a north/south connection to the remaining zones.
The Harbor Commission expressed support for the proposed connectivity criteria.
Harbor Hub (Seaside Lagoon, Hand Launch, Sportsfishing Pier) - The Harbor Hub zone represents
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Harbor Hub (Seaside Lagoon, Hand Launch, Sportsfishing Pier) - The Harbor Hub zone represents the greatest opportunity to create a new civic gathering space that merges several existing disconnected amenities along the waterfront. This zone integrates and connects Seaside Lagoon, the Hand Boat Launch, and the Sportsfishing Pier where pedestrians can gather and participate in various water activities. The Harbor Hub zone sits adjacent to a large surface parking lot for close automobile access. Said parking lot is proposed with bike sharrows and bike hubs to improve bicycle access both north/south and east/west.
Furthermore, this zone consists of three water facing nodes and targets the pedestrian user to utilize the Waterfront Promenade to gain access to the civic gathering area. Considerations were given to create a permanent vehicle access route to the hand launch for small boat craft loading/unloading purposes, however, given that the intent of the Harbor Hub zone is to create a pedestrian gathering space the access route was left out of the draft plan. The anticipated pedestrian traffic from the newly proposed great lawn within Seaside Lagoon, as well as spillover patrons from the neighboring educational facility, Sports Fishing Pier, and On the Rocks building, resulted in staff proposing a concept in which the Waterfront Promenade remained primarily pedestrian oriented to avoid potential conflicts between vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
After careful deliberation, the Harbor Commission disagreed and unanimously recommended a permanent vehicle access component be required in final RFP designs to accommodate trailer load/unload at the hand launch. The Harbor Commission felt strongly that the distance between the surface parking lot and hand launch was too lengthy for heavier small boat craft, which could negatively impact use of the hand launch facility, particularly for less able users. In addition, the Harbor Commission recognized that the hand launch has historically been accessed via vehicles and eliminating such access now prioritizes pedestrians over other users, such as water dependent boating users. They cited the Coastal Act, Measure C, and the City’s Local Coastal Plan, which calls for protecting, preserving, and enhancing our water dependent recreational facilities. The Harbor Commission expressed concerns that changing the long-standing access to favor one user group (pedestrians) is not in keeping with the intent to “enhance” our water dependent recreational facilities.
If City Council is amenable with the Harbor Commission recommendation, staff would make the necessary changes to include vehicle access to the hand launch as a minimum requirement. The design would include a circular one-way approach to avoid the need for a vehicle turn-around, which would require more space. The approach would start at Portofino Way, providing access between the Seaside Lagoon and the vacant Joe’s Crab Shack site. Vehicles would navigate south along the promenade, unload at the hand launch, and proceed south before exiting the promenade at the OnThe-Rocks building. Actual design of the route would occur during a future RFP process. Staff is seeking City Council input on this matter. The Harbor Commission was in support of all other proposed connectivity criteria within the Harbor Hub character zone.
Educational (Joe’s Crab Shack) - The Educational zone is a prime location for a future educational center, currently proposed to the west of Seaside Lagoon. Children participating in a future educational center will be in close proximity to the Harbor Hub zone, which includes highly active gathering spaces with direct access to the water for on-the-water activities associated with the educational center. Access to the site is provided in a few ways. The Waterfront Promenade provides North/South pedestrian connections to the rest of the harbor. Vehicles have east/west access via Portofino Way connecting the site to the surface parking lot and Harbor Drive. In addition, it would be designed to incorporate a bike lane and pedestrian path for additional east/west
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it would be designed to incorporate a bike lane and pedestrian path for additional east/west connections. The Harbor Commission supports the connectivity options proposed for the Educational Zone so long as pedestrian connectivity is maintained between the educational facility and Seaside Lagoon. The Harbor Commission recognized that children would likely visit each area.
Thus, a pedestrian connection point between the two uses should be incorporated so children could be guaranteed direct water access at the Lagoon. In response, staff have amended the minimum requirements outlined for the Seaside Lagoon (Chapter 7) to ensure connectivity is considered in the final design of Seaside Lagoon. The Harbor Commission was in support of all other proposed connectivity criteria.
Coastal - The new public boat launch will be the primary node within the Coastal zone and will be a regional attraction to those seeking access to the water by boat. The existing boat hoist will remain in this zone and provide additional opportunities to access the water. Connectivity within the Coastal zone is geared towards the automobiles that are needed to trailer a boat to the hoist or boat launch.
That said, pedestrian linkages are provided along the edge of the water via the Waterfront Promenade, as well as a few pedestrian pathways just east of the proposed boat launch linking pedestrians to International Boardwalk to the south and the Harbor Hub character zone to the north.
As stated earlier, the implementation section identifies the need for a traffic circulation study and parking study prior to finalizing the design of the new public boat launch to ensure the approach not only meets minimum standards but does not result in on-site or off-site congestion. Both studies would be required during the RFP process that provides final design considerations for the new boat launch. The Harbor Commission expressed support for the proposed connectivity criteria.
Commercial - The Commercial zone is an active and vibrant place where visitors can shop, dine, and stroll. International Boardwalk is the centerpiece of this zone and can be accessed via automobile by way of the existing pier parking structure. An improved bicycle path is proposed above International Boardwalk, with direct access north to Harbor Drive. In addition, the portion of the Waterfront Promenade along International Boardwalk includes improvements to widen the boardwalk with a cantilevered walkway, which could accommodate outdoor dining outside the existing walkway that cannot currently accommodate street furniture due to its designation as a fire lane. The widened walkway would ensure tables and chairs would be located outside of the fire lane and encourage a more vibrant restaurant experience. In addition, the walkway would serve to connect pedestrians from Mole D to the parking garages just south of International Boardwalk. The Harbor Commission supports the connectivity criteria established within the Commercial zone.
In summary, the Harbor Commission supports the proposed connectivity plan, subject to the inclusion of vehicle access along the Waterfront Promenade fronting Seaside Lagoon. They also suggested creating a separate RFP to ensure a uniform and consistent design is captured along the pathways, bike lanes, and promenade, inclusive of landscaping, wayfinding, lighting, etc. Staff agrees and amended the Implementation Plan to specifically identify such an RFP. Overall, staff and the Harbor Commission find that the connectivity framework improves access to the waterfront, provides a cohesive experience, ensures multiple access modes for key interest areas, and improves our connection to nature. Staff seeks feedback from City Council regarding the recommendation from Harbor Commission regarding vehicle access to the hand launch.
Chapter 7: Key Area Recommendations
The public amenities located within the five zones outlined above include Seaside Lagoon, the Hand Launch, Sportsfishing Pier, Moonstone Park, Public Boat Launch, Dinghy Docks, and International Boardwalk. Chapter 7 of the Plan outlines the overall goals for each key area amenity, as well as the
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Boardwalk. Chapter 7 of the Plan outlines the overall goals for each key area amenity, as well as the program elements that shall be included in the final design. The program elements were identified by our residents through the community outreach process. Any element that is included in the eventual approved version of this Plan will be considered minimum requirements when final design considerations are implemented during the RFP process for each individual amenity project. The Harbor Commission and staff support the proposed program elements, as they are based on feedback from the community and the Amenities Plan Workgroup. Requested now, is review and consideration from the City Council.
Seaside Lagoon - As proposed, the upgraded Seaside Lagoon project will convert the Lagoon to an impervious closed-loop system to eliminate the pumped discharge released into the Harbor. In addition, the upgrade will include a new heated pool and a sandy beach. A great lawn is also added to become an open public space with outdoor dining opportunities and flex open space. The intent of adding the great lawn and new pool is to increase flexibility for various events, as well as extend use of the area beyond just the summer months. The entire area will be surrounded by a fence, of which a portion of the fence is removable. During the peak summer months, the fence will surround the entire area, thus allowing paying customers of Seaside Lagoon or those renting the facility for special events an opportunity to enjoy the pool, lagoon, sandy beach, and great lawn. During times of less demand, such as winter months, the removable fence will be shifted to bifurcate the lagoon and pool from the great lawn, thereby making the great lawn accessible to everyone while maintaining a safe and secure area around the water elements. A direct path that brings visitors from the parking lot to the hand launch area increases accessibility and wayfinding. In addition, new/renovated restrooms, a community center, and dedicated bus parking are included. The Harbor Commission created a Seaside Lagoon Sub-committee to assist with the RFP selection process, as well as provide guidance to the selected contractor for minimum sizing design criteria established by Measure C.
The Harbor Commission and staff support the concept and find that the elements, in partnership with nearby businesses within the old Ruby’s and On the Rocks buildings, make the lagoon accessible year-round, flexible for community events, with an expanded target audience beyond just children/families.
Hand Launch - The existing hand launch is proposed for reconstruction to provide a non-slip zerodepth entry, ADA gangway, floating dock, wave attenuator, and a sandy beach area for staging small boat craft. Additional amenities to support the hand launch include wash down station, SUP/paddle craft racks, a slip for the Harbor Patrol, and a cart rental program to assist those bringing heavy kayaks/paddleboards from the surface parking lot to the hand launch. As proposed, a temporary vehicle access point is included for vehicular loading/unloading during special events via removable bollards.
The Harbor Commission supports the proposed design elements outlined as minimum requirements and unanimously agreed that the great lawn should be included within the fenced area of Seaside Lagoon during peak usage times. They fully support the proposed configuration, as the fence allows for a full-sized operation during the summer months but also accommodates easy reconfiguration for year-round uses of the grass area.
However, as discussed in the Harbor Hub section above, the Harbor Commission recommends permanent vehicle access be incorporated into the design to accommodate trailer load/unload for heavier small boat craft. In addition, the Harbor Commission unanimously agreed that the surface parking lot is too far a distance from the hand launch, facilitating a concern that the rental cart program will not be used by patrons. As such, they recommend the Plan eliminate the cart rental
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program will not be used by patrons. As such, they recommend the Plan eliminate the cart rental program. In addition, the Harbor Commission recommends that the provided boat slip remain open for all users, not just the Harbor Patrol. Staff seeks City Council feedback on the recommendations by the Harbor Commission concerning vehicle access to the hand launch, elimination of the cart rental program and opening up the provided slip to all users.
Short Pier (Sports Fishing Pier) - The Sports Fishing Pier will be completely revamped into an active public space for people to dine, socialize, and enjoy views of the harbor. It is recommended that the pier remain in the same location, as it provides a buffer between the Hand Launch facility to the north where people will operate non-motorized crafts, and the new public boat launch to the south. It is recommended that the pier be demolished and completely rebuilt. Design elements include guest dock slips or dock-and-dine slips to attract boats from other marinas, both of which are currently lacking within the harbor, an area for a boat pull up, public restrooms, a restaurant, stepped seating, and an open lawn space for flexible use. Historically, before the pier was in disrepair, fishing was considered an amenity on this pier. However, through public engagement there is a stronger desire to transform this space for dining, outdoor seating, and additional slips for guests visiting from other nearby harbors. In addition, a fishing amenity remains an option at the Horseshoe Pier. For this reason, the pier has been renamed in this draft plan to the “Short Pier”.
The Harbor Commission supports the design elements outlined for the Short Pier, specifically the restaurant, outdoor seating, viewing areas, and support for various types of temporary boat craft to attract visitors from other marinas to the Harbor, inclusive of dinghy’s, dine and dock slips, paddlecraft and both large and small boats. However, the Harbor Commission does not recommend utilizing artificial turf given its propensity to get hot, which would likely discourage patrons from sitting or standing on the lawn. In addition, the Harbor Commission expressed concern that the black rubber pellets found under the artificial lawn, which are designed to provide cushion, have a propensity to spill out and could end up in the ocean. In contrast, a natural lawn could prove difficult to water on a pier. For this reason, the Harbor Commission favored removal of the lawn. Staff seeks City Council input on this issue.
Moonstone Park - Moonstone Park is home to a public park, as well as the Nahoa and Lanakila Outrigger clubs. The proposed improvements seek to integrate this area into an oceanfront experience and maintain the natural open space. To do so, design elements include shade, seating and an iconic overlook deck to view the outriggers and nearby boats that traverse the area on their way in and out of the harbor. Design considerations also include slightly increasing the space dedicated for outrigger boats to accommodate a flex area to prepare boats for the water/trailers, new restrooms, landscaping, lighting and pedestrian/bicycle connections. The Harbor Commission supports the elements identified for Moonstone Park.
Public Boat Launch - A public boat launch provides access for larger boats on trailers to be launched directly into the water. The Plan proposes the launch to locate at Mole D, which offers opportunities for vehicle access and provides for good separation from non-motorized craft at the hand launch.
Design elements include trailer ingress/egress, trailer parking, queuing lanes, wash down area, a turning circle to back boats into the water, ramps, new restrooms and preservation of the existing boat hoist. The Harbor Commission supports all elements proposed for the public boat launch and specifically issued support for the wash down area, maintaining the existing boat hoist as well as the boat trailer queuing lanes.
Dinghy Dock - Dinghy docks are used to carry passengers from visiting boats. Visitors anchor large Page 6 of 10 N.2., File # 22-4994 Meeting Date: 10/18/2022
Dinghy Dock - Dinghy docks are used to carry passengers from visiting boats. Visitors anchor large boats in the Mooring Field and then take a smaller boat (Dinghy) to access the waterfront. The Plan proposes the inclusion of floating dinghy docks with the potential to serve both visiting craft in the Mooring Field and local craft excursions for dining opportunities. The integration of multiple dinghy docks will help transform the boating experience at King Harbor and will enable an increase of visitors from neighboring marinas. The Plan calls for an expansion of the existing excursion launch just north of Pad 10, as well as a new dinghy docks near the proposed public boat launch, within the northern slip at Basin III and potentially at the new Short Pier. The Harbor Commission supports the proposed locations and unanimously agreed that Dinghy docks should be incorporated as much as possible within the entire Harbor.
International Boardwalk - International Boardwalk will receive improvements that allow the foundational infrastructure to remain intact. Upgrades include pathway improvements, updated signage, and improved furnishings to enhance the user experience. Additional improvements include a new upper deck experience, updated restrooms, improved bike path connectivity, additional bike parking on the upper deck, improved pedestrian connection to the Horseshoe Pier, and a revised sea wall design that creates a cantilevered deck, thus widening the existing walkway.
Overall, the Harbor Commission was supportive of the design elements proposed at International Boardwalk and pointed out that any redesign of the seawall (with cantilevered deck) should take views and wind protection into consideration to further accommodate outdoor dining. This is a specific detail that can be further explored during the RFP process. In addition, the Harbor Commission expressed strong support for the proposed bike parking stations and a food market hall be incorporated just east of R10 restaurant and west of the parking garage. As part of the community outreach process, the idea of a market hall where multiple restaurant vendors locate within an indoor or outdoor space was strongly supported. The community specifically identified International Boardwalk for such a venue. The Public Amenities Plan provides three potential options for such a market hall. The location preferred by the Harbor Commission and community is identified as location #3 on page 181 of the plan. The other two areas identified for a market hall include the area near the old Ruby’s building and close to the proposed boat launch at Mole D. That said, neither location is as attractive as the International Boardwalk location. The old Ruby’s building is currently in contract to open as a newly remodeled restaurant and the area near the boat launch location has also been identified as a potential area for dry boat storage. If City Council concurs, staff recommends keeping all three locations as options for future consideration with an emphasis to pursue the International Boardwalk location as the preferred location.
Dry Boat Storage - Dry boat storage can vary in size and use. Mast-Up Storage areas are designed for sailboats that range from 15 to 31 feet long with a mast up. Another option is small watercraft storage for smaller vessels such as kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards. Currently, there is no publicly operated dry boat storage within King Harbor, although privately owned storage does exist. Based on overall community feedback, as well as feedback from the Amenities Plan Workgroup, there wasn’t strong support to include public dry boat storage in the Plan due to the limited space available within the Harbor, as well as concerns related to the efficiency level that a government entity can operate such a facility. That said, local harbor organizations have expressed a desire for dry boat storage. In addition, the Coastal Act and Tidelands Trust each state that increased recreational boating use of coastal waters shall be encouraged, including developing dry storage areas.
Therefore, continued exploration of dry boat storage should be evaluated. Although the City may not want to pursue management of such facilities, three locations have been identified as potential future
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want to pursue management of such facilities, three locations have been identified as potential future locations for a private entity to operate.
The first location is near the future educational center where the space could double as an educational opportunity and for clubs learning to use a variety of watercrafts. This location wouldn’t be able to accommodate the dry boat storage until design considerations for the eventual educational facility commences, at which time studies can be performed to ensure the educational facility can accommodate said storage after considerations are given to the size of the proposed educational facility and estimated required parking associated with the educational facility. Location 2 is in the parking lot just east of Seaside Lagoon, in close proximity to the hand boat launch. This location would eliminate existing surface parking stalls for the Harbor and a parking study would be required to ensure adequate parking for the Harbor could be maintained prior to allowing a private operator to convert the parking lot to a dry boat storage facility. Location 3 would locate storage on Mole D, just south of the proposed public boat launch. This location would be unavailable until after construction of the public boat launch.
The Harbor Commission supports the proposed approach, in which areas have been identified for future consideration and additional study only. They also agreed that any dry boat storage should be operated by a private entity. Of the three proposed locations, the Harbor Commission preferred location number 3, given its proximity to the water, boat launch, and boat hoist. That said, they expressed a desire for additional considerations be given related to restrictions of views due to stacked storage heights. For all of these reasons, the Harbor Commission unanimously agreed to create a Harbor Commission Sub-committee tasked with reviewing potential locations for dry boat storage as individual RFP’s for the final design of critical waterfront amenities are initiated. The intent of the sub-committee is to ensure due diligence is performed for continued consideration of dry boat storage.
Chapter 8: Implementation
The purpose of the Amenities Plan is to provide an overall framework and clear direction for the public amenities inclusive of funding, phasing, and advancing design to include key program elements. The key program elements for each individual amenity were discussed above. The project action list has been included to assist staff with prioritizing individual projects in terms of which should be built first. The phasing diagram includes short-term (first five years), mid-term (6-10 years), and long term (11-20 years) categories. Staff has included a summary of the phasing plan below and Harbor Commission supports the action plan as stated.
Short Term (1-5 years) - The City received a grant from the State in the amount of $10 million for renovation of the Seaside Lagoon. An RFP to solicit design firms was released in June 2022 and staff anticipates selecting a design firm shortly after adoption of the Public Amenities Plan. This project is partially funded and a selected design firm will be expected to meet with the Harbor Commission Seaside Lagoon Sub-Committee and City Council in 2022 and begin the community outreach portion of the design process in early 2023. Therefore, staff expects the renovation project to be a short-term project. In addition to Seaside Lagoon, the City is obligated to construct the public boat launch prior to any net new building square-footage within the harbor. Therefore, the public boat launch has been included as a short-term project, as well as the associated traffic study.
Projects with short-term designations include;
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· RFP to design and construct a rehabilitated Seaside Lagoon · RFP to design and construct a new public boat launch, including an overall parking study of the entire Harbor to identify parking needs due to the new amenities and assess parking management strategies (EV stalls, compact, shared parking) · RFP associated with creating a uniform design of the promenade walkway, pedestrian pathways, wayfinding, and bike paths throughout the harbor · RFP to construct new pedestrian paths, bike lanes, and bike racks · Existing restroom renovations,
· WiFi upgrades
· RFP for design of Moonstone Park
· RFP for design and implementation of the upper deck outdoor dining along International Boardwalk
· Continued dry boat storage assessment
· Continued partnership with private development community to improve the Joe’s Crab Shack site (educational facility) and the old Ruby’s and On the Rocks buildings Mid-Term (6-10 years) - Projects with a mid-term designation include; · Continued assessment of the existing state of the waterfront parking garages, · Completion of the Waterfront Promenade once the boat launch and Seaside Lagoon have been constructed,
· RFP’s for design and redevelopment of the hand launch · RFP for design and redevelopment of the Short Pier,
· Development of dinghy docks,
· Continued dry boat storage assessment, and
· Continued evaluation of parking strategies and needs (shared, EV, payment systems, etc.).
Long-Term (11-20 years) - Projects with a long-term designation include; · Continuation of the Redondo Beach Pier repair efforts · Climate resiliency
· Sea level rise
· Continued dry boat storage assessment
· Continued evaluation of parking strategies and needs (shared, EV, payment systems, etc.)
NEXT STEPS
Following City Council adoption of the King Harbor Public Amenities Plan, the recommended actions within the Plan would move forward as prioritized under the short term, midterm, and long-term designations.
COORDINATION
The development of the King Harbor Public Amenities Plan involved the coordination and support of multiple City Departments including the Waterfront and Economic Development Department, the City Manager’s Office, the City Attorney’s Office, Community Development Department, Public Works Department, and Community Services Department. Additionally, the Harbor Commission, the Workgroup Committee, and the waterfront business associations were instrumental in helping craft and edit the King Harbor Public Amenities Plan.
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FISCAL IMPACT
On August 17, 2021, the City Council approved a Consultant Agreement for a not-to-exceed total value of $242,872 for preparation of the King Harbor Public Amenities Plan.
The Public Amenities Plan includes an overview of projected cost estimates for each of the identified waterfront amenities. Two of the projects identified to be designed and constructed as an initial priority under the “short term” designation, include the Seaside Lagoon Rehabilitation project and the new Public Boat Launch at Mole D. The Plan estimates that a complete reconstruction of Seaside Lagoon would cost just over $32 million dollars to design and build, while a new public boat launch is anticipated to cost just over $10 million. All of the projects identified as short-term goals (including Seaside Lagoon and the public boat launch) are estimated to total approximately $51 million dollars.
The total cost of projects identified in the Plan, inclusive of all short term, mid-term, and long-term activities is estimated to be $106 million dollars.
The City of Redondo Beach has funding in place for two specific projects, including Seaside Lagoon ($11 million - $10 million of State Grant Funding plus $1 million of Tidelands Funds), and Moonstone Park ($2.4 million of funding from previous Chevron license activities). However, additional money is needed to pursue the vision as planned and there are various grant and loan programs available from the California Department of Parks and Recreation Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) to reach that end. Money for these programs can come from state and federal sources, such as the Boating and Infrastructure Grant (BIG), Boating Launch Facilities Grant, Shoreline Erosion Control and Public Beach Restoration, Aquatic Center Education and the Marina Loan Programs to name a few. There are also a number of different ways to obtain funding for active-public realm projects from other State resources, which include the Land and Water Conservation Fund, California Natural Resources Agency, and the California Transportation Commission as well as possible direct project allocations from the State.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A - Draft Public Amenities Plan for King Harbor