CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
BUDGET RESPONSE REPORTS
(Updated List – 6/1/23)
FY 2023-24 PROPOSED BUDGET
The following is a list of questions raised regarding the FY 2023-24 Proposed Budget.
The corresponding answer to each of these questions (the “Budget Response Report”) will be provided before the final Budget Hearing.
Dept. Question Status
1. Finance
What corrections/adjustments need to be made to the FY
2023-24 Proposed Budget Document for inclusion in the
Adopted Budget?
In Progress
2. Community
Services
What special events were designated as “Signature Events” and received City subsidy in Fiscal Year 2022-23? What is the City’s special event review and approval process? What are special event organizers charged for City expenses?
In Progress
3. PD What is the status of sworn Police Officer staffing in the Redondo Beach Police Department? Complete
4. PD What is the status of civilian staffing in the Redondo Beach Police Department? Complete
5. PD What are the options and costs to enhance traffic enforcement and safety on residential streets? Complete
6. PD What is the cost of four additional Police Officers assigned to Traffic Patrol? Complete
7. HR What is the cost/benefit of restoring the Risk Manager position? Complete
8. PW
Can the Wilderness Park upper pond be reconstructed to be more operationally sustainable? What would be the cost and process to do so? What would be required to reconstruct the former Wilderness Park lower pond? What is the process and cost to rehabilitate the Wilderness Park meeting room, office, and restroom facilities?
In Progress
9. PW What are the current and future annual tree trimming costs? Complete
10. PW
What is the status of the Civic Center Landscaping
Improvement and the Civic Center Storefront Improvement Projects?
Complete
11. PW What is the status of the City’s Harbor Dredging Project and the Army Corps of Engineers Breakwater Repair Project? Complete
12. PW
What is the process and cost to expand the Pallet Shelter Facility into the adjacent/vacant City owned parcel on
Kingsdale?
In Progress
13. IT
How does the City’s Information Technology Equipment
Replacement Program work and what equipment is
recommended for replacement in FY 2023-24?
In Progress
14. PW What are the costs to repair all City alleyways with a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) less than 25 and between 26 and 50? In Progress
15. PW What is the cost to remove and backfill the old pool structure at Aviation Park? Complete
16. PW
What is the cost of installing exercise equipment at Aviation Park and Anderson Park and the feasibility of installing equipment in the SCE right-of-way?
Complete
17. PW / CS What is the parking utilization rate at the Transit Center? In Progress
18. PW What is the cost to paint traffic signal poles and arms? Complete
19. PW What is the cost of upgrading the Franklin Park basketball court and repairing or replacing the park’s trellis structures? Complete
20. PW What is the cost to landscape the medians on Lilienthal Lane between Fisk Lane and Ives Lane? Complete
21. PW What is the cost to landscape the median on Artesia Blvd between Kingsdale Avenue and Grevillea Avenue? Complete
22. PW
How does the City’s Vehicle and Heavy Equipment
Replacement Program work and what City vehicles and
equipment are scheduled for replacement by the Public Works Department in the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year? What is the current replacement cycle for each vehicle and what is the cost to shorten the replacement cycle?
In Progress
23. PW What would it cost to conduct a Citywide Traffic Analysis, including local streets? In Progress
24. PW
How will the Regional Water Quality Control Board’s decision to end the Time Schedule Order (TSO) for the Seaside Lagoon impact water quality operations and the potential for additional fines from the facility’s water discharge?
In Progress
25. PW What is the cost to steam clean sidewalks? In Progress
26. PW
What is the cost to design and install bulb-outs, enhanced crosswalks, and to improve stop sign visibility at the Diamond Street and N. Francisca Ave intersection and other general intersections not currently included in the Capital Improvement Program?
In Progress
27. PW How many City trees were planted during FY 2022-23 and how many are proposed to be planted in FY 2023-24? In Progress
28. PW
When did the City adopt the new street signage plan? Where has it been deployed? How much would it cost to replace all of the remaining street name signs and the internally
illuminated box signs on traffic signals?
In Progress
29. CM What is the cost to add certifying “Blue Check Marks” to the City’s Social Media Accounts? In Progress
30. PW What is the cost to replace the bollards at Perry Park? In Progress
31. HR / FD What is the cost of a civilian Emergency Preparedness Coordinator? In Progress
32. FD / PW
What is the cost of a new fire station at the north end of Redondo Beach? What is the process and what are the costs to identify and potentially secure a location for a new station? What are the costs/options to renovate the City’s existing fire stations?
In Progress
33. PD
What is the status of the Police Department’s Municipal Code enforcement efforts? How many Municipal Code citations
were issued in the past year?
In Progress
34. CA What is the estimated cost to challenge the EIR for the Metro Green Line Expansion Project? In Progress
35. Community
Services
What is the process and cost to re-implement the Senior Lunch Program at Perry Park? In Progress
36. Community
Services
What was the cultural and entertainment rental activity at the RBPAC in FY 2022-23? How will the proposed restoration of marketing and equipment funds be used to improve RBPAC
operations?
In Progress
37. CM
What comments were received from City Commissions
Regarding the FY 2023-24 Proposed Budget and Five-Year
Capital Improvement Program?
In Progress
38. CD / CM /
CT / PD
What are the estimated revenues that would be generated by taxing existing cannabis deliveries to RB? What are the methods and costs for the enforcement and collection of those tax revenues? What are the administrative steps needed to begin collecting the taxes and what would be the timeline for implementation?
In Progress
39. CA / CM
What is the process and what are the costs of identifying and acquiring, by lease or for ownership (alone or in partnership with another municipality), a vacant or otherwise usable lot (preferably in an industrial area) in a SPA 8 city for additional pallet shelters or for other temporary homeless related purposes?
In Progress
40. PW
What are the estimated costs of adding the following
maintenance & repair requests to DP #75?
a. Renovated bullpen warm up areas at Perry park (2),
Anderson Park (1), and Dominquez Park (1).
b. Regraded home plate area and first base line at
Dominguez Park.
c. Renovated snack bars at all 3 parks.
d. Renovated bathrooms at Perry park adjacent to the
snack bar.
In Progress
41. PW What are the costs to repair the Dale Page park bathrooms? In Progress
42. PW What are the costs to repair the steep dip in the street on the west side of the Ruhland and MacKay intersection? In Progress
43. CS
Is it feasible to allow free or reduced rate access to the RBUSD athletic fields during the summer months by resident-based groups, such as AYSO?
In Progress
44. CA What are the estimated legal costs to challenge SB 423? In Progress
45. PW / CS
What are the costs to make the following improvements at Franklin Park?
a. Add an all-abilities play structure (with potential
sensory den).
b. Provide more frequent cleaning of the play
structures at the park and post the cleaning
schedule to assist immunocompromised children.
In Progress
46. CM
Is the City able to apply for federal grant funds to construct a closed roof shooting range facility at Dominguez Park? If so, what are the grant application timelines? What would it cost to have the City’s contract grant writing firm assist with the grant application?
In Progress
47. CS What is the status of the Ito Family Park dedication plaque/monument project? In Progress
48. PW
What would it cost to repair (grind and overlay) the following street segments?
a. Broadway Ave. - between Beryl and Carnelian
b. Emerald St. - between Broadway and PCH
c. Emerald St. - between PCH and Francisca
d. Emerald St. - between Juanita and Lucia
e. Emerald St. - between Lucia and Prospect
f. Spencer St. - between El Redondo and Irena
g. Juanita Ave. - between Spencer and Emerald
h. Diamond St. - between Maria and Lucia
In Progress
49. PW
What would it cost to repair (grind and overlay) the following alleyway segments?
a. Alley Between Lucia and Maria
b. Alley Between Carnelian and Diamond
c. Alley Between Diamond and Del Amo
d. Alley / New High Ct between Garnet and Torrance
In Progress
50. PW
Is it possible to slurry seal the street and alleyway segments identified in BRRs 48 and 49? If so, what are the estimated costs? What is the cost to slurry seal Lucia Ave. between Vincent and Emerald?
In Progress
51. PW
What are the costs of erecting banner signs on street light poles along Artesia Blvd and/or in the Restaurant Node areas identified in the AACAP?
In Progress
52. PD / FD What is the process and cost to enhance fire departmentbased emergency dispatch calls? In Progress
53. PW / PD Is it feasible, and what is the cost, to conduct trash cleanup twice per day at Veterans park? In Progress
54. PW
What are the costs to beautify and/or install raised gardens on the city owned lot at the south east corner of Grant Ave and Inglewood Ave?
In Progress
55. PW What is the cost to add a pollinator fountain (basalt rock fountain) to the Civic Center Landscape Improvement Project? In Progress
56. CS What is the cost to install and maintain colorful ground and wall art at the transit center? In Progress
57. IT / PW What is the cost to install “hand raising” buttons and lights at the councilmember seats on the dais? In Progress
58. PD
What is the total cost to the City for providing crossing guard services and how much has the cost increased over the past five years?
In Progress
54. PW
What are the costs to beautify and/or install raised gardens on the city owned lot at the south east corner of Grant Ave and Inglewood Ave?
In Progress
55. PW What is the cost to add a pollinator fountain (basalt rock fountain) to the Civic Center Landscape Improvement Project? In Progress
56. CS What is the cost to install and maintain colorful ground and wall art at the transit center? In Progress
57. IT / PW What is the cost to install “hand raising” buttons and lights at the councilmember seats on the dais? In Progress
58. PD
What is the total cost to the City for providing crossing guard services and how much has the cost increased over the past five years?
In Progress
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #3
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the status of sworn Police Officer staffing in the Redondo Beach Police Department?
Response:
Current Status
The staffing status for the Police Department’s 96 budgeted sworn personnel, as of May 30, 2023 is shown on the following table.
Position Authorized Frozen Vacant Filled
Chief of Police 1 0 0 1
Police Captain 3 0 0 3
Police Lieutenant 6 0 0 6
Police Sergeant 15 0 0 15
Police Officer 71 0 9 62
Total 96 0 9 87
The Police Department currently has 87 sworn filled positions. This includes six (6) trainees currently in our field training program and six (5) recruits in the academy. This number also includes five (5) officers that are out longer-term as part of a medical absence.
There are currently four (4) candidates in the background process, three (3) of which are lateral police officers. The Police Department hosted a physical agility test last month and written exams are scheduled for the end of May 2023 with interviews shortly thereafter. Successful candidates are expected to be onboard some time in late summer 2023.
Recruitment has been a consistent challenge for the Law Enforcement profession and the Redondo Beach Police Department is not exempt from these challenges. The Department is committed to developing new and innovative ways to recruit qualified candidates via social media, academy visits, billboards, mobile sign boards, professional flyers and robust referral and recruitment efforts. Additionally, the Department intends to continue to market the City’s many video vignettes, special programs, special assignment details, and contemporary social media platforms.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #4
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the status of civilian staffing in the Redondo Beach Police Department? Response:
The staffing status for the Police Department’s non-sworn personnel, as of May 30, 2023 is shown on the following tables.
Administrative Services
Position Authorized Frozen Vacant Filled
Executive Assistant 1 0 0 1
Sr Management Analyst 1 0 0 1
Administrative Specialist 1* 0 0 2
Analyst 2** 0 0 1
Total 5 0 0 5
*Currently out on long-term leave
** One (1) Analyst is currently an over-hire to supplement the Admin Specialist that is out on long-term leave
Community Service Officers
Position Authorized Frozen Vacant Filled
CSO III 3 0 1 2
CSO II (i.e. Jail Unit) 12 0 3 9
Total 15 0 4 11
The CSO III (Jail Manager) vacancy was recently created due to a promotion to Analyst.
The CSO II classification has three vacancies. One is due to being hired as a Police Recruit and the other two are due to not completing training. Both CSO III and CSO II positions are currently open for applications.
Communications Unit
Position Authorized Frozen Vacant Filled
Public Safety
Communications Manager 1 0 0 1
Communications Supervisor 4 0 2 2
Dispatcher 9 0 1 8
Total 14 0 3 11
Currently there is an internal supervisor promotional list, however, the Police Department is working on securing dispatcher staffing levels before proceeding with promotions.
Dispatcher testing took place April 2023. There are currently four (4) candidates in the background process.
Records Unit
Position Authorized Frozen Vacant Filled
Police Records Manager 1 0 1 0
Lead Police Services
Specialist 2 0 0 2
Police Services Specialist 6 0 0 6
Administrative Specialist 1 0 0 1
Office Specialist 2 0 0 2
Total 12 0 1 11
The Police Records Manager position is currently filled by an existing employee on an interim basis. This will occur until the position is permanently filled.
Investigations Division
Position Authorized Frozen Vacant Filled
Administrative Specialist 1 0 0 1
Crime Analyst 1 0 0 1
Police Identification Technician 1 0 0 1
Total 3 0 0 3
Community Services Unit
Position Authorized Frozen Vacant Filled
Municipal Services
Supervisor 1 0 0 1
Municipal Services Officer 7 0 1 6
Sr. Code Enforcement
Officer 1 0 0 1
Code Enforcement Officer 2 0 0 2
Total 12 0 0 12
This summary includes the personnel reorganization approved by City Council in December 2022.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #5
June 1, 2023
Question:
What are the options and costs to enhance traffic enforcement and safety on residential streets?
Response:
A comprehensive response, focused on greater public education, engineering of city streets and robust enforcement of traffic laws can increase the safety on the roadways in residential areas of the city. The response may include costs for personnel and equipment needs, as well as no or low-cost items such as building greater education through social media campaigns and other forms of public awareness.
Through the use of emergency response surveys, the Police Department is acutely aware that complaints of traffic violations consistently remain the highest area of concern for members of the community. Mitigation of traffic safety and enforcement may be facilitated through greater staffing and utilization of specialized equipment.
The City of Redondo Beach encompasses 6.2 square miles which includes a significant amount of traffic control areas and devices. Currently, Redondo Beach has approximately 1,565 stop signs, 592 traffic signals at 150 signalized intersections, and, 141 miles of roadway that includes fifty sections with speed zones established via RBMC.
While each Police Officer in the Police Department is responsible for traffic enforcement and education, it is the primary focus of Traffic Unit personnel. Authorized staffing for the Traffic Unit is currently six (7) personnel, one (1) Motor Sergeant, five (5) Motor Officers, and one (1) Traffic Investigator. Along with conducting traffic enforcement the Unit also responds to reports of traffic collisions throughout the City. Although the current Police Department organization chart includes five Motor Officer positions, only one is currently filled with a full-duty Police Officer. One position is vacant due to a recent transfer and is anticipated to be filled on June 17, 2023. Three positions are occupied by Police Officers that are not able to perform their duty due to long term industrial injuries.
A Traffic Unit Officer is a substantial visual deterrent, provides community education and enforces traffic laws. Additional staffing of a Police Officer assigned to the Traffic Unit is approximately $215,000 annually. The on-going costs have been described in Budget Response Report #6 (What is the cost of four additional Police Officers assigned to Traffic Patrol?). Other one-time costs include a police motorcycle, uniforms, and communication equipment which amount to $33,400 per traffic officer.
In addition to adding Police Officer positions for increased enforcement, options exist for the utilization of non-sworn Police Department personnel to maintain a presence in areas of concern, increase Police Department visibility, and allow for increased community education, at a reduced cost. Current civilian employees, such as Municipal Service Officers, Police Cadets, or Volunteers in Policing, could be tasked with parking vehicles at strategic residential locations as visual deterrents for motorists who might otherwise be inclined to speed or roll stop signs. The MSOs, Cadets and VIPs, drive non-enforcement vehicles that are marked with Police insignia and in addition to parking the vehicles at key spots, could distribute educational information to the community to raise awareness and/or promote the Department’s “Drive Slow Redondo” campaign. These resources could be supplemented through an increase in part-time funds that would be used for specific safety awareness efforts. An increase of $10,000 to the part-time budget would allow for 400 hours of additional (non-enforcement) personnel presence in Redondo Beach residential areas.
Grant funding from the Office of Traffic Safety provides opportunities for Police Officers to conduct public engagement and education as well as traffic law enforcement in specific areas of the City; this activity is conducted on a reimbursable overtime basis. Along with grant funding, additional budgeted overtime would allow for Police Officers to expand this type of outreach and engagement. A significant impact on residential traffic safety could be achieved with bi-monthly enforcement and education deployments throughout the fiscal year. Increasing the Department’s overtime budget by $25,000 would allow staffing of Traffic Officers for 250 hours during the fiscal year to conduct education, awareness and enforcement campaigns, in addition to any potential grant awards.
The City Council recently recommended the Police Department initiate a traffic safety campaign, “Drive Slow Redondo”. An awareness campaign has very little fiscal impact and promotes traffic safety through branding, marketing, and awareness. The “Drive Slow Redondo” campaign can be focused toward residential traffic safety awareness with negligible cost through the placement of banners, signage, and signboard trailers in residential areas.
Both fixed and mobile messaging and speed notification trailers are effective options to enhance traffic safety by posting them where traffic violations are most frequently reported. Generally, these options are placed on major arterial streets, however may also be positioned in residential areas. Fixed Electronic Speed Reminder signs provide a driver’s actual speed along with flashing light indicators when vehicle speed is excessive.
The City has several of these reminders throughout the City. The cost of the Electronic Speed Reminder is approximately $6,000 each and require City personnel to place. The installation of additional electronic feedback devices would provide a consistent and continual mechanism for reinforcement in areas of concern. This method could prove to be effective due to the considerable amount of residential areas within the City of Redondo Beach and the limited number of personnel available to engage in enforcement.
A Radar Trailer is a mobile radar system which records vehicle speed, displays the speed and provides traffic speed statistics. The Police Department purchased a single Radar Trailer in July 2021 for $13,745. This is a mobile unit that can be relocated based on need or areas of concern.
Electronic Sign Boards are another option to enhance traffic safety by positioning them where traffic violations are occurring. Digital messages may inform and warn drivers of traffic safety issues. The Police Department has purchased and utilizes three electronic sign boards. An electronic sign board costs approximately $16,000 each. The Electronic Sign Boards can have a variety of messaging and are relatively simple to relocate. A lower cost option for education and awareness can be provided through the use of fixed banners similar to the current “Drive Slow Redondo” banner campaign which has been established. Each printed banner ranges in cost from $1,500 - $2,000 depending on the size and specific design. Placement of the banners typically involves obtaining proper permits and identifying resources for installation. The downside of banners is that the message can’t be changed once printed and therefor requires the purchase of replacement banners whenever updating content.
Roadway engineering is a larger scale mitigation response which often requires a more robust process for planning, installation and, as a result, funding. Often these measures garner mixed reactions from residents, or other unintended impacts such as slowed response times for first responders. Some roadway engineering options for consideration are: speed cushions, speed bumps, flashing warning lights, illuminated stop signs, traffic circles and roadway narrowing. Each of these options would require coordination with the Public Works Department.
Below is a table summarizing the costs of each option noted in this BRR.
Traffic Unit Officer $215,000 Annually
Non-sworn support $10,000 One-time cost
Traffic Officer Equipment $33,400 One-time cost
O/T Traffic Deployments $25,000 One-time cost
Traffic Safety Campaign N/A
Fixed Speed Reminder $6,000 One-time cost
Radar Trailer $13,745 One-time cost
Electronic Sign Board $16,000 One-time cost
Fixed Banners $1,500 - $2,000 One-time cost
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #6
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost of four additional Police Officers assigned to Traffic Patrol? Response:
The mission of the Police Department’s Traffic Unit is to reduce the number of traffic accidents and collisions through enforcement and education. In addition to the enforcement of speeding, illegal maneuvers, stop light violations, and responding to traffic accidents, the Officers assigned to Traffic Patrol conduct special operations such as DUI Checkpoints, pedestrian safety details and targeted “Click it or Ticket” and distracted driving enforcement. The Traffic Unit is currently staffed with six (6) personnel: one (1) Motor Sergeant, four (4) Motor Officers, and one (1) Traffic Investigator. The total Unit operating budget is $2.7M including personnel, maintenance and operations, and internal service fund costs.
The breakdown to fund four (4) additional Police Officers for the Traffic Unit is as follows:
ON-GOING COSTS
Personnel $860,000 $215,000 per officer salary and fringe benefits Overtime $57,000 Current budget is $85K for 6 officers
Vehicle Replacement
Fund $15,500
Emergency Comm ISF $4,000
Maintenance and Repair $14,000
Uniform Replacement $2,000
Department Supplies $3,500
TOTAL ON-GOING $956,000
ONE-TIME COSTS
Motorcycles $92,000
Radios $28,800
Uniforms $12,800
TOTAL ONE-TIME $224,100
TOTAL YEAR 1 $1,180,100
BRR - Page 1
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #7
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost/benefit of restoring the Risk Manager position? Response:
The Human Resources Department provides City-wide support for the full employment life cycle, from the date of hire to retirement, for over 600 active employees, and risk management services to all City departments. In FY 2020-21, the full time Risk Manager position was cut from the HR budget due to COVID-related budget reductions and ongoing structural budget concerns. The value of the position at the time was approximately $180,000.
The risk management position historically worked with the City's risk pool (Public Risk, Innovation, Solutions and Management; also known as “PRISM”) to manage the City’s self-insurance program. Activities included managing participation in the City’s risk pool, determining amounts and types of coverage for the City to purchase and maintain, and managing the liability claims and workers' compensation claims programs in collaboration with Adminsure, the City’s contracted third-party administrator. In addition, the Risk Manager would perform ancillary duties such as appearing on behalf of the City in small claims court, attending mediations as a City representative, participating in unemployment hearings, analyzing and approving insurance coverage for City contracts, special events and film permits, and managing the City’s annual actuarial study of liability and workers’ compensation programs.
The Human Resources Director absorbed the bulk of the Risk Manager’s duties. It should be noted that following the elimination of the Risk Manager position, the City hired a second Human Resources Analyst to assist with general human resources duties and support some of the basic risk management functions (including claims processing).
Claims Data
In general, City claims have decreased by roughly 30% since the loss of the Risk Manager position in 2020. The reasons for the decrease aren’t entirely clear, however, some of the decrease is likely attributed to the pandemic. The total annual claims received by the City from 2017 to today are as follows:
• 2017 – 69 claims received
• 2018 – 67 claims received
• 2019 – 60 claims received
• 2020 – 12 claims received (likely an anomaly due to COVID-related lockdowns) BRR - Page 2
• 2021 – 41 claims received
• 2022 – 53 claims received
• 2023 – 20 claims received as of this report (halfway through year) Claims against the City predominantly fall into three categories; 1) property damage, 2) trip and fall, and 3) personal injury. Each claim received is investigated by the Human Resources Director (or HR designee) and the City department responsible for the involved program, service, or facility. While the Government Code provides many protections for public entities in regards to claims, oftentimes another entity is determined to be liable. In most cases, claims are rejected if the cause is determined not to be the City’s responsibility. When another party is determined to be liable, claims are not only rejected, but they are also tendered to the at-fault party. For example, this happens when a claim is determined to have occurred on private property, or was caused by a contractor or another public entity. Interestingly, since COVID, there has been an overall reduction in the number of claims received, and – of the claims received – fewer and fewer have been determined to have City responsibility.
Cost to Restore the Risk Manager Position
City bargaining units have seen a 3% increase in salary costs since the removal of the Risk Manager position, along with a marginal increase in health benefits. The total cost to restore this position at the previous salary level would be about $187,000 per year.
However, the previous Risk Manager did not have any specific certification or education in the risk management field. If this position was to be restored, it would make sense to hire a certified Risk Manager so that they would be well versed in developing risk management strategies across the organization through a comprehensive risk management plan. Activities could include collaborating with operating departments on how to mitigate risks and costs in areas that attract the most claims, such as street and sidewalk trip and falls. In addition, the Manager could develop performance measures to determine return on investment for their hire after a set period of time. Another consideration is that the labor market has changed markedly since 2021, as has been noted in the City’s recent classification and compensation study. If the City Council was to make the decision to restore the position, staff would recommend budgeting the position at a higher amount (estimated to be closer to $215,000 in total cost) in order to attract qualified candidates.
It should be noted that the City’s risk pool (PRISM) also maintains a team of experienced risk management consultants that are available to serve partner municipalities on an hourly basis.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #9
June 1, 2023
Question:
What are the current and future annual tree trimming costs? Response
The City’s urban forest is comprised of approximately 12,000 trees, located in parks, parkways, medians, and facility exteriors. Trimming is provided on a four-year cycle, with the majority of trees serviced once every four years, while most palm and Chinese elm trees are trimmed on a two-year cycle. The Public Works Department’s core budget for tree trimming is $250,600. Another $32,400 is typically available in the City’s Tree Enhancement Account to cover the cost of new tree plantings, bringing the total funds available for trimming and planting to $283,000 each year.
The City’s current agreement with West Coast Arborists for trimming and planting services will expire on July 3, 2023. Staff has negotiated terms for a four-year extension that will be brought to the Council for consideration on June 6, 2023. The proposed extension contains a total cost increase of 19.6%, which staff feels is reasonable and fair.
The pricing of the current Agreement has been fixed since July 2019, when the contract was approved through a request for proposals, and the proposed pricing for the extension period would be fixed until June 2027, so the 19.6% increase is in effect spread over an eight-year period.
If the extension is approved, the cost for services and the subsequent core funding/shortage over the next four years (absent the proposed budget modifications) would be as follows:
Projected Core Available Projected
Year Costs Funds Shortage
2023/2024 $594,781 $283,000 $311,781
2024/2025 $563,331 $283,000 $280,331
2025/2026 $652,139 $283,000 $369,139
2026/2027 $380.468 $283,000 $ 97,468
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Totals $2,190,719 $1,132,000 $1,058,719
The Urban Forrest is a key attribute to the community’s quality of life and regular trimming of the mature tree canopy is needed to protect the public from falling limbs and to protect the overall health of the tree. In order to pay for the increased costs, the City in recent years has appropriated one-time, supplemental, funds to cover the annual funding gap.
The proposed FY 2023-24 Budget, via Decision Package #32, includes an on-going increase to the tree trimming budget of $207,851 and a one-time appropriation of $103,930. The DP, if approved, would fully fund tree trimming services for FY 2023-24 and substantially reduce the gap between core contract funding and future year expenses.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #10
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the status of the Civic Center Landscaping Improvement and the Civic Center Storefront Improvement Projects?
Response
Waterwise Turf Replacement
On March 21, 2023, the City Council authorized staff to pursue a grant through West Basin Municipal Water District’s Public Agency Grass Replacement Rebate Program and use the funds to replace the roughly 43,000 square feet of grass at the Civic Center property. The rebate program provides funding and design assistance for agencies to remove turf in public spaces and replace it with drought-tolerant plant materials. Grants provide rebates of $4 for each square foot of replaced turf, up to 200,000 square feet. In addition, the City Council appropriated $120,000 in the FY 2022-23 Budget to help fund the turf replacement project.
West Basin’s design consultant, Swayzer Landscapes, is in the process of preparing a plan for the City. The first section of the plan, which covers the northeast area of the property along Carnelian Street and Pacific Coast Highway, has been completed. The remaining parts of the plan are expected to be completed by the end of June 2023. Staff will then solicit bids for removal of the turf and the installation of replacement materials and return to City Council for contract award.
Civic Center Courtyard Landscaping
In January 2022, the City Council awarded an agreement to Rainville Design Studio to design a complete renovation of the landscaping in the central courtyard area of the Civic Center, as well as the planter spaces along the walkway adjacent to the Main Library.
The design, which will include a water-wise landscaping master plan, a materials plan, irrigation and lighting system plans, and construction documents, is expected to be completed in July 2023. Staff will then bring the design to Council for consideration of approval and then solicit bids for implementation of the improvements. The FY 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes a recommended budget appropriation of $150,000 for the project.
Storefront Improvements
In addition to the landscaping, façade (‘storefront”) improvements will be implemented at City Hall through the replacement of windows, the repair of water damaged siding, and the modification of doorways as needed. The project currently has $222,750 in available carryover funding, and the FY 2023-24 CIP includes a recommended appropriation of an additional $200,000 to support the improvements. Staff are planning to meet with an architectural consultant to determine the scope of work that can be accomplished within the project budget. Additional funding may be required to complete all areas of the Civic Center that need improvement. The initial design work will focus on creating a detailed design standard so that the solicitation for repairs to windows and doors can match the available budget and then be reused in the future as additional funds become available.
Staff plan to engage the architectural consultant to assist with an interior space assessment at City Hall as well, to help design the tenant improvements needed to accommodate the relocation of the Community Services Department when their office lease on Artesia Blvd. expires in December 2024. $100,000 of funding for the assessment is available in the current CIP. An additional $200,000 is recommended in the FY 2023-24 CIP proposed budget to address the interior tenant improvements anticipated at City Hall.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #11
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the status of the City’s Harbor Dredging Project and the Army Corps of Engineers Breakwater Repair Project?
Response:
The City’s Harbor Dredging Project has received the permits required from the US Army Corps of Engineers and is in the final stages of design. Staff expects to bring construction plans and specifications to the City Council for consideration of approval on June 6th. Due to permit limitations that allow dredging to occur only after January 1st and prior to July 15th of a given year, construction is not scheduled to begin until January 2024. A more specific time line will be available once a contractor has been awarded the project. This CIP project is funded in the amount of $4.5M. Recent engineering estimates from the design consultant suggest a lower amount will be required and staff has proposed a reduction of $500,000 from this project budget to fund other Tidelands Fund eligible projects in the FY 2023-24 CIP proposed budget.
The breakwater that surrounds King Harbor is a Federally maintained structure and the City has little say in its upkeep. The City has been communicating the need for repairs to the US Army Corps of Engineers for the last several years, and preliminary engineering and environmental work has been done by the Corps to initiate repairs. This past winter brought heavy storms that further contributed to the degradation of the breakwater. In recognition of this concern staff requested a meeting with the Corps to express the need for immediate action. That meeting was held on June 1st. At the meeting, Corps personnel stated that they are nearing both design completion and environmental approval and expect that construction/repair of the breakwater would occur in Summer of 2024. Corps staff stated that this timeframe can not be accelerated because, by regulations, they are not allowed to advertise the project for bidding until the funding has been appropriated by Congress in the new Federal Fiscal Year, which begins in October.
The Corps also indicated significant lead time is required for contractors to process materials (i.e. procure/quarry the large rocks that make up the breakwater).
On a positive note, staff from the Corps confirmed that $10M has been included in the FY 2024 President’s Budget Request for breakwater maintenance and repairs in Redondo Beach and indicated that this amount of funding would be sufficient to complete the necessary work.
The Corps has scheduled its annual inspection of the break water for June 9th and will use information gained at the inspection to confirm or modify the project design and ensure their current plan of action is sufficient in the face of a potentially difficult winter as predicted by early forecasts for a heavy “El Niño” storm season in 2023-24.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #15
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost to remove and backfill the old pool structure at Aviation Park? Response
It is believed that the remnants of the old Aviation High School swimming pool remain beneath the ground in the field northeast of the Aviation Gymnasium. Records however are limited and further studies are needed to confirm this belief. In order to assess the area, boring samples must be taken throughout the property to 1) confirm that the old pool structure is in place and 2) determine the type of material used to fill the pool area in when it was covered.
If the boring samples confirm that the pool remains and an environmental assessment determines that the materials used to fill the pool, and the earth surrounding the pool, do not contain any hazardous materials, removing the pool structure would require excavation of approximately 9,400 cubic yards of materials from an area that is 140 feet long, 120 feet wide, and 15 feet deep. The materials would then be cleaned of any debris not suitable for backfilling, re-inserted, and the area would be recompacted. The estimated costs are as follows:
Boring and environmental testing: $ 18,000
Excavation, sifting and replacement of materials: $625,000 Total: $643,000
If the boring samples reveal the area contains environmentally-hazardous materials, the project scope would escalate and additional clean-up and backfill work would be needed resulting in supplementary costs of between $500,000 - $700,000.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report # 16
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost of installing exercise equipment at Aviation Park and Anderson Park and the feasibility of installing equipment in the SCE right-of-way? Response:
The estimated cost to install a standardized exercise station with two features such as the ones pictured below, including a concrete pad and poured-in-place padding to meet ADA requirements, would be as follows:
Materials and Installation: $35,000
Design (20%): $ 7,000
Project Management (20%) $ 8,400
Contingency (25%) $10,500
Cost Per Station $60,900
As both Aviation Park and Anderson Park could accommodate four stations, the total cost for each park would be approximately $243,600. This estimate assumes the exercise stations would abut existing walkways so that ADA access is more easily provided. If any of the stations are located away from walkways, there would be an additional cost to provide access.
Adding four new exercise stations to the City’s infrastructure would also create on-going costs for inspection, repairs, and preventative maintenance. The estimated 100 hours of services per year to maintain this additional equipment would cost roughly $5,000.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #18
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost to paint traffic signal poles and arms? Response
There are 56 signalized intersections in the City. Staff solicited cost estimates from an established traffic signal restoration company for painting the signal poles and arms. The company provided estimates for three categories – small, medium and large intersections, as follows:
Size Example Estimated Cost
Small Artesia & Aviation Way $18,000
Medium Artesia & Rindge Lane $20,000
Large Artesia & Inglewood Avenue $25,000
This pricing includes all labor, materials, surface preparation, and traffic control. The total cost to perform painting for all 56 intersections would be as follows:
Small Intersections: 27 x $18,000 = $486,000
Medium Intersections: 13 x $20,000 = $260,000
Large Intersections: 16 x $25,000 = $400,000
Total: $1,146,000
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #19
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost of upgrading the Franklin Park basketball court and repairing or replacing the park’s trellis structures?
Response
Basketball Courts
The park has the atypical layout of two back-to-back half basketball courts. Staff has identified two options for upgrading the facility:
Option 1 – Keep the existing layout and replace the backboards and hoops. The cost would be $6,000.
Option 2 - Convert the area to a traditional full court, which would include:
• Removing the existing poles, backboards and goals
• Installing new poles with more modern backboards and goals • Patching the court surface and striping new court lines The total estimated cost for this option is $31,000.
The basketball court could potentially also accommodate two pickleball courts.
Trellis Structures
Franklin Park’s play areas contain three wooden trellis structures that are in very poor condition, as shown in the photos below. Staff has determined that the condition of the trellis structures necessitates replacement over repair. Replacing the three structures would involve the following:
Demolition and removal of existing structures: $10,000
Installation of five new support pillars: $15,000
Lumber for new like-for-like trellis structures: $30,000 Staining new trellis structures: $25,000
New hardware: $ 5,000
Labor to install trellis structures: $35,000
Project management (10%): $12,000
Contingency (20%): $30,000
Total: $162,000
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #20
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost to landscape the medians on Lilienthal Lane between Fisk Lane and Ives Lane?
Response
The two roadway medians on Lilienthal Lane between Fisk Lane and Ives Lane contain approximately 14,000 square feet of surface area that is mostly concrete. A project to remove the concrete and install attractive, water-wise plant materials would include the following:
Demolition of poured in place concrete: $84,000
Installation of an irrigation system and plant materials: $196,000 Installation of new water meters: $8,000
Project design and management (20%): $57,600
Contingency (25%) $72,000
Total: $417,600
The medians contain 17 New Zealand Christmas Trees that would remain in place.
CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #21
June 1, 2023
Question:
What is the cost to landscape the median on Artesia Blvd. between Kingsdale Avenue and Grevillea Avenue?
Response
The small median on Artesia Boulevard, just east of Kingsdale Avenue, contains mostly dirt and some minor shrubs. The total area that would need to be landscaped is approximately 1,200 square feet. Minor field design may be necessary to follow the Artesia landscape pallet that was installed by the Public Works Department in 2018.
The median would require rehabilitation of the substrate, replacement of the irrigation system, and installation of new plant materials. The estimated cost is $22,000.