STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
• Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
• Safe Community
• Well-Maintained Infrastructure
• Attractive, Complementary Business District
BACKGROUND
One of the many Economic Development goals of the City Council was to launch a beautification project for the commercial areas of both Mission Street and Huntington Drive. The primary goal of the Council was to set aside funds as an investment towards infrastructure-type improvements for both streets. Through the program, the City Council set aside $1,000,000 for Mission Street and Huntington Drive. Last year, staff solicited proposals from various qualified design consultants to assist staff in the preparation of a streetscape project for Mission Street. Given the clear differences between Mission Street and Huntington Drive, the Council and staff found it beneficial to begin this program with Mission Street. Huntington Drive will then receive full attention beginning later in the summer of 2021.
DISCUSSION
With the help of the Economic Development Team, The Arroyo Group was selected to provide the design approach for Mission Street. Over the past year, the Arroyo Group has been meeting with staff and the public to determine community needs and the project scope. The Arroyo Group team set out to achieve the following goals with this project:
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Marcella Marlowe, Ph.D., City Manager
BY: Aldo Cervantes, Community Development Director
Stephanie Britt, Management Analyst
DATE: July 30, 2021
SUBJECT: SELECTION OF DESIGN OPTIONS REGARDING THE MISSION
VILLAGE STREETSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT
Ken Ude, Mayor
Susan Jakubowski, Vice Mayor
Steven W. Huang, DDS, Council Member
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Council Member
Steve Talt, Council Member
• Help improve business vitality by creating walkable environments and gathering spaces where people could remain.
• Capitalize upon lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic and the opportunity to provide active outdoor spaces.
• Help establish an experiential vision for the commercial corridor, with a series of connected spaces and experiences.
• Prioritize improvements while maintaining a longer-term vision for future goals.
The Arroyo Group provided a Concept Package (Attachment 1) where they delineate the Design Framework, the Landscaping Elements, and the estimated overall costs. The design package lays out an overall vision and framework for the streetscape, and a range of possible improvements and costs. The package provides seven potential scenarios (A-G) that constitute various options for beautifying Mission Street. Each scenario provides some level of improvements to Mission Street.
The direction provided to the Arroyo Group was to design a project that would fit the current funding, but still would ensure that the elements of the project would be visually appealing and a necessity for the goals for the street.
As such, Scenario G provides for a project that is not only within the budget, but includes elements such as tree lighting, street furniture and landscaping features. The total estimated cost of this scenario is approximately $461,456. This cost includes hard costs such as the physical improvements and soft costs for additional design work.
While Scenario G provides an option that is within the budget, staff would like the Council to consider some of the other elements included within other scenarios, such as tree planting, enhanced street lighting, and intersection “bulb-outs” (public gathering spaces). Interestingly, the bulb-outs where found to be a very popular concept with the public. During the project’s outreach program, public gathering spaces were at the top of the list for those interviewed.
Scenario G, while under the allocated budget, may not provide the level of improvement the Council had initially intended. In addition to the goals listed above, it is staff’s goal to be good stewards of City funds and refrain from spending money on a project that does not fulfil the needs of the community and the Council.
As you can see from the Design Concept Plan (see attached), the design framework focused on physical changes to the environment. These physical changes were incorporated into the design concept after receiving feedback from the public and the Economic Development Team. As stated
above, the physical changes to the street included expanded pedestrian areas such as bulb-outs, which also act as gathering opportunities. These bulb-outs also act as additional safety measures as it narrows or reduces the travel length at the pedestrian crosswalks. Mid-block crossing areas are also included in the concept design to help pedestrian circulation. Finally, new street trees that are designed to fill the existing gaps on the sidewalks and/or pedestrian right-of-way were also included. Street trees enhance the beauty of the street and help provide much needed shade opportunities, which help attract outdoor seating spaces.
In terms of cost, pages 15-16 of the Final Concept design provides a breakdown or menu of each element at the estimated cost of the project. These baseline costs allowed staff and the Arroyo team to strategize the different scenarios. As noted on page 16, the Arroyo Group estimated cost for a basic bulb-out (concrete finish) is $200,949. The Arroyo Group also provides the cost of an enhanced bulb-out, which includes the use of paver or brick materials and more landscape features. The estimated cost for the enhanced bulb-out is $1.5 million. It is also worth noting the difference in the amount of square-footage needed for the bulb-outs. The basic bulb-out design requires less square-footage and the designs are simple and include fewer materials.
If the City Council finds that Scenario G and its elements are a worthy investment, staff will proceed through the final design phase of the project and proceed through the bidding process to secure a contractor. The next step thereafter is to approach the City Council to award the contract. The Council may also direct staff to select a different scenario (scenario A-E) for further study and return with revised design plans and project estimates.
Scenario D for example, which is illustrated on page 10 of the concept plan includes an overall cost estimate of $915,282. This project scope includes new basic bulb-outs at the intersection of Los Robles and Mission Street and new gateway and monument features.
Lastly, an interesting element of scenario F is the overhead Tivoli light canopy, which provides much needed lighting for Mission Street. Such lighting enhances the ambience of the street and increases the potential for evening events. The cost of the lights alone is $405,000.
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
The Mission Streetscape Program will be funded through the Huntington Drive and Mission Street Beautification Program in account number 394-48-4600-0520, with a budget of $1,000,000.
Scenario G requires no additional appropriations. The selection of an alternative scenario would require an appropriation of funds due to the project’s cost exceeding the allocated budget.
This report requires no procurement review.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the report.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council direct staff to proceed with a final design for one of the scenarios provided for the Mission Streetscape Program and direct staff to proceed through the bidding process for selecting a contractor.
“I move to approve and select one of the scenarios provided for the Mission Streetscape Program and direct staff to proceed through the bidding process for selecting a contractor.”
ATTACHMENT
1. Mission Street Design Concept