Agenda Item: 11
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: July 8, 2025
SUBJECT: NEWHALL PARK IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT P2017 - DESIGN
CONTRACT
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Shannon Pickett
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award a design contract to Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc., for the Newhall Park Improvements Project, Project P2017, in the amount of $599,553 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $59,955 for a total contract amount not to exceed $659,508.
2. Appropriate one-time funds in the amount of $730,000 from the Measure W Safe Clean Water Regional Fund (Fund 274) to the Newhall Park Improvements Project, Project P2017, expenditure account P2017274-516101.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
The Upper Santa Clara River Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) was developed in coordination with Los Angeles County (County) and the County Flood Control District to comply with the state and federal requirements of the Storm Water Permit (Permit) issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. The City of Santa Clarita (City) City Council entered into an agreement with the County to develop the EWMP on July 9, 2013. The EWMP identifies certain projects, actions, and milestones necessary to achieve compliance with pollutant reduction standards required by the Permit. One requirement of the EWMP obligates the City to have infiltration capacity for stormwater through regional infiltration facilities.
The City identified Newhall Park as an adequate site for a regional stormwater infiltration facility, as shown on the attached Location Map. Newhall Park currently features a basketball court, softball field, playground, soccer fields, picnic areas with a barbeque, public restrooms, public pool, and plenty of natural shade, making it a versatile location for families, students, and visitors to enjoy outdoor activities and events. The site also hosts a multi-purpose room and a Boys and Girls Club facility.
This project will complete the concept design for both the installation of the subterranean infiltration facility and park improvements at Newhall Park. This project supports the Building and Creating Community theme of the City’s five-year strategic plan, Santa Clarita 2025.
The scope of work for this design services contract includes community outreach meetings and architectural, survey, engineering, and landscape design services required to prepare conceptual layouts for the park improvements. These layouts will include preliminary engineer’s estimates for completing design and construction.
The City conducted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from qualified consulting firms to provide design services for the Newhall Park Improvements Project. The RFP was published and circulated via the City’s e-procurement system, BidNet, on February 24, 2025.
The City transmitted the solicitation to 2,706 vendors on BidNet, of which 104 vendors downloaded the RFP. A total of five companies provided proposals for consideration.
These proposals were reviewed and evaluated based on each company’s ability to meet the specific needs of the City. An evaluation panel, comprised of staff from the Public Works Department and Neighborhood Services Department, scored the responses using the following categories of weighted criteria:
• Ability to comply and provide deliverables based on the project schedule developed by the Consultant that meets or exceeds the City’s project timeframe (30%) • Consultant qualifications and overall project team experience (25%) • Responsiveness to the RFP including content, format, and completeness of the written proposal (25%)
• Ability to present creative ideas and innovative solutions that align with Measure W goals (10%)
• References (10%)
The evaluation panel scored the responses based on a 100-point scale, with the results outlined below:
Rank Company Location Score
1. Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc. Ventura, CA 94
2. David Volz Design Landscape Architects, Inc. Costa Mesa, CA 88
3. MIG, Inc. Los Angeles, CA 87
4. SWA Group Los Angeles, CA 85
5. NUVIS Newport Beach, CA 80
In reviewing proposals, the evaluation panel awarded the highest score to Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc. (PCLD). The evaluation panel determined that PCLD’s proposal offered the best overall value to meet the design needs.
PCLD demonstrated an in-depth understanding of the project needs and provided a detailed scope of work and approach to the project. They analyzed the project location and identified key design factors that will need to be addressed in the design. Based on their design experience with similar projects, and the completeness of their proposal for this project, staff recommends awarding the design contract to PCLD. The proposal is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
California Government Code 4526 prescribes the selection of architectural and engineering services to be based on demonstrated competence and professional qualifications necessary for the satisfactory performance of the services required and does not authorize the selection of professional architect and engineering services based on cost. City staff was able to reach an agreement with PCLD at a fair and reasonable price.
The requested contingencies will cover the costs of unforeseen design constraints and account for potential design modifications requested by the City, and other permitting agencies, during the design of the project.
On January 26, 2021, the City Council approved a transfer agreement for Measure W Safe Clean Water Regional Funds from the County to support design and construction of regional infiltration projects. The requested budget appropriation of $730,000 allocates a portion of these funds to this project, bringing the total project budget to $730,000, representing $659,508 in design contract costs and $70,492 in project administrative costs. Project administrative costs include staff time, project management, permit fees, and all associated technical investigations necessary for cost estimations.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action, $730,000 is available in expenditure account P2017274-516101 (Measure W Regional Fund) to support the recommended contract and project administrative costs.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Proposal for Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc. (available in City Clerk's File)