Agenda Item: 8
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
CONSENT CALENDAR
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
DATE: August 25, 2026
SUBJECT: NEWHALL PARK IMPROVEMENTS, PROJECT P2017 - DESIGN
CONTRACTS
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Carla Callahan
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Award the design contract to Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc., for the park improvements for the Newhall Park Improvements, Project P2017, in the amount of $1,843,133 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $184,313, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,027,446.
2. Award the design contract to Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc., for the regional stormwater infiltration facility for the Newhall Park Improvements, Project P2017, in the amount of $428,780 and authorize a contingency in the amount of $42,878, for a total contract amount not to exceed $471,658.
3. Appropriate one-time funds in the amount of $2,672,000 to the Newhall Park Improvements, Project P2017, from the following funds:
• $1,071,103 from Measure W Safe Clean Water Regional Fund (Fund 274) to expenditure account P2017274-516101;
• $1,025,897 from Facilities Fund (Fund 723) to expenditure account P2017723- 516101;
• $450,000 from Stormwater Utility Fund (Fund 356) to expenditure account P2017356- 516101;
• $125,000 from TDA Article 8 (Fund 233) to expenditure account P2017233-516101.
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents, subject to City Attorney review.
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BACKGROUND
Newhall Park was constructed in 1950 and was operated by the County of Los Angeles (County) until the City of Santa Clarita (City) was incorporated in 1987. The 14.3-acre community park currently features two basketball courts, a softball field, a playground, soccer fields, picnic areas with a barbeque, public restrooms, and a public pool, making it a versatile location for families, students, and visitors to enjoy outdoor activities and events. The site also features a multi- purpose room and a Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley facility. Newhall Park is located at the corner of Dalbey Drive and Newhall Avenue, as shown on the attached Location Map.
This project will finalize construction documents for the installation of the regional stormwater infiltration facility and park improvements at Newhall Park. Based on community feedback and the completed concept design, the proposed improvements at Newhall Park include a new subterranean regional stormwater infiltration facility, a re-circulating splash pad, two new basketball courts, a full size multi-purpose field, an inclusive playground with shade structures, a new futsal court, a nature play area, new shaded picnic pavilions with picnic tables and barbecues, new field lighting, pool improvements, new perimeter walking path, additional parking with EV chargers, energy efficient building improvements, new restroom building, new trees, new turf, and landscaping and irrigation improvements. This project supports the Sustainable Public Infrastructure theme of the City’s strategic plan, Santa Clarita Pathway Forward.
The scope of work for the design contracts includes civil engineering design and landscape design services and preparation of final construction documents. These documents will consist of complete plans, specifications, and engineer’s estimates for construction and operational manuals for post-construction maintenance.
Park Improvements Design Contract
The City conducted a Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit proposals from qualified 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. Firms were evaluated based on the entire scope of services outlined in the RFP. The City Council awarded a design contract for concept design services for a total amount not to exceed $659,508 to Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc. (PCLD) at the July 8, 2025, City Council meeting. This scope of work included community outreach meetings and architectural, survey, engineering, and landscape design services required to complete conceptual layouts for the park improvements.
Since PCLD was originally evaluated and selected based on its qualifications to perform the entire scope of services outlined in the RFP, it is recommended that PCLD be awarded a contract for a total of $2,027,446, including contingency, to provide appropriate civil engineering design and landscape design services and complete the design of the park improvements. The proposal is available in the City Clerk’s Reading File.
Regional Stormwater Infiltration Facility Design Contract On July 9, 2013, the City Council entered into an agreement with the County to develop the Upper Santa Clara River Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) in compliance with state and federal requirements under the Storm Water Permit (Permit) issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board. The EWMP identifies projects, actions, and milestones necessary to meet the Permit’s pollutant reduction requirements. As part of the EWMP, the City is required to provide stormwater infiltration capacity through regional infiltration facilities.
The City conducted an RFP to solicit proposals from qualified firms to provide civil engineering and design services for the EWMP Regional Storm Water Best Management Practices Preliminary Design Investigation project covering four different project sites. The RFP was published and circulated via the City’s former e-procurement system, PlanetBids, on January 10, 2018. Firms were evaluated based on the entire scope of services outlined in the RFP. The City Council awarded a design contract for preliminary design investigation and design services for a total amount not to exceed $851,987 to Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. (PACE) at the April 10, 2018, City Council meeting. After the design investigation and feasibility study was completed, the City identified Newhall Park as an adequate site for a regional stormwater infiltration facility. PACE is the Engineer of Record for the EWMP Regional Stormwater Best Management Practices, project R3008, and subsequently the Newhall Park Improvements, project P2017.
Since PACE was originally evaluated and selected based on its qualifications to perform the entire scope of services outlined in the RFP, it is recommended PACE be awarded a contract for a total of $471,658, including contingency, to provide civil engineering design services and complete the design for the regional stormwater infiltration facility. 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 and PACE 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. This includes potential adjustments to the civil engineering and landscape drawings and change orders for additional work requested by the City.
On January 26, 2021, the City Council approved a transfer agreement for Measure W Safe Clean Water Regional Funds from the County to support the design and construction of regional infiltration projects. The requested budget appropriation of $2,672,000 allocates a portion of these funds to this project, bringing the total project budget to $2,778,000 representing $2,499,104 in design contract costs and $278,896 in project administrative costs. Project administrative costs include staff time, project management, inspection fees, plan check fees,
utility design fees, and permit fees.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of the recommended action, $2,778,000 will be available in expenditure accounts P2017274-516101 (Measure W Regional Fund), P2017356-516101 (Stormwater Utility Fund), P2017233-516101 (TDA Art 8), and P2017723-516101 (Facilities Fund) to support the recommended contracts and project administrative costs.
ATTACHMENTS
Location Map
Proposal for Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc. (available in the City Clerk's Reading File) Proposal for Pacific Advanced Civil Engineering, Inc. (available in the City Clerk's Reading File)