CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
STAFF REPORT
2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal
Hill, California 90755-3799
7/25/2023
AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: GRISSEL CHAVEZ
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
THOMAS BEKELE
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
YVETTE AGUILAR
PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARY SERVICES DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH JOHN KALISKI ARCHITECTS, INC.
FOR CIVIC CENTER MASTER PLAN SERVICES
Summary:
The City Council will consider approving a Contract Services Agreement with John Kaliski Architects, Incorporated (JKA) for preparation of a Civic Center Master Plan, in the amount of $218,915 with a contingency of $31,085. The City released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for these services on May 5, 2023, with a proposal due date of June 15, 2023; the City received eight proposals by the deadline. Following staff review of proposals and interviews, JKA was the highest ranked firm. Based on the evaluation process, staff believes JKA is the best qualified firm to work with community stakeholders to prepare a comprehensive redesign of the Civic Center campus, develop conceptual site plans based on feedback, and identify a funding plan for each option. If approved by City Council, JKA believes the work can be completed within a five-month period from the contract start date.
Recommendations:
1. Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Contract Services Agreement with John Kaliski Architects Incorporated for preparation of a Civic Center Master Plan, in the amount of $218,915, in a form approved by the City Attorney; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to approve a contingency in the amount not to exceed $31,085 to CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 1 of 6 Printed on 7/20/2023
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match the City Council’s appropriation of $250,000.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the Civic Center Master Plan in the amount of $250,000 is included in the proposed FY 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget (Project No. 90.23016).
Strategic Plan Objectives:
Goal No. 4: Maintain and improve the public infrastructure.
Goal No. 5: Ensure an Enhanced Quality of Life for the Residents Goal No. 6: Promote a Transparent and Open Government
Background:
At its April 25, 2023, meeting, the City Council authorized the City Manager to solicit an RFP for preparation of a master plan for the City’s Civic Center. The Master Plan will guide future improvements and development of the Civic Center based on the prioritization of community needs and desires. The document will include preliminary site designs, conceptual drawings, as well as schedules and preliminary cost estimates for construction. The Master Plan will also explore siting options for a new amphitheater, either as a standalone structure or in conjunction with a project to build a new Community Center. Community outreach and engagement efforts will include workshops, community meetings, social media distribution, booths at City events, online surveys, and presentation at various Commission and City Council meetings.
The Civic Center Master Plan will inventory and analyze existing Civic Center facilities and open spaces and their uses; this analysis will be used to identify Civic Center needs and desires based on City Council, staff, and community input. The process will identify opportunities and constraints with the development of the Civic Center campus. The consultant will develop a minimum of three (3) alternative conceptual design plans, along with their respective cost estimates, and identify potential financing strategies. The proposed conceptual designs will consider current and future operational and programming needs for the Library, Community Center, and City Hall. Proposed site configurations will maximize traffic circulation, parking, and accessibility.
The goal of this Master Plan project is to capitalize on the centralized location of the Civic Center to function as a hub for all things Signal Hill, not just a destination for traditional government services.
The new Civic Center will create an attractive and diverse campus that serves Signal Hill residents and visitors. The City is seeking the redevelopment of the Civic Center campus to more efficiently utilize its land and real estate potential, based on community feedback. The new Civic Center campus will have flexibility and functionality; connect to nature and views; and maintain the City’s legacy while focusing on community. This Master Plan will provide a roadmap to renovate spaces for community activities, events, and public services.
Analysis:
The City invited interested firms on a walkthrough of the entire Civic Center campus to provide prospective consultants with an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the current layout and topography of the site. The City subsequently released an RFP for the preparation of a Signal Hill Civic Center Master Plan on May 5, 2023, and received eight (8) proposals from the following firms:
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Civic Center Master Plan on May 5, 2023, and received eight (8) proposals from the following firms:
Architerra, Griffin, Paul Murdoch, JZMK, Studio One Eleven, JKA, Arroyo Group, and Carrier Johnson.
The City’s Selection Committee consisting of the Deputy City Manager, Public Works Director, and Parks, Recreation and Library Services Director, conducted an evaluation of the submitted proposals based on the following criteria.
a) Qualifications of the Firm: Technical experience in performing work of a similar nature; experience working with public agencies; strength and stability of the firm; and assessment by client references.
b) Proposed Team and Organization: Qualifications of proposed personnel and key personnel; logic of organization; and adequacy of labor commitment and resources to satisfactorily perform the requested services and meet the City's needs. The firm’s current workload and ability to demonstrate its ability to deliver the project based on the committed resources and within the proposed defined schedule.
c) Detailed Work Plan: Thorough understanding of the City's requirements and objectives; logic, clarity, specificity, and overall quality of work plan. Defined approach to carry out and acquire the community input; perform the services in an efficient and effective manner; and ability to deliver quality final work product per the proposed project schedule.
Following the Selection Committee’s initial evaluation of the written proposals, the City invited six firms to an interview. The Selection Committee conducted the interviews and evaluated each firm based on the following criteria:
· The firm’s presentation on background, and experience of assigned project staff. · Approach and understanding of project and support of City staff. · Methodology utilized; method for providing updates to fee schedule. · Added value to the City.
The Selection Committee’s final ranking for each firm following the proposal and interview evaluation process is displayed below in Table 1.
Table 1. Evaluation Ranking for Proposals and Interviews Firm Ranking
JKA 1
Architerra 2
Arroyo Group 3
Carrier Johnson 4
Paul Murdoch 5
Griffin Structures 6
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John Kaliski Architects, Incorporated (JKA)
As a result of the Selection Committee’s thorough evaluation process, staff recommends JKA as the firm most responsive to the City’s needs. Staff conducted reference checks and feedback from former and current clients was positive. JKA, founded in 2000 and based in Los Angeles, is a fullservice, certified Small Business Enterprise specializing in community-based urban design and architecture. Using a multi-disciplinary design methodology, JKA has completed a broad range of project types including urban design master plans, community-based specific plans, design guidelines, development and joint development feasibility studies, complete streetscapes and active transportation planning projects, transit-oriented developments, as well as commercial, mixed-use, multi-family, and affordable housing developments.
In Santa Monica, JKA developed innovative pedestrian enhancements and one of the first complete street demonstrations in Los Angeles County. In Hollywood, JKA developed the vision and design standards for the historic Hollywood Boulevard District. For Thousand Oaks, the company worked through a workshop process to develop concepts for the enhancement of the Civic Center and Thousand Oaks Boulevard. All these projects were done facilitating extensive community input and direction. Working with its consultant team, JKA brings an open and design-oriented approach to this project and will develop options that provide the basis for the evolution of the Civic Center campus.
JKA will engage the following subconsultants to provide additional engineering, design, planning, and financial expertise to complete the project.
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (Kimley-Horn)
Kimley-Horn brings a full range of engineering disciplines to the Project including landscape architecture, traffic and parking planning, and infrastructural/utility considerations. The firm will also procure the survey materials needed to establish a common base plan. Kimley-Horn is a full-service engineering, planning, and landscape architecture consulting firm providing services to both public and private clients nationwide. Founded in 1967, Kimley-Horn has more than 7,000 employees in 118 offices nationwide, including 12 in California and one office located nearby in Long Beach. The Kimley-Horn integrated landscape architectural and civil engineering team has successfully planned and implemented various projects that combine creative ideas and client collaboration with technical excellence and exemplary execution. Kimberly-Horn will provide the necessary technical engineering services to support the project.
HplusF Design Lab (HplusF)
HplusF is a team of architects who have designed award-winning amphitheaters including the redesign of the Hollywood Bowl and Nashville’s Ascend Amphitheater. John Kaliski worked with HplusF on the Hollywood Egyptian Theater renovation for the American Cinematheque. The firm has experience designing various venues, from stand-alone shells with little or no support structure to fully developed brick and mortar solutions. By paying close attention to community concerns, with an ability to communicate meaningfully with stakeholders, HplusF has successfully completed projects such as the construction of a new Hollywood Bowl and the recent transformation of the Frost Auditorium in Culver City, as well as the National Award-Winning Egyptian Theater in Hollywood. The firm approaches projects as a synthesis of research, necessary technical innovation, and comprehensive documentation, in which cost, feasibility, and practical solutions are optimized and CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 4 of 6 Printed on 7/20/2023
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comprehensive documentation, in which cost, feasibility, and practical solutions are optimized and realized.
Economic & Planning Systems (EPS)
EPS is a real estate economics planning firm that assembles comprehensive financing plans, funding sources, and tools for public infrastructure projects. EPS is experienced in the full spectrum of services related to real estate development, the financing of public infrastructure and government services, and local fiscal and economic impact analysis. Since 1983, EPS has provided consulting services to hundreds of public- and private-sector clients in California and throughout the United States, including, municipalities, special districts, property owners, developers, financial institutions, and land use attorneys. EPS understands land use and development economics from a variety of perspectives, and the firm excels in preparing analyses that disclose risks and impacts, support decision making, and provide solutions that achieve development and land use objectives. EPS will be responsible for preparing the construction cost estimates for the project.
JKA’s Work Plan and Schedule
As shown in the below schedule, JKA proposes to provide a three-day workshop and the first community meeting in September. These activities will focus on obtaining stakeholder input from the community, commissions, the City Council, and staff to guide and develop the three draft design options. The first online survey will launch simultaneously in August and will also focus on gathering input to develop initial designs. Information and updates will be presented to City Council and selected Commission/Committee meetings in late September/October. JKA would also have a booth at the August 16 Concert in the Park and the City’s Halloween Carnival for additional in-person engagement and outreach. Feedback from the second community meeting, online survey, and community events will be used to finalize input and feedback on the three draft options. The final three design options will be presented to City Council in December along with a corresponding funding plan.
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Staff respectfully requests authorization for the City Manager to enter into a Contract Services Agreement for the preparation of a Civic Center Master Plan, subject to City Attorney approval as to form, with JKA in the amount of $218,915. Staff also recommends the City Council authorize a contingency in the amount not to exceed $31,085. If approved by City Council, the work can be completed within a five-month period from the start date.
Reviewed:
_________________________
Sharon del Rosario
Attachments:
A. JKA Agreement
B. JKA Proposal
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