CITY OF SIGNAL HILL
STAFF REPORT
2175 Cherry Avenue • Signal
Hill, California 90755-3799
12/5/2023
AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: GRISSEL CHAVEZ
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER
YVETTE AGUILAR
PARKS, RECREATION AND LIBRARY SERVICES DIRECTOR
THOMAS BEKELE
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
SUBJECT:
PRESENTATION - CIVIC CENTER MASTER PLAN PRELIMINARY DESIGN
OPTIONS
Summary:
On July 25, 2023, the City hired John Kaliski Architects, Incorporated (JKA) to prepare the Civic Center Master Plan. Work began in August 2023, and a series of community engagement efforts have taken place to date; including regular social media and website postings and updates; two online surveys; pop-up events at summer concert; Halloween festival and tree lighting; three-day design workshop and community meeting in October; and several Commission/Committee meetings (Sustainable City Committee - October 3, 2023; Planning Commission - October 17, 2023; Parks and Recreation Commission- October 18, 2023; and Diversity Coalition Committee- October 19, 2023).
Additional stakeholder meetings have also taken place with City staff, and community groups such as the Long Beach Symphony. Following the community and stakeholder input efforts, JKA prepared three preliminary design options for City Council review and input with the goal of selecting one preferred design alternative. Staff will make a final presentation on the selected design and updated costs and schedule during the first quarter of 2024.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 3 Economy: Improve the local economy, support local businesses, and create a vibrant downtown core.
Goal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical infrastructure, water system, CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 1 of 10 Printed on 11/30/2023
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Goal No. 4 Infrastructure: Maintain and improve the City’s physical infrastructure, water system, and recreational spaces.
Goal No. 5 High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
Recommendation:
Staff requests the City Council review and provide feedback regarding the preliminary design options, select preferred design elements, and provide direction to staff regarding a proposed phasing and funding model.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the preparation of the Civic Center Master Plan in the amount of $250,000 is included in the FY 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget (Project No. 90.24001).
In May 2022, the City received an award of $5 million from Senator Gonzalez’s office through the California Arts Council for design and construction of a new amphitheater. The grant’s timeline calls for completion of the project by June 2026; staff’s proposed implementation plan accounts for the use of this grant funding during the first phase of the project.
Background and Analysis:
On July 25, 2023, the City Council approved an award of contract with John Kaliski Architects, Incorporated (JKA) to prepare the City’s Civic Center Master Plan, following a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The project is being led by a collaborative team including the City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Parks, Recreation and Library Services Director, and Public Works Director.
JKA’s work began in August 2023, and a series of community engagement efforts have taken place to date, including:
· Regular social media and website postings and updates · Summer online survey - August to September 2023
· Pop-up event at the August 16, 2023, summer concert
· Three-day design workshop on October 5-6, 2023
· Community meeting on October 7, 2023
Sustainable City Committee - October 3, 2023
· Planning Commission - October 17, 2023
· Parks and Recreation Commission- October 18, 2023Diversity Coalition Committee - October 19, 2023
· Pop-up Event at the October 28, 2023, Halloween festival · Fall online survey - October to November 2023
· Pop-up Event at the November 29, 2023, Tree Lighting Ceremony Additional stakeholder meetings have also taken place with City staff, and community groups such as the Long Beach Symphony which previously expressed interest in offering concert programming at CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 2 of 10 Printed on 11/30/2023
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the Long Beach Symphony which previously expressed interest in offering concert programming at the amphitheater.
Other Communication Efforts:
Since the start of the project, staff continue to distribute information about the Civic Center Master Plan via website updates and social media posts. Additionally, from August to November 2023, staff included information in the City’s monthly water billing notices. In October, staff also mailed an informational flyer to residents in the immediate vicinity of Signal Hill Park.
Results from Online Surveys:
In conjunction with JKA, the City also prepared two online surveys to gauge community interest regarding specific design elements, recreational features, and site layouts. Given its limited sample size, the surveys cannot be interpreted to be scientifically accurate; nonetheless the surveys provide certain insights regarding broad community thoughts and suggestions regarding the project.
Below is a summary of the results from the summer online survey which ended September 8, 2023; a total of 80 individuals responded to the survey.
· 72% responded as Signal Hill residents;
· 80% of respondents attended Signal Hill events, such as concerts, flag raising ceremonies, and movies at the park;
· The top-rated uses of the Signal Hill Civic Center included movies at the park; amphitheater performances; and green space;
· The top-rated events for the City to host at Signal Hill Park included concerts in the park; food trucks; and festivals;
· The top-rated events for the City to host in the new amphitheater included musical concerts; dramas/plays; comedy/spoken word and dance; and
· The most important listed activities/amenities for the future of Signal Hill Park included outdoor enjoyment; walking trails; and kids’ activities.
Survey comments requesting specific improvements to the Civic Center and other general responses included the following:
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Below is a summary of the results from the fall online survey which ended November 10, 2023. A total of 112 individuals responded to the survey.
· 72% responded as Signal Hill residents;
· For the new amphitheater performances, community-based music, plays, dance and spoken word; and expanded summertime concert program ranked as the highest selections; · 53% of respondents expressed a preference to keep City Hall functions in the existing building; renovate the structure; and add a new building annex to the east for additional meeting/office space;
· 38% of respondents expressed a preference to move City Hall into the proposed Community Center and keep the existing City Hall as a cultural center; · The highest ranked option for the use of sports recreation facilities was for an expanded children’s playground followed by pickleball courts and more basketball courts; Of the three design options, the Green and the Campus ranked the highest in terms of preference; and
· 73% indicated support of a voter-approved bond measure to fund a specific improvement. The three highest ranked improvements for this funding purpose were the new Community Center, youth/sports amenities, and City Hall expansion or relocation into new Center.
Other general comments made in the survey included the following:
· Important to have ADA friendly spaces and parking.
· Build a new pool.
· Create a dog park.
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· Add tennis courts; skate park; do not eliminate baseball field. · Limit the negative impact of noise, parking, and traffic congestion onto adjacent residential streets.
· Expand community garden and green space.
· Access to community rooms for teaching.
Preliminary Design Options:
Following the community and stakeholder input received, JKA has prepared three preliminary design options for City Council review and input as shown in the attached drawings.
Below is a summary of each design listing the major changes and/or highlights.
The Campus
The Campus plan is designed to enhance the existing site layout with additional amenities, including the new amphitheater, in a way that balances out the competing demands for the site. The Community Center and City offices are incorporated alongside each other to create an efficient use of space and the existing City Hall is repurposed to accommodate other community meeting space and office space needs.
· The Campus establishes a new amphitheater for an audience of 500 (with 4,500 square feet Back of House) towards the center of the park and places the sports courts and a play area to the west of the amphitheater in the vicinity of the existing Spud Field. · A new Civic Center facility is located west of the Signal Hill Library. The Campus Plan would CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 5 of 10 Printed on 11/30/2023
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· A new Civic Center facility is located west of the Signal Hill Library. The Campus Plan would renovate City Hall for other community needs. Kelley Drive is widened and improved with a cul -de-sac to provide enhanced access to the community center and adjoining residential properties.
· Expanded recreation sports courts and playground areas. Service yard for Public Works access/storage and maintenance needs is added.
· Existing Jessie Nelson Circle is converted to Jessie Nelson plaza for pedestrian only pathway.
A new snack bar and exercise court are included.
· Parking is expanded on Hill Street and 21st Street. A crosswalk speed table is placed on the Hill Street/ Legion Drive crosswalk.
The Terrace
· The Terrace places the new amphitheater for an audience of 500 just to the west of the existing Bruce May Memorial Stage (currently used for summer concerts). · A new Civic Center facility (combination of City Hall and Community Center with senior, adult, teen and children activity spaces) is located north of the new park space and south of an expanded Hill Street parking lot.
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· Kelley Drive is improved as an alley south to 21st Street with a drop off at the new community center. Jessie Nelson Circle is transformed into a pedestrian plaza fronting City Hall which is renovated for other community needs and incorporates other art opportunities. · Additional parkland and walking paths replace Spud Field. · New butterfly/native plants garden is placed east of the existing City Hall building. · The existing community garden is converted into a parking lot serving the amphitheater. The new community garden is relocated to the city lot just west on 21st Street. · A new snack bar and exercise court are included. Service yard for Public Works access/storage and maintenance needs is added.
· Parking is expanded on Hill Street and 21st Street with a new parking lot off Kelley Drive. A crosswalk speed table is placed on the Hill Street/ Legion Drive crosswalk.
The Green
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The Green is designed to position the new amphitheater at the most optimal location on the Civic Center site: at the southwest corner where the topography is lowest, maximizing the amount of parkland and spillover greenspace for concert attendees. The Community Center is placed in relation to the amphitheater to foster connectivity between the two building programs. A new building east of City Hall accommodates additional City offices and meeting rooms and connects back to the existing City Hall building for more efficient City Hall operations. · The Green places the new amphitheater for an audience of 500 (with 6,000 square feet Back of House) to the west side of Spud Field where it is served by a southerly extension of Kelley Drive to 21st Street.
· A new community center with senior, adult, teen and children activity spaces is built just to the north of the amphitheater. An enlarged sports court and children’s play area adjoins Hill Street and connects south to the community center.
· A City Hall annex is built directly east of the existing facility for an expanded City Hall area.
Jessie Nelson Circle is replaced with an extension of the park. · Expanded recreation sports courts and playground areas. Service yard for Public Works access/storage and maintenance needs is added.
· A new snack bar and exercise court are included.
· Parking is expanded on 21st Street and the existing library parking lot, along Kelley Drive.
Preliminary Cost Estimates:
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As part of the conceptual design process, the staff’s role was to help JKA facilitate communication with residents and other stakeholders to arrive at possible options for consideration by the City Council. Given the variety of public amenities and possible configurations, each option solves different topographical challenges that must be addressed through site design and grading.
Consequently, the preliminary estimated costs to build the Civic Center Master Plan improvement will be dependent on the final selected option. Based on current designs, preliminary project cost estimates range between $92 million to $130 million. Funding sources, timeline, and options will be presented in more detail in the presentation.
Phasing Plan:
As noted, staff anticipates the development horizon for the Civic Center Master Plan to be approximately 10 years. The development timetable provides the City with an opportunity to phase the project based on its scale, complexity, and feasibility. One key component in consideration of a Phasing Plan is the City’s obligation to utilize the $5 million from the California Arts Council by the expected deadline which would result in the amphitheater and related site improvements would be incorporated into Phase 1 of the Civic Center Master Plan. Other considerations for project phasing include the cost of borrowing money through a lease obligation bond and the City’s overall bonding capacity; therefore, the timing of the financing component is also a key component of the projected buildout timeline. As the Civic Center Master Plan develops further, staff will recommend additional subphases to accommodate construction, financing, programming, or other related components.
Funding Sources:
Staff coordinated with the City’s bond advisor, Harrell & Company Advisors, LLC, to discuss bonding options for the construction of the new Civic Center. As suggested above, the bond market is highly influenced by external market forces similar to borrowing money for a mortgage. In addition, the City’s bonding capacity is influenced by its current and expected level of expenditure, measured against its ability to raise revenue. In other words, the amount of money the City can borrow is based on its ability to have sufficient revenue to pay it back over a defined period (i.e., 30 years). The City’s borrowing capacity will change and likely increase with time, principally as it retires the Library Bond, experiences increases in ongoing revenue, and creates potential additional revenue sources.
Additionally, as interest rates decline so will the City’s ability to borrow additional funds at a lower rate. Therefore, staff’s recommended 10-year development horizon creates a conservative method by which to assess and reassess a bond that will best serve the project while preserving the City’s ability to continue providing services.
Information on the City’s options to issue lease revenue bonds and consider a general obligation bond will be included in the evening’s presentation.
Additional funding sources that staff will explore include general fund appropriations; competitive awards through grants; and legislative earmarks at the County, State and Federal level.
Construction Timeline:
The City’s goal is to build the selected Civic Center Master Plan improvement within a 10-year timeline. Based on current design concepts, staff estimates a preliminary construction schedule of CITY OF SIGNAL HILL Page 9 of 10 Printed on 11/30/2023
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three phases that will be discussed in the evening’s presentation.
Next Steps:
Staff will work with JKA to continue refining the design based on City Council input regarding the selection of the preferred design. The team will continue to complete the financial cost analysis and construction phasing schedule. Staff will make a final presentation on the final selected design and updated costs and schedule in the first quarter of 2024.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Sharon del Rosario
Attachment(s):
A. Design Concept - The Campus
B. Design Concept - The Terrace
C. Design Concept - The Green
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