HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 - Witte Lecture Hall — Increase LED Screen Wall SizeQ �EwPpRT
CITY OF
s NEWPORT BEACH
`q44:09 City Council Staff Report
February 25, 2025
Agenda Item No. 13
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: David A. Webb, Public Works Director - 949-644-3311,
dawebb@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Jim Houlihan, Public Works Deputy Director - 949-644-3319,
jhoulihan@newportbeachca.gov
TITLE: Witte Lecture Hall — Increase LED Screen Wall Size
ABSTRACT:
At its January 9, 2024 meeting, the City Council awarded a contract for the construction
of Witte Hall. The approved contract pricing included installing a 9-foot by 16-foot LED
video screen wall in the lecture hall. At the same meeting, the Council approved the third
amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Newport
Beach and the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation (NBPLF) for the lecture hall
building.
The NBPLF recently approached staff with a request to install a larger LED screen wall
in the lecture hall and for the City to pay an equal share of the increased cost. The MOU
between the City and the NBPLF stipulates that the party requesting a change order must
provide the funding needed to cover the additional cost. Therefore, staff is seeking City
Council direction on the NBPLF's request to increase the LED video screen wall size and
for the City to share in the cost.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine that the action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15301 (Class 1 — Existing Facilities) and 15303
(Class 3 — New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Code
of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3 and CEQA Guidelines, because this
project has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment; and
b) Consider the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation's request to increase the
Witte Hall LED screen wall size and approve one of the following options:
• Option 1 — Deny participating in the cost and continue with the installation of the
9-foot by 16-foot (144 square feet (SF)) LED screen wall per the approved contact
documents with no additional cost; or
• Option 2 — Approve the Newport Beach Library Foundation's request to increase
the screen wall size and install an 11-foot by 19-foot (209 SF) LED screen wall
with an all -in estimated change order cost of approximately $130,000, with the total
increased cost split evenly between the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation
and the City; or
• Option 3 — Provide other direction with regard to the Newport Beach Public Library
Foundation's request to increase size of the Lecture Hall LED screen wall size.
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Witte Lecture Hall — Increase LED Screen Wall Size
February 25, 2025
Page 2
DISCUSSION:
Recently, the NBPLF contacted City staff with the request to increase the lecture hall's
LED video screen wall size. The NBPLF believes the current screen size will not be
adequate to meet its needs.
The City's project design team and Recreation and Senior Services department staff have
studied different screen size options and believe that the 9-foot by 16-foot LED screen
wall called for in the approved contact documents will meet the City's needs for the
planned use of the facility. However, the next step up in size could provide enhanced
video/cinema viewing experiences. Staff recommends that if the City Council choses to
increase the screen size, it should not exceed 209 SF as a larger screen will affect sight
lines and front row seating.
On February 10, 2025, the NBPLF approved providing half the necessary funding to
increase the screen size, up to $70,000. A letter from Jerold Kappel, CEO of the
NBPL(Attachment A) requests an increase to the size of the screen to 11-foot by 19-foot.
Staff reviewed the MOU between the City and the NBPLF and determined that the request
for the City to share in the increased cost is not consistent with the approved agreement.
Per Section 1.5 - Change Orders, "the Party requesting the Change Order shall notify the
non -requesting Party of such desired change and shall provide all additional funds
necessary to implement the Change Order over and above the requesting party's financial
commitment set forth in Sections 2.1 and 3.1 respectively, within seven (7) calendar
days."
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Witte Lecture Hall construction project has used 0.8% of its approved
10% contingency allowance to date. Although the project is currently tracking several
change orders, many of the potentially high -exposure, unknown components have been
completed. The approved project contingency is sufficient to cover the proposed screen
size increase should the City wish to participate in this requested change.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
On January 9, 2024, Council found this project exempt from the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15301 (Class 1 — Existing Facilities) and 15303
(Class 3 — New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Code of
Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3 and CEQA Guidelines, because this project
has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A — Letter from Jerold Kappel, NBPLF CEO
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ATTACHMENT A
DATE: February 14, 2025
TO: Peter Tauscher, P.E., Senior Civil Engineer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kevin Barlow, CFA
C.C.: David Webb, Public Works Director
Vice chair
C.C.: Marilyn Krahe, Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors
Linda Beimfohr
Joy Brenner
C.C.: Jill Johnson Tucker Chair of the Beyond Books Committee
Karen Heath Clark
Immediate Past Chair
FROM: Jerold D Kappel, CEO
Patricia Dreyfus
RE: Request for consideration to increase the size of the Samsung LED Display
Andrew Gerken
Megan Gorman
The Newport Beach Public Library Foundation requests that the City of Newport
Janet S. Hadley
Beach agree to increase the size of the Samsung LED Display on the back wall of
Randy Heyler
the stage to 19,69' x 11,07'.
Jill Johnson -Tucker
Johanna Lee Kim
Marilyn Krahe
Chair
Mireya Llaurado, Esq
Secretary
Emilie Menghin
Walter Stahr
Ann Doyle Stephens
Paul Watkins, Esq.
Adrian Windsor
Miles Yourman
Treasurer
FOUNDERS
Elizabeth & John Stahr
Jerold D Kappel
CEO
EIN#: 33-0593010
NEWPORT BEACH PUBLIC
LIBRARY FOUNDATION
1000 Avocado Avenue
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949.717.3890
Jill Johnson -Tucker, Chair of the Beyond Books Campaign for Witte Hall, presented
at the Foundation Board Meeting of February 10, 2025, a request to increase the
size of the LED screen in Witte Hall, with the Foundation and the City sharing
equally in the cost.
The Foundation supports this change order and agrees to pay up to 50% of the cost
of the change order not to exceed $70,000.
Please contact Jill Johnson -Tucker with any questions regarding this request.
nbplf.foundation
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