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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS2 - Conceptual Plan for Bonita Canyon ParkItem No. SS2 March 22, 1999 • COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT To: Mayor and Members of City Council From: LaDonna Kienitz, Community Services Director /City Librarian Don Webb, Public Works Director Re: Conceptual Plan for Bonita Canyon Park RECOMMENDATIONS A. Approve the conceptual plan for the construction of the area referred to as Bonita Canyon Park, as recommended by the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission on March 2, 1999. B. Approve one of the two alternatives - B1 or B2, for the employment of a landscape architect for the project. 1. Direct staff to follow the traditional consultant selection process for hiring of a landscape architect or 2. Direct staff to negotiate a scope of work and cost with EPT Landscape Architecture and prepare a contract for City Council approval. • BACKGROUND FUNDING The funds available for the project now total approximately $5,900,000. This new total results from the sale of Bonita Canyon Public Facilities District No. 98 -1 Special Tax Bonds Series 1998; capital interest lower than anticipated because of the year delay in sale of the bonds; and the favorable interest market. The proposed conceptual plans are within this funding total. DESIGN OF THE PARK The Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission approved the attached conceptual plan (Exhibits Al and A2) for development of the Bonita Canyon Area Park, on March 2, 1999. The design, as approved includes: 3 Youth baseball fields 1 Multi- purpose baseball /soccer field 3 Youth soccer fields 1 Oversized soccer field 2 Restrooms and equipment storage facilities Pedestrian walking trails Parking for 240 cars at East Sports Area Parking for 115 cars at West Sports Area • The cost is estimated to be $5,650,000; design fees are estimated at $250,000, for a total of $5,900,000. Bonita Canyon Park Page 2 The project area includes a total of 33.5 acres, including 23.8 acres in the East Sports Area, and 9.7 acres • in the West Sports Area. Construction on the West Sports Area will extend to, and connect, with the area known as Freeway Reservation, approximately 16 acres, extending southerly along MacArthur Boulevard. The amount of $60,000 was funded in the FY 1998/99 Capital Improvements Budget for the development of Freeway Reservation, and has been resubmitted for FY 1999/00. The Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission also proposed that the following additional elements be included, should funding be available. In the West Area • Tot Lot and Seat Walls • Two Tennis Courts • Walks • Basketball Courts In the East Area • Restroom • Arroyo Overlook Area. Total costs of all additional elements are $612,500. The project, as initially designed at a cost of $7,400,000, is illustrated in Exhibit C1 and C2. As part of the design process an environmental assessment will be conducted. COORDINATION WITH THE NEWPORT -MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT • Since the Newport-Mesa Unified School District has the right to utilize the most easterly 14 -acre portion of the East Sports Area, City staff and the architect have worked with the District to identify where the District would site a school, should that contingency occur. Exhibit B indicates the proposed school siting determined by the District, which would minimize loss of already constructed park amenities. City staff members have also worked with officials of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) concerning restrictions of the MWD easement across the site. The MWD requirements are incorporated in the attached plan. SELECTION PROCESS FOR CONSULTANT The City follows a quality -based selection process when contracting for consulting services, enabling the selection of the most qualified to perform the required services. In a project of this magnitude, requests for Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) would be sought prior to the request for proposal (RFP). There are many landscape architects in the industry, but not all have prepared plans and specifications for a park of this size. After evaluation of the submitted SOQ's, three to five firms would be requested to submit proposals based on a City prepared RFP. A City selection committee would review the proposal, and identify the most qualified and negotiate a final scope of work negotiated with the associated fee. This process would take approximately three months. The main advantage to the traditional selection process is that many possible firms are evaluated to determine which is the best qualified to prepare the required services. Though the process can be time consuming, it is a fair and impartial method to select a firm. It is estimated that a project of this • magnitude would require $250,000 for preparation of the plans and specifications. Bonita Canyon Park Page 3 • AN ALTERNATIVE SELECTION PROCESS The firm of EPT Landscape Architecture has performed extensive study of the potential park uses and has prepared the conceptual plans being presented. They have met with the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission, assisted in numerous community meetings, and conducted many discussions with City staff. An alternative selection process would be to deem EPT the most qualified and allow staff to negotiate a contract for Council acceptance. After the extensive traditional selection process, EPT could also be the most qualified, since they have performed all the pre - design and concept plans under contract to The Irvine Company. EPT has communicated that their final design efforts would be under $250,000. Negotiations could start immediately with EPT with regard to scope of work and costs. A contract could be prepared and brought to the City Council for approval in May 1999. EPT has gained extensive knowledge from its community involvement as well as their work with Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission and City staff. In addition, based on EPT's past performances, they appear to be well qualified to perform the required design services. They are the design firm for the City's new Arroyo park, being constructed by The Irvine Company. They have also completed park improvements similar to the Bonita Canyon project for the communities of Rancho Santa Margarita, Irvine, San Clemente and Beverly Hills. Discussions with the other City project managers have proved favorable with regard to EPT's abilities and responsiveness. Exhibits: Al. Proposed Design for East Sports Area A2. Proposed Design for West Sports Area • B. East Sports Area illustrating possible school site Cl. and C2. 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