The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About12 - Back Bay Science Center UpdateCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. 12 April 26, 2005 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager 949/644 -3002 or dkiff @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Back Bay Science Center Update ISSUE: How are the funding and plans for the Back Bay Science Center at Shellmaker Island in Upper Newport Bay progressing? RECOMMENDATION: Receive and File. BACKGROUND: The City Council has consistently supported the concept of developing the Back Bay Science Center (BBSC) on Shellmaker Island in Upper Newport Bay. We would do so in cooperation with the California Department of Fish & Game (DFG), the Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends (NBNF), the County of Orange's Health Care Agency (OC HCA), and the University of California, Irvine (UCI). The BBSC would serve as a center for water quality and ecosystem education as well as water quality testing and research. It includes the County's water quality testing lab, facilities for DFG personnel involved in the management of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, space and exhibits for estuarine, ecosystem and water quality education and research programs, a wetlands demonstration marsh and ecological interpretive stations. The City has taken the lead role in the planning /design of the Back Bay Science Center using Oil Spill Settlement Proceeds designated for that purpose. The next page shows a site plan and floor plan for the BBSC. Back Bay Science Center Update April 26, 2005 Page 2 BBSC Site Plan BBSC Floor Plan Back Bay Science Center Update A01 26, 2005 Page 3 The City Council has taken the following actions relative to the Back Bay Science Center: • In 2000, the City Council included the Back Bay Science Center in the list of projects for which the City was seeking approval from the Trustee Agencies responsible for monitoring use of the American Trader Oil Spill litigation proceeds (Oil Spill Funds); • On April 24, 2001, the City Council directed staff to proceed with the planning and design of the Back Bay Science Center; • On June 22, 2001, the City Council requested State funding for the Back Bay Science Center; • On October 9, 2001, the City Council authorized the City Manager to proceed with specific contracts relating to design, construction, and the placement of a temporary water quality lab on Shellmaker Island; • On September 9, 2003, the City Council authorized Ron Yeo Architects to prepare final plans and specifications for the Back Bay Science Center; • On September 23, 2003, the City Council received a comprehensive update on the status of the Back Bay Science Center including the presentation of a model of the project developed by Ron Yeo Architects. • On November 25, 2003, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Cooperative Agreement between the City, DFG, UCI and the County. The Cooperative Agreement contained a detailed description of the BBSC and the "Demonstration Marsh ", described the financial commitments of each party, and established construction priorities if the Parties do not collectively have funds adequate to complete the entire project. In this case, the City would use UNB Restoration Funds and the UNB Land Bank Trust Fund (per SB 573 and AB 425) to assist in addressing the shortfall. Here is where we are with the BBSC since we last updated the Council in 2004: • The design is complete, pending a likely update using pre- engineered construction materials (aka a "Butler" Building). • The California Coastal Commission unanimously approved a Coastal Development Permit for the BBSC. • All parties have executed the Cooperative Agreement. • The State and UCI are in the final stages of review of a lease between UCI and DFG that would allow the UCI Crew facility to stay on Shellmaker Island with a new building. • We unsuccessfully bid the project last June and did not receive any bids. Since that time, construction costs have significantly increased. • AB 425 (Campbell, 2004) passed, allowing the City to use Beacon Bay lease revenue to pay for ongoing maintenance and operation of the BBSC. The new law also allows the City and County to transfer tidelands between the two agencies subject only to State Lands Commission approval. Back Bay Science Center Update April26, 2005 Page 4 • We received a commitment from the State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) for "up to $400K" for the BBSC, provided that we match the SCC's $400K and provided that we show the SCC how we have secured funding for construction. • The NBNF has secured a commitment from a local anonymous donor to give $250K to the BBSC's educational efforts. • The SCC has awarded about $98K to the BBSC's wetlands restoration effort. • We met with the local water quality and ocean protection group known as MiOcean. MiOcean has indicated to us a willingness to support the BBSC with an additional $400- $500K. This may be done in exchange for naming rights to the BBSC. • We corresponded with DFG regarding these naming rights. As of today, DFG has a Fish and Game Commission - sponsored rule that blocks naming facilities "after people." With Council's permission, we intend to aggressively pursue allowing the BBSC to be named after an organization -- MiOcean — in order to make the MiOcean contribution a reality. • The City Manager has indicated a willingness to seek the Council's permission to put $500K into the project. • We have updated our construction budget based on a pre- engineered design and the possible MiOcean and additional City contribution (attached). The budget shows that the project is attainable and ready to be put back out to bid. • We met with OC HCA staff in early April — they were pleased with our progress but asked that the Project go out to bid no later than June 2005. Environmental Review: A Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared pursuant to the provisions of CEQA and approved by DFG on September 23, 2003 Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item). Submitted by: Da a iff, Assistant City Ma ager Attachment: BBSC Updated Budget Back Bay Science Center Update April 26, 2005 Page 5 BBSC Construction Budget (April 2005 Estimate) The Back Bay Science Center SECURED FUNDING California Dept. of Fish & Game (WRCP) $1,061,000 Planning & Design $369,600 Construction $691,400 Co. of Orange, Health Care Agency (Tobacco Settlement) $1,230,000 University of California, Irvine $30,000 City of Newport Beach (AT Oil Spill Settlement Funds) $500,000 City of Newport Beach (NB Restoration Fund) $311,000 Subtotal Secured Funding = $3,132,000 ANTICIPATED FUNDING UCI -- 1/3 of Site Improvement Costs $278,000 State Coastal Conservancy -- A match to City or MiOcean $400,000 MiOcean -- (includes grant of naming rights) $500,000 City of Newport Beach -- Match for SCC Grant $500,000 Subtotal Anticipated Funding = $1,678,000 Total Funding (Anticipated and Secured) = $4,810,000 ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTIONd COSTS CONSTRUCTION Planning and Design $710,000 Construction $4,375,000 WQ Lab, Teaching Lab, Admin, Restooms, & Storage $3,000,000 Site Work $1,375,000 Contingency (10 %) $437,500 Construction Management & Inspection (S %) $218,750 Relocate Existing DF &G Modular Units $25,000 Total Construction Costs = $5,766,250 Construction Shortfall = $956,250 Options for Addressing Shortfall Use Pre- Engineered Construction save up to $871,000 Hold Admin Office construction until Phase II $600,000 Construct UCI facility with same contractor at same time $403,000