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Home My WebLink About12 - Santa Ana Heights Passive ParkCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. 12 May 24, 2005 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office David A. Kiff, Assistant City Manager, 949 - 644 -3002 dkiff @city.newport- beach.ca.us General Services Department Michael Pisani, Acting Director, 949 - 644 -3055 mpisani @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Passive Park in the Santa Ana Heights Redevelopment Area ISSUES: Should the City Council approve on the concept plan for a passive view park in Santa Ana Heights and direct staff to proceed with preparation of plans and specifications, receive bids, and return to Council for approval of a contract for construction? RECOMMENDATIONS: Approve the concept plan for the passive view park at the intersection of Mesa Drive and Birch Street in Santa Ana Heights; and Direct staff to proceed with the preparation of plans and specifications and solicit bids for park construction. BACKGROUND: As you may be aware, the City annexed the eastern Santa Ana Heights area in July of 2003. Much of the Santa Ana Heights region is within a redevelopment area, which means that property taxes generated above a certain base year are allocated according to a "redevelopment plan" to both remove blight within the Santa Ana Heights neighborhood and to provide low and moderate - income housing in the region. The County of Orange administers the redevelopment area via its Orange County Development Agency (OCDA). Since the annexation, the Council and staff have been Passive Park in the Santa Ana Heights Redevelopment Area May 24, 2005 Page 2 working with the Santa Ana Heights Project Advisory Committee (PAC) on many issues involving specific projects in the redevelopment area. In July of 2004, based on a request from the PAC, the City asked County Supervisor Jim Silva to preserve two parcels at the corner of Mesa Drive and Birch Street as open space, with the intention that this 0.7 acres of land could later become a small passive park (see attached letter from then -Mayor Tod Ridgeway (Attachment A)). Since redevelopment funds cannot be used for maintenance, the City offered to maintain the park once it was constructed, and to assist in the planning of the park, to ensure that it meets with City design expectations and that we will be able to maintain the park in a cost - efficient manner. The City would not, however, take over ownership of the park until construction was set to commence. Based on the letter from the City, the County, who was originally planning to sell the parcels to a developer for parking, decided to retain the area for a passive park. DISCUSSION: Staff from the General Services Department and the City Manager's Office have been working with the County and the PAC on the conceptual development of the park (Attachment B). This plan has been approved by the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission. The conceptual design for the park consists of winding walkways with a partial view of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. The site will be surrounded by a split rail fence to incorporate the community's equestrian theme. The plantings will be California native varieties, with a grassy meadow dominating the upper flat area. Other amenities include lighted security bollards at the entry to each walkway, a drinking fountain, and a view oriented picnic table and bench. If approved, staff would proceed with developing plans and specifications, solicit bids, and return to Council for award of a construction contract in late summer. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: This activity is not a project as defined in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Implementing Guidelines. FUNDING AVAILABILITY: Funds for the preparation of plans and specifications by a private landscape architect are available in the City Manager's Office FY 04 -05 budget. Funds from an agreement with the OCDA would be utilized for construction of the parks facility. Passive Park in the Santa Ana Heights Redevelopment Area May 24, 2005 Page 3 SUMMARY: Staff from the City Manager's Office and General Services Department recommend approval of the Santa Ana Heights passive view park concept and Council direction to proceed with developing construction plans and specifications, soliciting bids, and returning to Council for award of a construction contract. Submitted by: I Da i A. Kiff As 'stant City Manager Attachments: Michael Pisani Acting General Services Director (A) Letter dated July 14, 2004 from then -Mayor Ridgeway to Supervisor Jim Silva regarding parcels at Mesa Drive and Birch Street (B) "Upper Bay View Park" concept drawing Mayor Tod W. Ridnewav Afayor Pro Ten Garcld B. Adam* CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Council Nfembers Jul 14, 200.1 Steven Brartters )ot-m Heffernan Richard A. Nichols Steven Rosarskv Dor. ,,Vol-_ 'nc Honorable Jim Silva Vice- Chairman of the Board of Supervisars 10 Civic Center Plaza, 5* Floor Santa Ana. California 92701 Rl . Parcels at Mesa x Birch in Santa Ara Heiehis Dc ar Supc';15 1�Ila: Az last evenij g's Newport Beach City Council mecune (July 13, 2004), the Council nut1 orzed me (on a 6 -0 vote) to inform you that the Cir i of N wpor. Beach: • Respecriully requests that the Orange County Develuptncnt Agency not sell the OCDA -owaed parcel at roughly 2301 .Mesa Drive (and adjacent to 3301 Mesa) for dev_•lopment. Instead. the Cir, urges the OCDA to use the parcels for a passive park, which would be designed and constructed using OCDA funds. • Hereby s:atcs the City's willirmless to maintain t e passive park once it has been .onsmuctcd. The City welcomes the opportunity to participate with the OCDA and the antic Ana Heights Project .advisory Comruttee (PAC) in planning the par: — such pn ^tciaaron taill assist us in budgeting for the.park's maimecance. Tiran!< yuu for your attention to this request. As always, we appreciate your leadership on this issue and the assistance of your staff. Flease do not hesitate to contact us at 949- 614-3000 if you have any questions about this letter or the Council's action. �inceriy, TOD W. RiDGE'4'AY ?d },•r of Ne-xport Beach .!!embers of the Newport Beach City Council %letvbers of the Oranee Count,; Board of Suptr4isors Roger Summers, Chairman. Santa Ana Heights PAC Dace Niedcrhaus. Director of General Services Qtv Hall • 3300 Newport Boutevard • Post Office Box l; 68 -For, Baadn, Califurn:ia 92658-8915 • wwvr.citv.newport- heach.ca.us (919) 51.1-5004 Nm � R � � ..� {. .. .. 1. :•1l ,. ,. \\ O IX IF 'i ul • ' \\ ``� ``,.� \� R \ \ \'` it i I ,' Iul ' I i� % % {EI tt: { {j ti( {: {ij {S �( 'i(( Sk f ijtl {i� __—�f f i '• I [i �F t!!t flit9� I�Ft lr Eti �' ++t it %[`� T I � ••I !\ 1%i P ;zjijtf?iij�! EIi¢is +`� r tier riS Sjf.; 7 i �nenan- I I {� U°F'ER 54Y Y:Er'N PARK FOR TI;E 1—TY OF NEYA-ar1T 5--AGM