HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-04-17 - AGENDA REPORTS - SCRIVER STUDY PRESENTATION (2)AGENDA REPORT
PRESENTATION
DATE: APRIL 17, 1990
City Manager Approva
Item to be presented by:
Jeff Kolin
SUBJECT: SANTA CLARA RIVER WATER AND RECREATION STUDY PRESENTATION
DEPARTMENT: PARKS AND RECREATION
BACKGROUND
The Fiscal Year 1989/90 budget contained funds to study the opportunities and
constraints to development in the Santa Clara River. Staff recently distributed
a request for proposal to a list of firms experienced in river development,
hydrology, geology, landscape architecture and environmental studies. Four
proposals were returned to the City for the Santa Clara River study. The four
consulting firms were invited to participate in a series of interviews on
March 6, 1990. A panel composed of Laurene Weste, Chairman of the Parks and
Recreation Commission, George Caravalho, City Manager, Jeff Kolin, Director of
Parks and Recreation, Chris Trinkley, Principal Planner, and Kit Nell, Civil
Engineer, interviewed. each of the perspective firms for the Santa Clara River
Study. The firms displayed slides of previous work and discussed their approach
to the Santa Clara River project. Following the interview process, staff
conducted a reference and background check on the top two firms.
B.S.I. Consultants, Inc., was scored as the top proposal by all members of the
interview panel. B.S.J . Consultants, Inc., has excellent references and passed
the background check with flying colors. B.S.I. brings an experienced team of
engineers, biologists, landscape architects and an expert in river/park
development from the Denver, Colorado area, to their group.
The river study project requires a consultant with a unique combination of
technical abilities and experience. No local firms were found to possess the
needed combination of technical consultants, and experience with river
development projects. However, members of B.S.I.'s consultant team have
extensive experience with Los Angeles County Public Works and the Corps of
Engineers Office which covers the Santa Clara River in the Santa Clarita
Valley. Staff estimates that the river study project will take approximately
seven months to complete. The consultants' process includes extensive public
involvement through the formation of a public/private task force to assist in
the collection of data and the development of the proposed plan.
Arrangements have been made for B.S.I. Consultants, represented by Ernest
Hamilton and Merle D. Grimes, of the Greenway People, to make a presentation to
the City Council on the Santa Clara River Water and Recreation Features Study.
The original plans were to have a contract for the consultants' study ready for
the Council to consider at the April 17, 1990, meeting. However, some minor
points of negotiation remain to be resolved so that the contract will not be
pPFROVED
available for the City Council's consideration until your April 24, 1990,
meeting. Arrangements had already been made for non-refundable air fares to
bring Merle Grimes out for the presentation. Staff will agendize the contract
for the consultants' study for your April 24, 1990, meeting.
The Santa Clara River study is an exciting project, which will provide a picture
for the future development of a natural resource which will provide tremendous
opportunities for the preservation of sensitive ecological areas and the
development of future recreational resources.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council hear the presentation from Ernest
Hamilton and Merle Grimes, of B.S.I. Consultants, Inc., and the Greenway
People. It is estimated that the presentation will take approximately fifteen
minutes, and that questions and answers about the project and B.S.I.'s proposal
may follow.