HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-12-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - SOLEDAD LANDSCAPE IMPROV (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by:
Rick Putnam
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: December 13, 1994
SUBJECT: Soledad Canyon Road Median Landscape Improvements - Project 99-028
Hillside Remediation and Additional Landscaping Requests
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
BACKGROUND
At the regularly scheduled Council meeting of September 13, 1994, staff received
authorization to enter into a contract with California Landscape Inc. for construction of
Project No. 99-028. At that time, the projected budgeted underrun for the project was
approximately $150,000. This underrun was kept in the project account for contingency
purposes; however, staff was also directed to pursue the issue of the hillside adjacent to the
north side of Soledad Canyon Road just east of Sand Canyon Road.
Staff has reviewed the hillside issue with three landscape architects; California Landscape
Inc., Green Nursery (local nursery), Dietz Hydroseeding, and internally with parks
maintenance personnel. Staff has also planted a 6 -foot by 21 -foot test section with coyote
bush at the base of the hillside.
The test section of coyote bush is not at the stage where a full evaluation can be made.
However, based on the review to date, it staffs recommendation that planting the entire
hillside in a manner similar to the test section would not be cost-effective; that planting
operations similar to that of the test section could inadvertently cause limited detrimental
slope stability of the existing hillside surface; that planting similar to the test section would
result in large plant losses during the plant establishment period unless irrigation were
provided during that time; and that it would not be cost effective to install and maintain such
an irrigation system.
Staff suggests that it may be more cost-effective to expedite the natural re -seeding process
of the hillside which has occurred to a very limited extent thus far. This can be accomplished
by hydroseeding the hillside with a seed and binder mixture with plant material similar to
that of the adjacent terrain. This remedial hillside hydroseeding can be accomplished for
approximately $10,000.
I
Agenda Item:
Soledad Canyon Road Median Landscape Improvements - Project 99-028
Hillside Remediation and Additional Landscaping Requests
Page 2
In addition, 24 -inch box trees similar to those being provided in the medians (30-40 foot
height at maturity) could be planted along the base of the hillside. This planting would
require a special planting detail due to the unfavorable natural conditions of the area, and
would cost approximately $2,200 per tree. Staff considers the aesthetic benefits to be worth
the cost, and recommendsthat 10 trees be planted at a total cost of approximately $22,000.
The total cost of this additional work ($32,000) would decrease the budgeted project
contingency from $150,000 to $118,000. Staff recommends that the remaining $118,000 of
contingency funds could be made available at the end of the project to extend landscaping
along Soledad Canyon Road from its current westerly limit (Kenroy Avenue).
RECOMMENDATION
1. Authorize that the California Landscape Inc. contract be increased by $32,000 (plus
$3,200 construction contingency) for hydroseeding and planting 10 trees along the base
of the hillside on the north side of Soledad Canyon Road east of Sand Canyon Road.
Funds to be allocated from the current project account nos. 16-99028-227 and 28-99028-
227.
2. Authorize staff to proceed with design of additional median landscaping on Soledad
Canyon Road west of Kenroy Avenue. Provided that budget is available at the end of the
project, and that this work can be completed at the existing contract unit prices,
authorize an appropriate extension to the California Landscape Inc. contract for this
work. Funds to be allocated from the current project 'account nos. 16-99028-227 and
28-99028-227.
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