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Home My WebLink About2008-03-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - SKATE PARK PHASE IV (2)Agenda Item: CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT UNFINISHED BUSINESS City Manager Approval: Item to be presented by: DATE: March 25, 2008 Rick Gould 15 SUBJECT: APPROVE AND ADVERTISE PROJECT P3012 SANTA CLARITA SPORTS COMPLEX PHASE IV GRADING AND DRAINAGE, AND PROJECT P3010 PHASE IV SITE IMPROVEMENTS AND SKATE PARK WITH CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES FOR SKATE PARK OPERATION DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. City Council approve the plans and specifications and authorize that Project P3012 Phase IV Grading and Drainage Improvements, and Project P3010 Phase IV Site Improvements and Skate Park, be advertised for bids. 2. Direct staff to meet with representatives from the skate park community to develop a temporary skate park using above -ground equipment for an amount not to exceed $150,000, and approve a transfer of $150,000 from Council Contingency Account 19300-5401.001 to Account P3015601-5161.001. BACKGROUND This item is agendized as a result of community concerns raised at the February 26, 2008, council meeting. These concerns centered around the need to close the existing skate park while the new skate park is being constructed. Background on the planning process and current project status is listed below. In 2001, the City purchased the 38 -acre property adjacent to the original 22 -acre Santa Clarita Sports Complex. This purchase made possible the expansion of what was already planned to be a major recreation center. The master plan for the original 22 -acre site called for a gymnasium, an activity center, and a 50 -meter pool with a diving well, a bicycle motocross track, and a skate park. With the additional property, the City planned to create a regional park with state-of-the-art n 'pllmmD facilities for swimming and diving competitions, recreational water play, a second gymnasium, an expanded skate park for skateboarding and bicycle motocross, lighted athletic fields, and the City's first permanent dog park. A master plan for the expansion of the Santa Clarita Sports Complex, now encompassing 60 acres, was developed with extensive public outreach in 2003. The outreach included press releases, mailings to organizations, flyers posted throughout the City, and signs posted on site. The master planning process, with multiple community input meetings, culminated with the approval of the master plan at the February 24, 2004, City Council meeting. The master plan illustrative drawing is included with this report (Attachment A). In September 2004, the City Council authorized staff to prepare a preliminary design for the purpose of the preparation of an environmental impact review and ultimately a Conditional Use Permit for the master planned facilities. Conditional Use Permit 06=009 was approved by the Planning Commission on December 19, 2006. City Council approved contracts for the design of Project P3012 Grading and Drainage, and P3010 Park Improvements, on June 27, 2006, and October 10, 2006, respectively. Together these design efforts comprise the 14 -acre Phase IV area of the 60 -acre complex. The Phase IV area is shown in Attachment B and includes a multi-purpose field, landscaping and walkways, a new gymnasium, an underground storm drain system, re -aligned access road, outdoor basketball courts, shade structures, parking, a restroom/concession building, and a new skate park. The design team for the park improvements led by RJM Design Group, includes Site Design, a sub -consultant specializing in skate park design and construction, and other specialists in the areas of civil engineering, traffic engineering, utilities, architecture, and irrigation design. In December 2006, staff from Parks, Recreation, and Community Services and the consulting team began an extensive public outreach program for the design of the new skate park. Included in the outreach program were public workshops in December 2006 and Febrauary 2007. Over 100 skate park enthusiasts were in attendance at the workshops. The results of the workshop process and a final conceptual plan were presented at the March 1, 2007, meeting, of the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission (Attachment Q. Recently, the skateboarding community expressed concerns regarding the removal of the existing 11,000 -square -foot skate park, built in 1998, prior to completion of the new 40,000 -square -foot skate park at the corner of Ruether Avenue and Centre Pointe Parkway. At City Council's . request, on March 19, 2008, an additional meeting was held with a number of representatives of the skateboarding community to review the planning process and the current construction schedule. Several alternatives were presented to the community and are listed below: I. Continue with Current Direction This alternative includes continuing with the current construction approach which would begin grading and drainage improvements in June of this year, close the existing skate park in August or September, and have the new skate park with a best -case scenario of four months, but realistically, six -to -nine months later. II. Construct a Temporary Skate Park This alternative includes providing a temporary skate park during the time the existing skate park is closed and the new skate park is being constructed. A temporary skate park would include several above -ground ramps and rails that would be located on a surface approximately the size of a basketball court. The cost for a temporary skate park would include $75,000 for the equipment and an additional $25,000 for portable restrooms and fencing. An additional $50,000 would be required if an asphalt pad would need to be -constructed. III. Keeping the Existing Skate Park Open This option includes keeping the existing skate park open until the new skate park is completed. Complex grading, drainage, and geological issues on the site have charted a construction path that removes the existing skate park prior to the new one being completed. The construction plans and specifications associated with this approach are 95 percent complete and the project is almost ready to go out to bid. This alternative would cost the City an additional $1 million in redesign, environmental review, additional construction of a temporary drainage basin, escalation of construction costs due to inflation, and an additional 12 -to -18 eighteen months would be added to the completion schedule for the Phase N project. Approximately a dozen residents and skateboard enthusiasts attended the March 19, 2008, meeting. Facilitated by Assistant City Manager Ken Striplin, the meeting included a presentation by the City's design team made up of RJM Design Group, Hunsaker Associates, and Site Design Group. Staff and the design team answered questions relative to the three alternatives presented. Concern was voiced over the possibility that the current construction schedule would be hampered by unforeseen economic conditions or unseasonable weather. Staff responded that, while it is not possible to anticipate every contingency, the bulk of the project is currently scheduled during the dry season. Staff agreed to consider additional incentives to be included in the construction contract language to ensure timely completion of the project. Several of the skateboarders were interested in the City pursuing the temporary skate park, described above as Alternative Il. This option would provide a recreational outlet for the community upon removal of the current skate park. There was a consensus that this could be a viable option, provided it was planned and designed with user involvement. The discussion centered on a consensus process with the skate community, Site Design, and staff with a goal not -to -exceed $150,000 for a temporary facility. Staff expects to explore both purchase and lease options for movable skate ramps. At the conclusion of the meeting, there was consensus that staff would recommend to Council that the project proceed according to the current design and schedule and that the community and staff explore options up to $150,000 to be allocated for the development of a temporary skate park on a site to be determined. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS Other action as determined by City Council. FISCAL IMPACT Transfer $150,000 from Council Contingency Account 19300-5401.001 to Account P3015601-5161.001 for a temporary skate park. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A - Santa Clarita Sports Complex Master Plan Attachment B - Santa Clarita Sports Parks - Phase IV Expansion Attachment C - Santa Clarita Skate Park Conceptual Drawing 0 r -1 L-A ATTACHMENT B PARKING j QUA COUPLE. ACTIVITIES BUILDING PARK SIGNAGE SHADE STRUCTURE OPEN PLAY/ MULTI-PURPOSE FIELD i — OUTDOOR BASKETBALL SHADE STRUCTURE �- NON -IRRIGATED HYDROSEED OF TEMPORARYCUT SLOPED FOR PHASE IV LOOP ROAD DETENTION BASIN uXls - r LAI %a . IV r-AlYt]IN 31VIN CrrY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA .1 '•Vi