TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Idris Al-Oboudi, Recreation Services Manager
Andrew Berg, Recreation Supervisor
SUBJECT:Title
Marine Avenue Park Skate Spot Design, Tom Allard Memorial Bench Dedication and Appropriation of $300,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
APPROVE AND APPROPRIATE
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Marine Avenue Park Skate Spot Design, Tom Allard Memorial Bench and Appropriation of $300,000.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The City received a $300,000 grant from Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District. Staff requests City Council appropriate $300,000 from the Capital Improvements Fund which will be fully reimbursed by grant funds.
BACKGROUND:
At the January 19, 2016 City Council meeting, City Council approved Resolution No. 16-0005 formally authorizing the submittal of the Grant application for $300,000, and selected the Skate Spot design and Marine Avenue Park Location. Staff received notice in March 2016 that the grant was approved for $300,000. Requirements of the grant include project completion by calendar year 2016 and adoption of a Youth Employment Plan.
At the January 19th City Council meeting, the City Council selected and approved the attached schematic design (Attachment 1). As stated in the staff report, staff was to return to the City Council with updated design proposals when the drawings were at 30% completion. The proposed updates are presented in the discussion below based upon community input. If City Council approves the design, staff will return for final City Council approval of the construction documents in September.
On May 18, 2016, a community input meeting was held to receive further design input on the City Council approved skate spot design. The proposed additions include: landscaping removal, elevation changes and stairs. Kanten Russell and staff met with stakeholder groups to gather community input on the design. Also, per Council direction at the May 3, 2016 City Council meeting, staff was directed to look into appropriate dedication/recognition options to be incorporated for Tom Allard. The options are presented in the discussion below.
DISCUSSION:
Kanten Russell from Stantec Action Sports Group, facilitated a community input meeting on May 18, 2016. Mr. Russell met with the Manhattan Beach Studios, Manhattan Beach Little League, Sue Allard (Tom Allard’s wife), neighborhood residents and stakeholders from previous skate spot outreach efforts and meetings. Additionally, Mr. Russell met with internal staff from engineering and public works to discuss the project scope and potential efficiencies during construction.
The schematic drawings approved by the City Council and provided at the Community input meeting were well received. The proposed updates from the community input meeting are highlighted below and include: a skate staircase, elevation change, and the removal of the palm trees.
Manhattan Beach Studios
The Manhattan Beach Studios requested that the existing fence height be increased from 8 feet to 10 feet and green screen the fence on the east and north end to deter users from climbing the fence and eliminate sight lines into the Studio storage space. In addition the Studios requested that the City place video surveillance cameras at the skate spot site. They mentioned that they had recently had individuals climb over the fence near the soccer field and access the studio property and did not want this to occur at the skate spot in the future. The Studios also offered access to their storage area which is adjacent to the skate spot. This will streamline the timeline and cost for the project by allowing the contractor to stage and transport more efficiently during construction.
Manhattan Beach Youth Athletics (Little League)
The League asked that a green screen be installed at center field. This would provide a backdrop behind the pitcher, so the skate spot users would not be visible and impact the batter. They suggested that the green screen netting be at least 20 feet high by approximately 60 feet wide. The screen would also provide an additional layer of safety to the skate spot users. The costs for the netting may be funded through the Marine Avenue turf project, which had included costs for netting.
Tom Allard Dedication Bench
A trust fund has been established in Tom Allard’s name to fund the proposed bench and if there are remaining funds, to be used towards the Older Adult Programs (i.e. ping pong tables, etc.). Staff walked the site with Sue Allard to determine the type of bench and placement. The proposed site that was most desirable to Mrs. Allard was the south entrance to the skate spot on the east side of the pathway. There is an open patch of grass which looks onto the skate area. The bench would be placed in a concrete pop-out facing the skate spot, along with a plaque centered in the backrest. This location is surrounded by grass, visible from the entrance and will allow people to enjoy watching activity within the spot. Behind the bench is a long cinderblock wall which is the backside of the Manhattan Beach Studios storage area. The wall was identified as an excellent site for a mural, which was also brought up by the Studios. The proposed mural concept was discussed as a potential project in collaboration with the Mira Costa High School art department and the art could highlight or integrate many of the contributions that Tom provided to the community (i.e. Little League, Skateboarding, Older Adult Programs, Scouts, etc). The possible use of Public Art Trust Fund dollars was identified as a funding source to fund the mural.
Youth Employment Plan
As part of the County grant, the City must provide a Youth Employment Plan component. The City has allocated 300 hours of service. Duties for the youth employees may include: preparation and painting of the exiting wall on the east side, removal of landscaping, exercise equipment, and grading.
Skate Spot Design Elements
Various skate concepts were shared at the community input meeting. The skateboarders who attended the meeting, liked the general flow of this design and asked to incorporate some stairs and rail features from the other option shown. Other minor modifications included adjusting some of the grind ledge, transition, and bank dimensions to accommodate the different riding styles and skill levels. The grading will tie into the existing drainage for the park. There were also recommendations for the palm trees and planter landscaping to be removed to increase skateable surface and reduce maintenance issues. Stantec is currently working with Musco to come up with a preliminary lighting plan for the skate spot by looking at options to use some of the existing light poles from the baseball field. Based on experience at other park facilities, staff recommends six thoughtfully placed trash cans at the site. These should be placed near the areas most likely to be used for viewing and resting both inside and adjacent to the skate spot. It was also discussed to upgrade the existing water fountain to a new model that includes a bottle filler.
In order to meet the completion date of December 31, 2016, internal staff are working together to coordinate preparation and construction details to expedite the process. In particular, staff will coordinate the youth employment projects to assist in preparing the site prior to construction to reduce project construction. The timeline is tight and does not allow much flexibility, especially if there is rain during construction.
Timeline:
June 7 City Council direction/approval
August 1 Completion of construction drawings
August 2 Pre bid meeting
August 5 Request for bids
August 22 Bid package submitted
August 25 Bid opening
September 6 City Council bid approval
October 7 Construction begins
December 7 Project Completion and ribbon cutting
Staff has identified and will reach out to contractors who specialize in skate spot construction and will provide a pre-bid meeting to walk through the project details.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
Input for the design was posted on Open City hall and public notices were sent to the surrounding residential area within 500 feet of Marine Avenue Park (Attachment 2). Manhattan Beach Studios, Northrop Grumman, Manhattan Beach Little League and stakeholders from previous skate spot outreach efforts and meetings shared their input on the project.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Staff has determined that the proposed project is exempt from the requirements of CEQA because it authorizes minor alteration of an existing facility involving negligible expansion of the presently existing use of the property.
LEGAL REVIEW
Staff recommends that the skate spot be unstaffed and open to the public during park hours with proper signage mandating the proper use of safety equipment.
California Health & Safety Code section 115800 makes skateboard riding a specifically included “hazardous recreational activity” for purposes of the hazardous recreational immunity, Government Code section 831.7. To qualify for that inclusion, section 115800 requires that no operator of a skateboard park shall permit any person to ride a skateboard therein, unless that person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. The law distinguishes between supervised and unsupervised facilities. Under the law, operators of supervised skateboard parks have a legal duty not to permit any person to ride a skateboard therein unless that person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. However, for any facility designed for recreational skateboard use, but not supervised on a regular basis, the applicable legal duty is satisfied if both of the following occur:
1) The local agency adopted an ordinance requiring any person riding a skateboard at the facility to wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads and
2) Signs are posted at the facility providing reasonable notice that any person riding a skateboard in the facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads and that any person failing to do so will be subject to citation under the local agency's ordinance.
Additional legislation includes AB 1146, which went into effect on January 1, 2016. This legislation expands the immunity to skate park users operating “other wheeled recreational devices” such as non-motorized bicycles, inline skates, roller skates, scooters, and wheelchairs.
Attachments:
1. City Council Approved Skate Spot Design
2. Skate Spot Design Input Community Meeting Notice