TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Stephanie Katsouleas, Public Works Director
Prem Kumar, City Engineer
SUBJECT: Title
Veterans Parkway Preliminary Design Presentation (Public Works Director Katsouleas).
APPROVE DESIGN ELEMENTS AND, IF NECESSARY, PROVIDE FURTHER DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed design elements for the Veterans Parkway Preliminary Design so that staff can finalize plans specifications and advertise for the receipt of construction bids.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
This project is included in the previously approved Capital Improvement Program, and has two identified funding sources, including $135,000 from the CIP Fund and $297,825 from a Los Angeles County Grant. Once City Council approves the proposed design elements, the plans and specification will be finalized for construction bids.
BACKGROUND:
Veterans Parkway is an important community asset that functions as a passive, tranquil parkway. To ensure that efforts to maintain and improve Veterans Parkway are implemented in an effective manner, City Council approved the Veterans Parkway Landscape Master Plan Guidelines (VPLMPG) presented on June 25, 2013 (Attachment 1).
On September 10, 2013, City Council adopted Resolution No. 13-0062 to endorse the City’s application for competitive funding for landscape improvements to Veterans Parkway through the 2013 Competitive Trails Grant, which was made available by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe’s office. Shortly thereafter, the City was awarded a $297,825 grant by the County in December 2013. However, the grant only funded implementation but did not cover design services. Therefore, $135,000 was requested for design services and approved by City Council as part of the FY14/15 Capital Improvement Program.
On August 4, 2015, City Council approved a consultant agreement for $31,912 with David Volz Design for the landscape architectural design services needed for the proposed improvements to Veterans Parkway. Based on the VPLMPG, the preliminary design improvements target five areas along the trail as discussed below. Please note that these improvements were originally presented to City Council on June 21, 2016. The suggestions provided by City Council at that meeting have been incorporated into the design presented here.
DISCUSSION:
The project scope for the Veterans Parkway design is laid out in two phases, the first of which addresses landscape and parkway access improvements at four strategic locations, and the second focused specifically on improvements to the parkway adjacent to Manhattan Beach Blvd. (see Attachment 2 for specific design elements). Please note that the project scope does not address maintenance of Veteran’s Parkway, although a brief summary of City maintenance activities is provided below.
Phase 1: Landscape and Parkway Access Improvements
The first phase consists of landscape and access point improvements to Veterans Parkway at four strategic locations utilizing recommendations included in the City’s Landscape Master Plan Guidelines. These locations currently include areas where users that have made their own paths through the existing vegetation. Pedestrian pathways will be better defined by improving access points along the Veterans Parkway. The improvements also include purchase and placement of boulders and garden walls to create landscape features and seating areas, and purchase and installation of shade trees along the trail.
Veterans Parkway Area Improvements
Area “A” - Near the intersection of Pine Avenue and Valley Drive. Project elements include adding shaded boulder seating, planting shade trees, other landscape and shrub plantings, improving access points and making certain trail improvements.
Area “B” - Near Laurel Avenue, west of the intersection of Pacific Avenue. Project elements include adding shaded boulder seating and planting shade trees.
Area “C” - 15th Street Improvements (Surrounding Veterans’ Memorial). Project elements include improved access points to the Veterans Parkway, planting shade trees, shrub and groundcover, and installation of boulder seating.
Area “D” - Near the Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach Boundary. Project elements include providing well defined access points to the Veterans Parkway, establishing a defined entry into the City of Manhattan Beach, planting shade trees, shrub and groundcover, and installation of boulder seating.
Phase 2: Manhattan Beach Boulevard Intersection Improvements.
The second phase consists of trail improvements to the Manhattan Beach Blvd intersection of Veterans Parkway. Project elements include landscape improvements to the traffic medians on both sides of the intersection, better trail access, featuring existing pine trees, and installation of shrub and ground cover plantings.
Maintenance of Veterans Parkway
It is worth noting that this project does not address maintenance of Veterans Parkway, but rather focuses on landscaping enhancements and other amenities as described above. And, although there is no formally adopted plan or policy for maintenance of Veteran’s Parkway, it is a core and on-going function of Public Works. This includes annual replacement of wood chips, tree pruning in accordance with ANSI A300 standards, and routine visual observations of the trail during landscaping maintenance activities with mitigation measures implemented when necessary. In addition, the Street Maintenance Division of Public Works responds to maintenance and service requests received from residential and other community user groups (often through GoReach).
CONCLUSION:
Collectively, the improvements listed above both enhance Veteran’s Parkway for user groups while ensuring that the look and feel of the trail is preserved. Therefore, staff recommends that City Council approve the proposed design elements presented here so that staff can finalize plans and specifications and advertise for the receipt of construction bids.
POLICY ALTERNATIVES:
ALTERNATIVE #:
Do not approve the landscape improvements to the Veterans Parkway.
PROS:
The public will not be impacted by the proposed parkway improvements and will continue to have uninterrupted access to the parkway
CONS:
Landscape and hardscape improvements will not be made to Veterans Parkway.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
Numerous community meetings were held during the development of the Veteran’s Parkway Master Plan Guidelines.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 1(c) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 of the State CEQA Guidelines. A Notice of Exemption will be filed with the Los Angeles County Clerk’s office for the project.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
Attachments:
1. Veterans Parkway Landscape Master Plan Guidelines, June 2013
2. Powerpoint Presentation