TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Mark Leyman, Parks and Recreation Director
Linda Robb, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Formally Authorizing the Submittal of an Application for a Los Angeles County Grant for up to $150,000 and Approval of Youth Employment Plan for the Polliwog Park Playground Replacement Project (Parks and Recreation Director Leyman).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 20-0113
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council consider adopting Resolution No. 20-0113 formally authorizing the submittal of an application for a Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District (RPOSD) grant for up to $150,000 and approving the required Youth Employment Plan for the Polliwog Park Playground replacement project.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
A comprehensive cost evaluation was completed for the replacement of the lower Polliwog Park playground, including: the playground equipment and surfacing, fencing, site grading, Americans with Disability Act (ADA) access, bio swale area and shade structures, for a combined $2.6 million. One million dollars has been set aside in the CIP budget for this project. Staff is actively seeking grant opportunities to reduce the cost of the project. This resolution will allow staff to apply for grant funds. Approval and allocation of project funds will come as a separate item after construction bids are received.
BACKGROUND:
The original larger playground equipment next to the pond in Polliwog Park was built by members of a City service group in the 1970’s, and included a large sunken wooden galleon. In 2003, the play structure was replaced with modernized equipment.
The existing playground equipment and padded surface have reached the end of their useful life. They are in a state of disrepair due to the extensive wear and tear of heavy, regular use by the public over the last 17 years. Due to safety concerns, a substantial portion of the existing play equipment has been placed off limits to users.
In spring of 2019, the City held community meetings and requested public input on playground equipment designs from four different playground equipment manufacturers. As a result of this process, a playground design by Kompan, Inc. was selected for a revitalized Polliwog Park Playground.
The proposed project will:
• Replace the existing play equipment with equipment that can withstand flooding from the pond while maintaining the natural theme of Polliwog Park.
• Provide full ADA access to the playground and the play equipment.
• Replace the existing fence surrounding the area designated for smaller, two to five year old children.
• Replace the play area padded surface
DISCUSSION:
The SWA Group, the design firm hired to craft the construction Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Polliwog Park Playground Replacement project, has prepared a report that estimates a cost of $2.6 million. ADA accessibility and drainage issues require attention that was not anticipated in the original budgeted amount.
Staff identified a previously awarded grant in the amount of $150,000 for the renovation of the Joslyn Center and Manhattan Heights, for which reimbursement was never requested. As this project was completed in 2012, staff requested that the grant be terminated and reallocated to the Polliwog Park project. The grant has been terminated and LA County RPOSD is awaiting the application to reallocate the funds. 10 percent of the grant funds are to be used to employ at-risk youth, for which a plan is attached. At-risk youth shall be defined as persons between the ages of 14-24, living in Manhattan Beach or the surrounding areas who are currently employed with the City, or will be hired as part-time Recreation Leader I or II.
A City Council approved resolution is required in order to submit a grant application.
Total grant funds identified by staff, including available maintenance and servicing (M&S) funds and allocations that may be directed to the Polliwog Park project, are as follows:
LA County RPOSD Prop A Grant $150,000
LA County RPOSD Prop A M&S $672,615
LA County RPOSD Measure A allocation $272,753
LA County RPOSD Measure A M&S $ 65,567
California State Parks Prop 68 allocation $199,955
Total $1,360,890
This item will return to City Council for approval and allocation of project funds after project bids are received.
Staff recommends that the City Council consider adopting Resolution No. 20-0113 formally authorizing the submittal of an application for a Los Angeles County Regional Parks and Open Space District (RPOSD) grant for up to $150,000 and approving the required Youth Employment Plan for the Polliwog Park Playground replacement project.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
On April 29, 2019, four playground equipment manufacturers presented design concepts to, and received feedback from, staff and the public during a community meeting. The meeting was publicly noticed through social media, Parks & Recreation e blasts, and Manhattan Beach Unified School District newsletters. An advertisement was also placed in the Beach Reporter regarding community input for the project.
The four manufacturers created potential designs that were presented to the Parks & Recreation Commission on May 23, 2019. Because two of the manufacturers were ranked equally, staff posted a survey on Open City Hall to receive the community’s input on the top two manufactures. The survey inviting the community to select a final design was posted twice on Open City Hall, May 9 through May 23, and June 7 through June 19. Ads were placed in the Beach Reporter and the project was marketed through social media and e blasts. The survey results showed that the majority of community responses favored Kompan, Inc. as the equipment manufacturer. This result was presented to the Parks & Recreation Commission on June 24, 2019.
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 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15302(b) (replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced) 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
ATTACHMENT:
1. Resolution No. 20-0113