ITEM 9-B

Council Meeting:  August 11, 1992

TO:       Mayor and City Council

FROM:     City Staff

SUBJECT:   Award  of  Contract  for  the  Virginia  Avenue   Park
          Improvements

Introduction

This report recommends that City Council award a contract for the
improvements  at  Virginia  Avenue Park to Thomsen Landscape, the
lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $98,241.00.

Background

Virginia Avenue Park is located  west  of  Cloverfield  Boulevard
between  Pico  Boulevard  and  Virginia  Avenue.  Several parcels
adjacent to the park were acquired by the City.  A public process
to  consider  recreational  uses for two of those properties, the
Deak and Cook acquisitions, was conducted by the Virginia  Avenue
Park  Advisory  Board.   The proposed improvements resulting from
that process are compatible with existing  park  amenities,  will
not  impede the planning underway for the Shurgin property at the
corner of Pico and Cloverfield, and will place the two unimproved
parcels into constructive recreational use.

The improvements to be implemented in this  project  include  the
following:  landscape  and  irrigation of the new park parcels, a
new basketball and volleyball court,  additional  park  lighting,
and  additional  playground  equipment.  The Recreation and Parks
Commission  has  approved  the  project  in  concept,   and   the
Architectural  Review  Board  approved  the  design in a courtesy
review at their meeting on  July  6,  1992.   A  drawing  of  the
"Virginia  Avenue  Park Parcel Layout" and a schematic drawing of
the proposed improvements are attached.

A Notice Inviting Bids was published on June 8 and 9, 1992 in The
Outlook,  as  well  as  several  construction  journals.  Bidding
documents were sent to eight Women/Minority Business  Enterprises
(WMBE)  associations.   Bidding  packages  were requested by nine
contractors.  The City received four bids,  which  were  publicly
opened and read aloud on July 20, 1992, by the Deputy City Clerk.
The bids received were as follows:

     Name_______________     Location

   Thomsen Landscape         Reseda           $ 98,241
   Advanced Construction     Santa Monica      104,400
   Axis Construction         Sherman Oaks      143,045
   Kevin Kraus               Santa Monica      162,652

            City Engineer's Estimate . . . . .$150,000

The low bidder, Thomsen Landscape, supplied the City  with  three
references.   All  references reported that the contractor's work
was satisfactory.  The State Contractor's License Board  verified
that the contractor's license is in good standing.

Budget/Financial Analysis

               FUNDS REQUIRED:
               Contract . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$98,241
               Contingencies  . . . . . . . . . . .$14,759

                                           Total  $113,000

Sufficient funds have been appropriated in account number:
01-740-511-20092-8900-99188, "Virginia Avenue Park Design."

Recommendation

It is recommended that City Council:

     1.   Award a  contract  for  the  improvements  at  Virginia
          Avenue Park in the amount of $98,241.00.

     2.   Authorize the City  Engineer  to  issue  any  necessary
          change   orders   to   complete   additional   work  in
          conformance with  the  Administrative  Instructions  on
          change orders.

Prepared by:   Stan Scholl, Director of General Services
               Susan  McCarthy,  Acting  Director of Cultural and
                               Recreation Services
               Anthony Antich, City Engineer

Attachment:    Drawing No. 4529
               Schematic Drawing