Item 6-L
Council Meeting: 11/11/97 Santa Monica, CA
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to
Negotiate and Execute a Professional Services Contract
with Takata Associates for the Pico/Cloverfield
Project: An Expansion of Virginia Avenue Park
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City
Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services contract
with Takata Associates for the Pico/Cloverfield Project: An
Expansion of Virginia Avenue Park. The negotiated fee for this
contract shall not exceed $310,000.
Background
Several years ago, the City Council designated the site at the
northwest corner of Pico and Cloverfield Boulevards for an
expansion of the adjacent Virginia Avenue Park. Comprised of
several parcels which were acquired and assembled for this
purpose over the past decade, the Pico/Cloverfield site is 2.9-
acres of land located at one of the City's most prominent street
corners. The site, which was previously investigated for a
range of uses (including retail, housing, and open space) has the
potential to become an outstanding public gathering place, as
well as a significant addition to the strong neighborhood
character of Virginia Avenue Park. Since 1993, Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds have been allocated to the
project. The CDBG revenue, combined with support from the
General Fund over the past five years, brings the total project
budget to $2,200,738.
Discussion
The City staff issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a
project design team, resulting in responses from twenty-four (24)
consultants. Statements of Qualifications were evaluated by a
review committee which included representatives from the
Community and Cultural Services Department, the Department of
Planning & Community Development, and the Engineering Division of
the Environmental & Public Works Management Department. The
review committee met with four firms and visited their offices
and project sites. Three of the firms were selected to
participate further and were introduced to three artists selected
through a separate juried process at a meeting on August 8, 1997.
The design firms and artists formed teams and were invited to
submit proposals and participate in an oral interview. The
interviews were completed on September 15, 1997.
The review committee recommends the selection of Takata
Associates, collaborating with East Los Streetscapers, a public
art studio headed by artist Wayne Healy. Based in South
Pasadena, Takata Associates has designed a wide range of parks
for over 16 years and has extensive experience working with
culturally diverse neighborhoods. They are currently designing a
10-acre linear trail-park adjacent to the Watts Towers for the
Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. In 1996, Takata
Associates received an award of excellence from the California
Parks and Recreation Society for the master planning of Juan
Bautista de Anza Park in Calabasas, a 10-acre park that included
extensive public input, community interviewing, and workshops.
The references supplied by Takata Associates reported that the
consultant's work was outstanding.
Budget/Financial Impact
Funds for the park renovation, including design, are available in
the amount of $2,200,738 in the following CIP accounts. The
$310,000 design contract should be charged to the indicated CDBG
accounts.
Account number Amount Design Contract
19-740-511-20095-8900-99188 $ 129,215 $ 129,215
19-740-511-20096-8900-99188 $ 281,501 $ 180,785
19-740-511-20097-8900-99188 $ 549,298
19-740-511-20098-8900-99188 $ 649,124
53-740-501-20092-8900-99188 $ 105,266
17-740-511-20096-8900-99188 $ 101,911
01-740-511-20094-8900-99188 $ 64,057
01-740-511-20096-8900-99188 $ 104,547
01-740-511-20097-8900-99188 $ 199,456
01-740-511-20098-8900-99188 $ 16,363
TOTAL $2,200,738 $ 310,000
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager
to negotiate and execute a professional services contract with
Takata Associates in an amount not to exceed $310,000 for the
Pico/Cloverfield Project: An Expansion of Virginia Avenue Park.