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Discussion of the Culver City Senior Center Courtyard Renovation Project and Consensus Regarding the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission’s Support of the Proposed Improvements.
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Contact Person/Dept: Dan Hernandez
Phone Number: 310-253-6655
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas - Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission (10/01/15); (Email) Parks, Recreation & Community Service Department Updates (10/01/15); (Email) Senior Citizens (10/01/15); (Email) Culver City Senior Citizens Association Board of Directors (10/01/15).
Department Approval: Dan Hernandez, (09/30/15).
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Commission discuss the Culver City Senior Center Courtyard Renovation Project (“Courtyard Renovation’) and reach consensus regarding the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission’s support of the proposed improvements.
BACKGROUND
At the December 10, 2007 meeting, the City Council accepted a bequest on behalf of the Culver City Senior Center in the amount of $166,423.35 from Mrs. Gladys L. Paetzold (“the Paetzold Bequest”). Mrs. Paetzold was a long-time, active member of the Culver City Senior Center and the Culver City Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). The only stipulation of the Paetzold Estate is that the funding be used for any project that benefits the Culver City Senior Center, as long as the funds are not used for maintenance and/or operational costs.
At the April 7, 2008 meeting, the City Council reviewed recommendations from the Culver City Senior Citizens Association (CCSCA) Board of Directors (“the Board”) and the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding the use of the Paetzold Bequest. In support of the Board’s and the Commission’s recommendation, the City Council determined that the funds should primarily be used to remodel the Senior Center Courtyard. At that time, planned improvements included removing the center raised planter and reducing the size of some of the perimeter planters to create additional usable square footage within the Courtyard for recreational and leisure activities and adding/enhancing shaded areas.
At the December 8, 2008 meeting, the City Council adopted a Resolution naming the Senior Center Courtyard in honor of Mrs. Gladys L. Paetzold. The language approved for the dedication plaque was, “Mrs. Gladys L. Paetzold Courtyard.” The plaque will be installed when the renovation has been completed.
In 2010, the City of Culver City entered into a professional services agreement with Land Images for “Landscape Analysis and Recommendations for the Senior Center.” The scope of work included producing conceptual designs for the improvements to the Senior Center Courtyard. Three conceptual designs were produced and presented to the CCSCA, unfortunately all three designs exceeded the level of funding available for the project.
DISCUSSION
During the Fiscal Year 2015/2016 Budget discussions, representatives of the Culver City Senior Citizens Association Board of Directors and several Association members urged the PRCS Commission and the City Council to move forward with the Courtyard Renovation by adjusting the scope of the Project to accommodate the available funding source, the Paetzold Bequest.
In response to these requests, the City Council allocated $50,000 in Park Improvement Funds for the design of the adjusted scope of work. In order to have these documents prepared, staff will be scheduling the City Council Agenda Item, “Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Land Images Landscape Architecture to Provide Design and Administrative Services for the Culver City Senior Center Courtyard Renovation Project” for an upcoming City Council meeting.
Once the design documents have been prepared, staff will have a better indication as to which of the following proposed improvements can be accomplished with the approximately $179,000 in Paetzold Bequest funds:
1. Removing the center tree and planter, creating more usable, open plaza space.
2. Patching the concrete deck with a permeable paving element.
3. Removing the existing fountain.
4. Creating a flexible staging area where the fountain used to be.
5. Installing a new, smaller, water-efficient fountain (with dedication plaque) on the opposite side of the plaza.
6. Adding a shade structure to the existing to provide more shade over the entire Courtyard.
7. Narrowing the perimeter planters to provide more usable, flexible space within the Courtyard.
This Agenda Item has been prepared to give the public and the PRCS Commission an opportunity to comment on the proposed Courtyard improvements, with the understanding that only after the design documents have been prepared will staff know exactly how many and which of the project components can be realized within the existing budget.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this Agenda Item.
ATTACHMENT
Schematic of the Culver City Senior Center Courtyard
MOTION
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
1. Discuss the Culver City Senior Center Courtyard Renovation Project; and,
2. Reach consensus regarding the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission’s support of the proposed improvements.