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Title:
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Consideration of the Design and Implementation of an Environmental/Educational Sign Project in Various Parks within Culver City and Consideration and Approval of Funding for the Project.
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City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 12/10/07 Item Number: _A-7
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of the Design and Implementation of an
Environmental/Educational Sign Project in Various Parks within Culver City and
Consideration and Approval of Funding for the Project.
Contact Person/Dept.: Bill La Pointe,
PRCS Director
Phone Number: (310) 253-6655
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: Master Notification List (12/05/07).
Department Approval: Bill La Pointe,
PRCS Director (11/29/07).
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Iker) (12/05/07)
Fiscal Impact Review:
Marlee Chang (12/05/07)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (12/05/07)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council consider the design and implementation of an
environmental/educational sign project to be located in various parks within Culver
City and consider and approve funding for the project.
BACKGROUND:
At the July 23, 2007 City Council meeting, a consensus was reached to agendize a
discussion of the development of an environmental/educational program to be
located within the park system. This program would include signage providing
information to park users regarding such issues as water conservation, air quality,
energy conservation, the value and care of trees, and recycling and composting.
DISCUSSION:
Educational signs installed in parks within Culver City should be interesting in nature
and encourage park users to read and learn about the various issues confronting the
environment. Information of the value of trees in the urban setting will hopefully
influence the readers of these signs to begin or continue healthful “green” living and
projects of their own, as well as better understand the “green” activities in which the
City is engaged. Staff has researched existing successful projects that may be
similar in scope to that expressed by City Council and might be appropriate for
implementation within Culver City parks. Staff performed site visits at various City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
locations in the Los Angeles area where it was thought that similar concept signage
might be available for review. The locations viewed by staff included the Palos
Verdes Interpretive Center and the Trump Nature Trail in Rancho Palos Verdes,
South Coast Botanical Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Hesse Park in Rolling Hills
Estates and Point Fermin Park in San Pedro. Unfortunately, none of the sites visited
had signage that seemed to lend itself to a project such as this.
It is recommended that the design and artwork be done in-house by City staff via a
rearrangement of the staff work plan for 2006-07 or by placing it into the 2008-09
work plan.
Regarding the manufacture of the signs, Miller-Dial was contacted. This firm
fabricates high quality and unique specialty signs that appear to meet the criteria
envisioned for the project and has a special and licensed process that can embed
color pictures and/or wording into metal or high impact resistant plastic. In
discussions with Miller-Dial they indicated that they have not done environmental
signage work of this type for any similar project in the past. They also indicated that,
to their knowledge, this fabrication type would be original for this type of signage.
Staff, based on these findings, also believes that this concept would be original for
Culver City and unique for the type of project in our local region.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
Currently no funds are appropriated for this project as Council had requested that
this project be looked at conceptually. Staff is in the process of searching for grant
funds however, none have been identified to date.
Based on preliminary cost estimates each sign could be developed and constructed
as noted below::
• $300 for fabrication (with customer furnished artwork),
• $1,000 for artwork (or this could be accomplished “in-house” for the cost of
staff time although it is not in the work plan for either 2007-08 or 2008-09),
• $150 for posts and materials, and,
• $100 for the installation (or this could be accomplished “in-house” for the cost
of staff time although it is not in the work plan for either 2007-08 or 2008-09)
At this time Staff is proposing a total of five unique signs to be placed in five different
parks. The signs, as envisioned, would be transferable between parks allowing for
the periodic rotation of the information throughout the park system and community.
Council may want to direct staff to develop conceptual signage for the following:
1. Water Conservation
2. Air Quality
3. Energy Conservation
4. The Value and Care of Trees in the Community City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
5. Recycling and Composting
Costs for a project of five signs, if approved, could be expected to be as follows:
Description Amount
Fabrication of signs $1,500
Design of signs (contracted) $5,000
Poles, concrete and hardware to mount the signs $750
Labor to install @ $100 each (contracted) $500
Total cost $7,750
Even though funding for a project such as this has not been appropriated for either
of fiscal year 2007-08 or 2008-09, City Council might consider approving the
expenditure of funds for this Environmental/Educational Sign Project from Park
Facilities Fund Account Number 41900594 (Various Parks-Replace Fencing).
Sufficient funding is available in this project to cover this request. If Council approves
this request, any necessary fencing replacements would be postponed until such
time as funds have been appropriated for the fencing installation and repair projects.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Examples of Possible Informational Material for Signage. The final copy for each
sign would be produced via staff research and development.
MOTION:
That City Council:
1. Consider the design and implementation of an Environmental/Educational
Sign Project in various parks within Culver City;
and
2. If Council’s direction is to direct staff to implement the
Environmental/Educational Signage Program, then staff requests direction on
whether Council will approve the use of funds from Park Facilities Fund
Number 41900594 (Various Parks-Replace Fencing) not to exceed $7,750;
or
3. Discuss the item and provide further direction to staff.