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CC - (1) Presentation of Two Proposed Drought-Tolerant Schematic Plans to Replace City Hall Landscaping; and (2) Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: November 28, 2016
Contact Person/Dept: Joe Susca/Public Works Department-Administration
Phone Number: (310) 253-5636
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (11/22/16); Larry Moss & Associates Landscape Architects (11/03/16); (E-Mail) the following e-mail distribution list subscribers: Residential Parkway Landscaping Guidelines, Urban Forest Management Plan, Community Gardening, Sustainability/Environmental Issues, the Downtown Business Association, the Culver City Chamber of Commerce and Public Notifications (11/22/16).
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (11/17/16)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) receive an enhanced presentation of two proposed schematic designs from Lawrence R. Moss & Associates (LRM) to replace City Hall plant material with drought tolerant and native plants; and (2) provide direction to the City Manager, as deemed appropriate, regarding next steps.
BACKGROUND
In recognition of five years of continuous drought and resulting potable water shortage in California, the City implemented a Water Conservation Plan to achieve targeted water use reductions at City facilities. In May of 2015, one of the water saving measures taken was to turn off City Hall’s irrigation zone that exclusively watered the grass facing Lafayette Place. City Hall’s other irrigation zones contain a combination of plants, grass and trees and their watering continued at the reduced frequency of two times per week.
The Water Conservation Plan includes hiring a landscape architect to prepare drought tolerant planting plans for City Hall to replace its water thirsty grass and plants, while the existing trees, hardscape, lighting, public art, furniture and water features remain unchanged. On February 8, 2016, the City Council approved a $45,540 agreement with LRM to prepare a drought tolerant planting plan that includes a plant palette, two alternative schematic plans, construction documents, an updated irrigation system, a bid package, and to oversee construction of the landscape contractor hired to complete the work (the “Project”).
LRM prepared two schematic designs that were presented to the City Council during its meeting of August 8, 2016:
1. Option 1: The Meandering Path - The Meandering Path design includes curving paths that weave throughout the space suggesting a natural landscape as a counterpoint to the architecture of City Hall.
2. Option 2: The Arcing Path -- The Arcing Path design includes an arcing path that invites pedestrians from the sidewalk to walk through the space, complementing the strong design of City Hall.
Both options:
• Reduce City Hall's landscape water use by at least 50%.
• Are designed as passive public spaces and educational demonstration gardens that model a water conservation strategy to inspire the community.
• Include educational signage and plant labels to create a living plant notebook for community members to replicate at home.
• Work well with existing site conditions such as sun exposure, tree cover, and soil conditions.
• Include decomposed granite paths that widen to create pleasant sitting areas.
• Include the addition of a small Bentgrass lawn on the Lafayette Place side of City Hall for use by visitors, including those from Happyland preschool. (Bentgrass is a ground cover similar to turf that requires half the amount of water.)
• Include drought tolerant and native plant alternatives to replace water thirsty plants in other areas through City Hall plaza and along Duquesne.
• Remove the invasive Pampas Grass from atop the column planters located at the entrance to the Mike Balkman Council Chambers.
• Include irrigation system modifications to accommodate the requirements of the new plants and existing trees.
DISCUSSION:
In response to comments received by the City Council on August 8, 2016, LRM added a small drought-tolerant lawn area to each scheme and enhanced the presentation materials by preparing color renderings of their perspectives in addition to two videos that simulate a walk-through of each design. The two revised site plans, plant palette and perspectives are included as an attachment to this staff report. The videos will be presented by LRM during the City Council meeting.
During the August 8, 2016 discussion, the possibility of altering other City Hall landscaping components such as lighting, hardscape, water features, trees, furniture and public art was contemplated. LRM prepared a cost estimate of $2.2 million for the design and construction of a revised Project that includes these components.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
$183,401.65 remain in CIP No. PO002 Citywide Water Conservation Programs to complete a landscaping project at City Hall. LRM estimates the cost to implement the Meandering Path - Option 1 is $320,500 and the Arcing Path - Option 2 is $206,500 in addition to $96,000 for the center courtyard and Duquesne-facing plants and irrigation system.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Meandering Path and Arcing Path Schematic Designs and Plant Palette.
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. A. Receive an enhanced presentation of two proposed schematic designs to
replace City Hall landscaping with drought-tolerant and native plantings; and
B. Select the Meandering Path design OR the Arcing Path design; and
C. Authorize the City Manager to proceed to have construction documents and a detailed cost estimate prepared, and to return to the City Council with a recommendation to fully fund the construction of the improvements as part of the 2017/18 capital budget;
OR
2. Provide other direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.