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CC - ACTION ITEM: (1) FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval of a $100,000 Funding Contribution to Organization “Streets For All” Towards Total Cost of Feasibility Study to be Completed by SWA Los Angeles for Project to Extend the La Ballona Creek Bike Path and Related Budget Amendment; and (2) Direction to the City Manager Regarding Future Project Phases and Other Direction as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: February 27, 2023
Contact Person: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Phone: (310) 253-5630
Fiscal Impact: Yes [x] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [X] No [ ]
Attachments: Yes [X] No [ ]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (02/22/2023)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer (02/17/2023)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) approve a $100,000 funding contribution to organization “Streets For All” towards total cost of a feasibility study to be completed by SWA Los Angeles for the project to extend the La Ballona Creek Bike Path and related budget amendment (budget amendment requires a four-fifths vote); and (2) provide direction to the City Manager regarding future Project phases and other direction as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Created in the 1970s, the La Ballona Creek Bike Path currently runs from the ocean to Syd Kronenthal Park in Culver City. Originally, planners intended the Bike Path to go all the way from the ocean to where the creek ends at Cochran Ave and Venice Blvd in the City of Los Angeles.
The organization Streets For All has coordinated a project proposing to complete the original plan and extend the La Ballona Creek Bike Path (Project). Approximately 0.8 miles of the 2.3-mile extension would run through the City of Culver City, across public land and property owned by Red Car Properties, and impact the public right-of-way in multiple locations. In addition to the pathway along La Ballona Creek, the Project includes a bridge over the Creek at Smiley Drive, an underpass under the I-10 Freeway, and street crossings at Washington, La Cienega and Fairfax Boulevards.
The Project is a Streets For All initiative, supported by a variety of organizations and community groups. Project stakeholders would include the City of Culver City, the City of Los Angeles (District 10), the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) (District 7), the County of Los Angeles (District 2), Redcar Properties (in Culver City), and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
On August 23, 2021, at the request of Streets For All, Culver City Council approved a letter of support for the Project (Attachment 1). Streets for All is now returning with a request for funding to support a Feasibility Study (Study).
SWA Los Angeles has been chosen to complete the Study, from initial coordination through completion of the report. In turn, SWA will be engaging KPFF Engineering, ALTA Planning, P2S Engineering and Cumming Cost Estimators. The SWA proposal dated February 13, 2023 is included with this report as Attachment 2. The Study will examine design challenges, right-of-way jurisdiction, utility conflicts, permitting requirements, environmental constraints, as well as alignment and cost alternatives along a preferred route and two potential alternative routes, as shown in Exhibit A of the SWA proposal.
If funding can be secured, the feasibility study can begin as early as March 2023, with completion to take approximately six months, as outlined by steps on page 3 of the SWA proposal.
Streets For All is requesting a financial contribution of $100,000 from Culver City towards the total Study cost of $430,000. Streets for All will be contracting directly with SWA for the study.
Michael Schneider, a representative from Streets For All, will make a presentation to the City Council at the February 27, 2023 meeting to provide further details and answer questions.
Learn more about Streets For All <https://streetsforall.org/> on its website at <https://streetsforall.org>.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Total Feasibility Study Cost: $430,000
Committed
• City of Los Angeles, District 10: $150,000
Requested
• Baldwin Hills Conservancy: $150,000
• City of Culver City: $100,000
• County of Los Angeles, 2nd District (Holly Mitchell): $30,000
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 does not contain funding for this request. Approval of the $100,000 requires a budget amendment, and funds would be appropriated from General Fund unassigned balance. (Budget amendment requires a four-fifths vote.)
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2023-02-27-ATT-CC-CulverCity-LetterofSupport-StreetsForAll-BallonaCreekBikePathExtensionProject-2021-09-15
2. 2023-02-27-ATT-CC-SWALos Angeles-FeasibilityStudyProposal-StreetsForAll-BallonaCreekBikePathExtensionProject-2023-02-13
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve a $100,000 funding contribution to organization “Streets For All” towards total costs of a feasibility study for project to extend the La Ballona Creek Bike Path and related budget amendment (requires a four-fifths vote); and
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare any necessary documents; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City; and
4. Provide direction to the City Manager regarding future phases of the project and other direction as deemed appropriate.