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 City of Hermosa Beach --- 02-24-98Community Center Skate Track - Award of Design Contract
Recommendation:
It is recommended that City Council:
Background: The City Council at it's regular meeting on November 13, 1997, approved the preliminary conceptual plan for the skate track. This plan recommended relocating the existing Community Center tennis courts #5 and 6 to an undeveloped portion of the Community Center parcel adjacent to court #2. The skate track and additional parking would then be constructed in the vacated area. This location best met staff's and City Council's varied requirements with regards to skate track size, costs, parking issues, noise impacts, safety and other issues. The estimated project cost of $241,260 presented to City Council at that meeting included design fees for both the skate track and tennis court improvements.
Analysis:
Per City Council's direction, Public Works prepared a Request for Proposals for design of the track facility and on January 16, 1998 sent out Notices to Consultants. Communication with a number of municipalities which had recently constructed skate tracks generated important information regarding their design. Staff was particularly surprised that many of the tracks were designed by only a few different design firms. Based upon these references a list of eight firms with experience in this specialized field were sent direct invitation for proposals. The design consultant marketing firm of Hawkins-Marktell, who have access to hundreds of landscape/park designers, were also sent copies of the RFP.
On February 10, 1998 the Department of Public Works received three responses to the Request for Proposals:
* Estimated Fee based upon a $77,000 cost of construction.
Although all three designers have had previous experience in design of skate tracks, one of the proposals failed to meet the requirements set out in the RFP. Review of the proposals by Public Works and Community Resources staff revealed that the Wormhoudt proposal failed to provide for a professional skater on it's design team. This requirement of the proposal was important not only from a design point of view but also to encourage participation by the youths that will use the facility. A professional skateboarder's "seal of approval" would help popularize the track. In addition Wormhoudt has made no provision for civil engineering on the project. Grading, survey, drainage, concrete and asphalt specification all should be designed and approved by a registered civil engineer. Wormhoudt has also failed to give a definitive fee to perform it's design. It has given an estimated amount based on an estimated construction cost. Staff fears that such a proposal opens up a possibility for cost increases due to change orders.
The other two proposals meet all the requirements as set out in the RFP. The Purkiss/Rose fee proposal does, however, seem to be somewhat high for a project of this size. It is expected that the skate track/ parking lot improvement portion of the project should cost in the neighborhood of $100,000 to construct. A fee that is 50% of the construction cost is generally unheard of.
Review of the Lawrence Moss & Associates proposal indicated that it took the most interest in the project. A design team member from it's Glendale office made a visit to the proposed site and briefly met with city staff prior to submittal. This personal service and enthusiastic attitude reflects well on it's ability to perform, particularly on a project such as this where community participation will be an integral part of the design process. As Lawrence Moss has presented a proposal which meets the City's requirements, for a reasonable price, staff recommends that it be awarded the design contract for the Community Center Skate Track Project.
Fiscal Impact:
Park and Beach Improvements Project (CIP 95-506) currently has a fund balance of $357,572 per adjustments made at the mid-year budget.
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