HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2012-02-27 #RBACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS:
DATE: February 27, 2012
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: Jill R. Ingram, City Manager
FROM: Sean P. Crumby, Assistant City Manager /Public Works
SUBJECT: MEMORIAL COMMITTEE UPDATE REPORT
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
It is requested that the City Council:
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item R
1. Receive and file the Memorial Committee update report;
2. Approve updated schedule for a memorial related to a Memorial for the
October 12, 2011 tragedy; and
3. Authorize expenditure in an amount not to exceed $30,000 for
professional services related to design of Memorial.
On December 12, 2011 the City Council adopted Council Policy 200 -27 which
established a procedure for public request and placement of a Public Memorial.
Also on that date the City Council began the process of determining the
appropriate memorial for the October 12, 2011 Salon Meritage tragedy.
On December 13, 2011 the City distributed applications for volunteers to serve
on the Memorial Committee. This committee was scheduled to meet twice
(January 18 and 25 for the purpose of receiving input from the community and
providing recommendations for location and a concept for a memorial. Also on
December 13 Public Input Forms were distributed to receive input from the
community. On January 9, 2012 the City Council appointed a committee of 12
members to perform this task. The City Council directed staff to contact the
families for the two victims that are Seal Beach residents and invite participation
on the committee. Both families elected to have representation on the
committee. The first meeting was held on January 18 and the purpose of this
first meeting was to review the input forms submitted and consider available sites
throughout the city. The second meeting was held on January 24 After
reviewing information from the first meeting, sites were discussed and concepts
were generated for each site.
Prior to the first Memorial Committee meeting on January 18 the City received
twelve (12), input forms. Those forms recommended five (5) different locations.
Six (6) of the forms recommended constructing a memorial . at the corner of 5th
Street and Marina Avenue. During the first meeting, those input forms were
reviewed and potential sites were discussed. Family members from the victims'
families were present. The family members brought forward a few requests that
had not been considered until that point by the committee. Several of those
requests are as follows:
• No groundbreaking or ribbon cutting ceremony on the actual one year
anniversary of the tragedy. There was a consensus among the family
members that October 12, 2012 will be an extremely emotional and
private day. If a ceremony is held on that day then some of the family
members will not likely be in attendance.
o No Memorial located at 5 Street and Marina Avenue. Several of the
family members stated that they do not desire to visit a memorial if it is
located near the site of the tragedy.
• Do not name the monument after the "Salon Meritage ".
During the second meeting, sites throughout Seal Beach were considered for a
memorial. The Committee came to consensus on two locations. After the sites
were chosen, the Committee created concepts for the memorial. A description of
the concepts is as follows:
Preferred Concept — Eisenhower Park
The Committee came to consensus that the Eisenhower Park should be the
location of the Memorial. Staff expressed concerns about the use of Eisenhower
Park given that a loss of open space could have an impact to the community.
Additionally, Eisenhower Park has views of the beach that will need to be
protected. Several of the input forms included fountains within their desired
amenities. The Committee acknowledged the maintenance that comes with a
water feature. One of the benefits of an Eisenhower Park location is that the
ocean will be the backdrop and serve as the water feature for the Memorial. The
Committee developed a concept that includes a walkway on the westernmost
section. This walkway would be located along the edge of the park next to the
entrance driveway. This will keep the impact to open space at a minimum. The
walk will end at the southeast corner of that section of the park. This area is not
currently usable within the park as it is a slope above the parking lot. This
concept would create a flat reflection point that has seating and views the beach
and City Municipal Pier. The Committee specified that the seating be unique and
different in comparison to the benches that are in most of the City parks and on
the Pier. The Eisenhower Park concept is shown in Exhibit A.
During the development of the concept, the designer and staff have developed
another location within Eisenhower Park that meets all of the criteria that the
Committee developed, and may be preferable to the original location. This new
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location is within the same sloped areas as the first location but further south in
the main area of the Park.
Benefits of this concept are that the location is serene. It represents the
Committee's goal of creating a reflective location. The location utilizes space
that is previously unused portion of the park with no impact to open space or
ocean views. The reflection point can be added to in the future if desired by the
community.
Secondary Concept — Electric Greenbelt
The second location identified was within the Electric Avenue greenbelt. The
Committee specifically chose 10 Street and the Electric Avenue greenbelt. The
idea for this concept utilizes the Electric Greenbelt that is already in place.
Currently the Electric Greenbelt has memorial benches distributed between 5th
Street and 17 Street. Additionally, a Gazebo with seating is located on the
greenbelt at 17 Street. This concept would incorporate the greenbelt between
5 Street and 17 Street with an open seating area at 10 and Electric. The
seating area would include a community memorial such as a monument or a
tree. The open seating area would be at 10 Street and face the ocean looking
down 10
On December 12, 2011 the City Council adopted a calendar for the completion of
the monument. That calendar was modified by the City Council on January 9,
2012 when the City Council directed staff to bring this item back to the City
Council on February 27, 2012. With the input from the Memorial Committee it is
the recommended that the calendar be modified as follows:
• December 12, 2011: City Council Policy Adoption (200 -27)
• December 13, 2011 — January 31, 2012: Public Input Period
A "Public Input Form" has been developed and available at City Hall and
posted on the City's website starting December 13, 2011. All residents
and businesses were encouraged to submit a form on or before January
13, 2012.
• January 9, 2012: City Council to appoint Committee members
Due to the anticipated public participation and overall visibility of this
memorial it was recommended that a committee be formed to gain focus
on the numerous ideas that will be coming forward. A 12 member
committee was appointed by the City Council comprised of various
members of the community.
• January 18, 2012 & January 24, 2012: Memorial Committee Meetings
The memorial committee met twice to assess the recommendations
received on the Public Input Forms and provide direction on development
of a design concept.
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o February 27, 2012: The City Council is recommended to approve a
concept for a memorial, approve a revised calendar for completion of the
memorial, and budget funds for design of the memorial.
o February 28, 2012 — April 9, 2012: Send out request for proposals for
Professional Services for Development of plans and specifications for the
memorial. A professional services agreement will be awarded on April 9,
2012. The development of the concept was performed on a prop bono by
the firm of David Volz Design. They will be invited to submit a proposal.
• April — May, 2012: Memorial Committee Meetings
It is recommended that the memorial committee hold two additional public
meetings. These meetings will refine the design of the memorial.
Although the committee has recommended the concepts they would then
have the opportunity to revise and refine the design. Since the time that
the concepts were generated it has been announced that the Salon will
reopen for business. There has been input from the community that this
may change the desires of having the Memorial at the Site.
o June 13, 2012: Recreation and Parks Commission Approval
The memorial concept will be presented to the Recreation and Parks
Commission for their consideration and recommendation to the City
Council.
• June 25, 2012: City Council Approval
• July — October , 2012: Private Fundraising.
Any private group that is fundraising may informally begin fundraising prior
to this date. Private fundraising would only be used to upgrade the quality
of the construction, and not to increase the size or scope of the memorial.
• September — October, 2012 Receive Bids for Construction
• October 8, 2012 Award Construction
• December 2012 - March, 2013: Construct Memorial
• Spring 2013: Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
There is no Environmental Impact related to this action. Any project or
construction arising from a memorial will comply with the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and have the appropriate analysis conducted.
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LEGAL ANALYSIS:
No Legal Analysis is needed at this time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Design services for development of plans and specifications are estimated at
$30,000. This item was not budgeted in the City's adopted FY 2011 -12 budget.
It is recommended that the City Council authorize expenditure not to exceed
$30,000 to fund the cost of design services. A budget adjustment is being
presented under agenda item "A" to fund all costs related to the tragedy. This
expenditure will be included within Budget Modification No. 12- 08 -01.
In the spring of 2012 the City will discuss funding of construction activities during
budget hearings. If directed by the City Council, a project can be added into the
Capital Improvement Program for FY 2012 -13 to fund all or a portion of
construction activities. It is recommended that a base construction amount be
budgeted at that time. Fundraising efforts can add to the project and upgrade the
materials from standard concrete to decorative pavers or other aesthetic
changes.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Receive and file the Memorial Committee update report;
2. Approve updated schedule for a memorial related to a Memorial for the
October 12, 2011 tragedy; and
3. Authorize expenditure in an amount not to exceed $30,000 for
professional services related to design of Memorial.
SUBMITTED BY: NOTED AND APPROVED:
Sean P. Crumby
Assistant City Manager /Public Works
Attachments:
A. Memorial Concept 1 & 2 — Eisenhower Park
B.. Memorial Concept 3 — Electric Avenue Greenbelt
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Ingram, City ger
Ocean Avenue
Eisenhower Park
SUPPORT IN LOVE Seat ✓Bead&
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• requires a new wakwaq Iirking Ocean Ave and "Deflection Point"
• utilizes existing slope to rtuke improvements
custom bench seating
• nice views of pier and beach :activities
• future expansion potential
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o utilizes existing walkways to access
• utilizes existing slope to make Improvements
o custom bench seating
• nice views of' pier and beach activities
• future expansion potential
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• utilizes exist)ni walkways to access
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