HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem GAGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 25, 2016
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: Jill R. Ingram, City Manager
FROM: Jim Basham, Director of Community Services
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON AQUATICS FEASIBILITY STUDY
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
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That the City Council receive and file the Aquatics Feasibility Study update and
authorize staff to continue discussion with the Los Alamitos Unified School
District on placing an aquatics center at McGaugh Elementary School.
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS:
The City of Seal Beach currently operates aquatics programs for youth, adults
and seniors at the McGaugh Pool located at 1698 Bolsa Avenue. Programs run
year round and include adult lap swim, youth swim lessons, deep water aerobics,
swim team practices and junior lifeguard prep classes. The current pool was
built in 1964 and although the City has maintained the facility to best of its ability
and undergone several rehab projects, the pool is currently at the end of its
useful life. Also, current standards and needs have changed since the pool was
first built. For this reason, the City of Seal Beach began the process of drafting a
feasibility study and preliminary site plan for a future community pool at a site yet
to be determined.
In order for staff to determine the most suitable location to establish a community
aquatics center, the City entered into a professional services agreement with
Westberg and White, a skilled architecture firm with experience in design of
aquatics facilities. The agreement was approved by Council for an amount not to
exceed $238,930 at the September 8, 2014 City Council meeting.
After completing the public input process, the two most desirable locations
identified by the public were the Naval Weapons Station and McGaugh
Elementary School. Both locations provide unique challenges that will require
further study from the design team. As there is no guarantee that one of the two
sites identified will be made available, and /or feasible to accommodate the
adequate space for construction, staff and the consulting team have pursued
both sites identified by the public. This approach will give the best opportunity to
complete the project.
Agenda Item G
Recently, staff received a timeline from Navy personnel depicting the procedure
and duration to obtain approval to locate a community pool on Navy land. At this
time, the Navy is requesting that the City submit a letter formally initiating what is
referred to as the requirements phase of the approval process. Once this phase
is initiated it is estimated that the approval process could take an estimated 6
months. After this phase, the City will enter the execution phase which has an
estimated 2 -3 year time period. In addition, the Navy is requesting that the City
pay an undetermined amount of administrative personnel time to review and
process the internal documents.
As the Navy site has now presented several unexpected challenges and could
become cost prohibitive based on these new unanticipated administrative costs,
staff feels that it is important to further our discussion with the Los Alamitos
Unified School District. Thus far, the City has spent over $60,000 in
administrative time for the City's consulting team addressing the Navy option.
Staff believes that reaching an agreement with the District is going to be the most
feasible option if the City plans to have this project completed as soon as
possible.
Representatives from Westberg and White will be present at the July 25th City
Council meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
There is no environmental impact related to this item.
LEGAL ANALYSIS:
No legal analysis is required for this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact related to this item.
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council receive and file the update on the Aquatics Feasibility
Study and authorize staff to continue further discussion with Los Alamitos Unified
School District on reaching an agreement to place a new aquatics center at
Mq,jr�iaugh Elementary School.
TEDaBYf NOTED AND APPROVED:
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iam ill V.
Ingram, City a ager
of Community Services
Prepared by: Tim Kelsey, Recreation Manager
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