HomeMy Public PortalAboutStaff Report - Award of Architectural Design Contract Las Tunas Drive Project V2
MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 23, 2012
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Jose E. Pulido, City Manager
By: Peggy Kuo, City Clerk
Marilyn Bonus, Deputy Clerk
SUBJECT: AWARD OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT TO FREEDMAN
TUNG + SASAKI URBAN DESIGN FOR THE LAS TUNAS DRIVE
SAFETY ENHANCEMENT AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Council is requested to:
a) Award an architectural design services contract to Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban
Design for the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project;
b) Approve a professional services agreement with Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban
Design for the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project for
Phase One (i.e., $ 457,036) which is being funded at this time at an amount not to
exceed $500,000 and Phase Two is anticipated to be funded at the City’s Mid-Year
Budget Review at approximately $600,000, with the total contract amount not to
exceed $1.1 million for both phases; and
c) Authorize City Manager to execute the professional services agreement and to
modify these services as necessary to expedite this project by making use of the
remaining $ 42,964 balance (i.e., $500,000 appropriation minus $ 457,036 proposal
amount) subject to City Council approval for services that exceed $25,000.
BACKGROUND:
1. On June 19, 2012, the City Council approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012-2013 City
Budget which included a $500,000 appropriation for the Phase One of the Las
Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project redesign which
includes: Pre-Design; Schematic Design; and Design Development but not
construction drawings (i.e., Phase Two).
City Council
October 23, 2012
Page 2
2. On July 3, 2012, Mayor Yu appointed Mayor Pro Tem Sternquist and himself to
serve on the Las Tunas Drive Streetscape and Pedestrian Improvement Ad Hoc
Committee (Ad Hoc Committee).
3. On August 17, 2012, the City issued a Request for Qualification/Request for
Proposals (RFQ/RFP) for the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and
Beautification Project which allowed interested firms to submit written questions to
the City by August 30, 2012. (Attachment “A”)
4. On August 29 and September 3, 2012, the City published a public notice in the
Pasadena Star News to advertise the City’s Request for Qualification/Request for
Proposals (RFQ/RFP) for the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and
Beautification Project.
5. On September 5, 2012, Addendum No. 1 (Attachment “B”) was issued to provide a
response to all 51 questions submitted by the interested parties and were posted
on the City’s website. The proposal deadline submittal was extended by one day to
September 11, 2012.
6. On September 11, 2012, the City Clerk’s Office received a total of six proposals
(i.e., AHBE Landscape Architects; Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design; Gruen
Associates; Lawrence Moss and Associates; RRM Design Group; and SWA
Group).
7. On September 21, 2012, the City notified the six firms regarding the change in
project schedule which delayed the interview process to October 12, 2012 and the
award of contract date to October 23, 2012.
8. On October 4, 2012, City’s Selection Committee (i.e., Mayor Yu, Mayor Pro Tem
Sternquist, City Manager Pulido, Assistant to the City Manager Haworth,
Community Development Director Masura, Vanir Project Manager Twilley, and
Management Analyst Chung) completed their review of the six proposals received
by the City.
9. On October 5, 2012, the City announced the four firms selected to continue with
the interview process (i.e., Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design, Gruen
Associates, Lawrence Moss and Associates, RRM Design Group).
10. On October 12, 2012, the City’s Selection Committee interviewed the four selected
firms and a consensus was made to move forward with Freedman Tung + Sasaki
Urban Design.
11. On October 18, 2012, the City posted the Notice of Intent to Award a contract
(Attachment “C”) on the City’s website. The ratings of the four firms interviewed
are as follows, number one having the highest rating:
1. Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design
City Council
October 23, 2012
Page 3
2. RRM Design
3. Gruen Associates
4. Lawrence Moss and Associates
12. On October 22, 2012, the City was awarded $598,300 of Highway Safety
Improvement Program (HSIP) funds to complete signal upgrades and installation
of pedestrian countdown heads on Las Tunas drive from Rosemead Boulevard to
Temple City Boulevard.
ANALYSIS :
With major new development coming in to the Las Tunas Drive/Rosemead Boulevard
intersection, and private investments being made in the downtown area, the Las Tunas
Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project is the perfect opportunity to
revitalize the City’s downtown from an auto oriented thoroughfare into a destination
place and create a heart of the City.
1. Current Conditions
Las Tunas Drive also known as the City’s downtown core does not offer the types
of street-level activity that typically define vibrant downtowns (e.g., outdoor dining,
walkable retail experience, etc.) found in other communities. Instead, Las Tunas
Drive functions more as an auto-dominated thoroughfare which is neither
pedestrian nor bicycle-friendly. For example, crosswalk opportunities for
pedestrians, while 380 feet apart along many blocks, are at times nearly a quarter
mile apart; many signalized intersections lack countdown timers; and existing ficus
trees do not provide enough shade to encourage walking.
The City has an opportunity to create an economic catalysts for its community (i.e.,
increase in property value and sales tax) with the Las Tunas Drive Safety
Enhancement and Beautification project, the two major developments (i.e.,
Gateway Project, and the Rosemead Boulevard Safety Enhancement and
Beautification Project) underway at the Las Tunas Drive/Rosemead Boulevard
intersection, and private business/property owner investments currently being
made in the downtown area. Public investments on Las Tunas Drive would serve
for the long-term prosperity and livability of the community. Furthermore,
downtown businesses and storefronts would benefit from improvements made by
the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project, ultimately
influencing reinvestment (or new investment) of properties on Las Tunas Drive
specifically and Temple City in general.
2. Las Tunas Drive Redesign
City Council
October 23, 2012
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By redesigning Las Tunas Drive from an auto-oriented thoroughfare into a
sophisticated pedestrian friendly downtown, the City will be able to implement
studies that were recently completed (i.e., Downtown Parking Study, Traffic
Calming Master Plan and the Historical Resources Survey). These studies
provide opportunities to utilize pedestrian improvement amenities by adding high
visibility crosswalk markings and corner “bulb-outs” that would shorten street
crossing distances. Additional enhancements may include an increase of tree
canopies for shade, widening sidewalks for outdoor dining, new lighting and
furnishing options, and the addition of diagonal parking together would provide a
gathering place for the community.
As identified in the Historical Resources Survey, the gateway and landmarks
provides additional identity to the area through the use of public arts and
enhancements as potential landmarks through City’s downtown. Furthermore, the
enhancements of Las Tunas Drive includes a revamped façade improvement
program, new signage code requirements, and potential financial assistance for
targeted business attraction and expansion.
3. Next Steps
The City issued a RFQ/RFP in September 2012 for architectural design services
for Las Tunas Drive to assist the Temple City community (i.e., residents, business
owners and property owners) in collectively redesigning Las Tunas Drive to its
desired level of sophistication.
The City’s Selection Committee reviewed the six proposals received and
interviewed the top four firms with a goal of hiring a firm during the Special City
Council meeting of October 23, 2012. The City’s Selection Committee is
recommending that City Council consider entering into a professional services
agreement, for Phase One, with Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design
(Attachment “D”) to assist the City in redesigning Las Tunas Drive over the next six
months (i.e. October 24, 2012 through April 30, 2013). Freedman Tung + Sasaki
Urban Design is an award winning urban design firm that has completed “main
street” designs to help revitalize downtowns in Cathedral City, Mountain View,
Livermore and Redwood City among others. The reference checks for Freedman
Tung + Sasaki Urban Design Group were favorable.
If the City Council approves the proposed design contract with Freedman Tung +
Sasaki Urban Design, the City would need to host two community meetings
tentatively set for November 14 and December 19, 2012 to gather community
input. The design input gathered at these two community meetings will also allow
the City to prepare a grant application for the Metro Call for Projects, which
provides project construction funding (similar to the $2.2 million grant award
received for the Rosemead Boulevard Enhancement Project in 2011).
Due to the time constraints in preparing this staff report and the corresponding
City Council
October 23, 2012
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Draft Agreement, the City Attorney is in the process of reviewing the attached Draft
Agreement and will be providing his comments by tomorrow. It is anticipated that
any changes made to the Draft Agreement will be provided to the City Council and
the public prior to the Special City Council meeting of October 23, 2012.
CONCLUSION:
The City Council is being requested to award an architectural design contract
(Attachment “E”) to Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design for Phase One of the Las
Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project which will allow the City to
conduct two community meetings, prepare schematic and design drawings, and
prepare grant applications for multiple funding categories all prior to the January 18,
2013 Metro Call For Projects deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT :
On June 19, 2012, the City Council approved the FY 2012-2013 City Budget which
included a $500,000 appropriation for Phase One of the Las Tunas Drive Safety
Enhancement and Beautification Project redesign which includes: Pre-Design;
Schematic Design; and Design Development only (Construction drawings will be part of
Phase Two). Staff will submit a proposal to the City Council during the City’s FY 2012-
13 Mid-Year Budget review to consider a $600,000 appropriation to complete Phase
Two of the Las Tunas Drive Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project which will
include construction drawings and other services related.
ATTACHMENT(S):
A. RFQ/RFP Las Tunas Safety Enhancement and Beautification Project
B. Addendum No. 1
C. Notice of Intent to Award
D. Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design Proposal
E. Agreement between Freedman Tung + Sasaki Urban Design