TITLE
Recommendation to adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-6695 for the MacArthur Park Branch Library; and authorize City Manager to award the contract to Swinerton Builders, Inc., in an estimated amount of $8,218,000 and execute all necessary documents related to the contract. (District 6)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Library Services' Strategic Plan identified two communities in Long Beach that are greatly underserved because of the constraints of the existing library buildings (North and Central Long Beach). In the case of Central Long Beach, the Mark Twain Library, which occupies a portion of the Parks and Recreation facility at MacArthur Park, serves a population of 57,433 within a 2,130-square foot area. The Central area is the most racially and culturally diverse section of the city and is home to the largest Cambodian population in California.
The City's 2010 Strategic Plan states that "Long Beach will be a community of neighborhoods focused on youth and education." The City's goal is "to create a city where children and youth of diverse backgrounds live in safe and nurturing communities, with access to comprehensive, culturally sensitive programs and services that make them healthy, happy and well-educated, preparing them to become successful, responsible, and contributing members of the community."
The California Reading and Literacy Improvement and Public Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 2000 made available $350 million of state grants to cities, counties and library districts on a 65 percent state to 35 percent local matching fund basis. The City of Long Beach, Department of Library Services, completed an application for funding for a new 16,000-square foot library facility to replace the current Mark Twain Neighborhood Library under the Library Bond Act of 2000.
On March 18, 2003, the City Council voted unanimously to support this application. On October 28, 2003, the California Public Library Construction and Renovation Board approved the grant application in the amount of $6,366,733. Since that time, the project has evolved from the conceptual and schematic phases through design and development to the production of construction documents. The last phase included completion of local plan check reviews and reviews from the Office of Library Construction at the California State Library and the Office of the State Architect and, finally, the formal bidding process for the construction of the new Library, which will be built in accordance with the U.S. Green
Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Standard. The new Library at MacArthur Park will be the first neighborhood library built in over 35 years and the first 2151 Century library in Long Beach. It will be a state-of-the-art community center for information, education, recreation, and technology. City Council approval of a contract for construction is requested in the recommended action.
The project was advertised for bids on December 23, 2005, and bids were opened on February 8, 2006. Information regarding the bid and Swinerton Builders is provided on the attached contract awards document.
This matter was reviewed by Senior Deputy City Attorney Donna F. Gwin on March 9, 2006 and Budget Management Officer David Wodynski on March 13, 2006.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council approval is requested on March 21, 2006, to allow the Department of Public Works to issue the contract and proceed with ground breaking and to expend State Housing Grant money prior to June 2006, a requirement of the grant. Construction is anticipated to be completed by May 2007.
FISCAL IMPACT
The contract is for an estimated amount of $8,218,000, plus 15 percent contingency of $1,232,700. Sufficient funds to support this activity are budgeted in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) and the Civic Center Fund (IS) in the Department of Public Works (PW).
Accumulated funding sources are a State Grant to the Department of Library Services, Redevelopment Fund (RD) proceeds, General Fund monies, State Proposition 46 Jobs Housing Incentive Grant funding, Civic Center Bond proceeds and Civic Center Capital monies.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully submitted,
CHRISTINE F. ANDERSEN
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS APPROVED:
GERALD R. MILLER
CITY MANAGER