TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement with Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation to conduct an Integrated Design and Technical Analysis of the Long Beach portion of the Los Angeles River in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for a term of 12 weeks;
Increase appropriations in the General Fund (GF) in the City Manager Department (CM) by $250,000, offset by FY 15 Year-End Surplus; and
Identify additional funding sources for the remaining cost of $250,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach has an opportunity to help fund and participate an in exciting venture designed to revitalize, reimagine and rejuvenate the Lower Los Angeles (LA) River. The Los Angeles River Revitalization Corporation (LARRC), a non-profit organization, has assembled a core technical team with Gehry Partners, OLIN and Geosyntec with additional consultants to develop an integrated design and technical analysis of river interventions and multi-benefit capital improvement projects. The resulting analysis is anticipated to help the City determine where and what types of long-term investments could and should be made to significantly improve the Lower LA River, enhance our residents’ ability to enjoy a revitalized scenic river, and where active transportation elements may be folded in to and around the river.
Participating in and supporting the LARRC’s efforts will also help inform and update to the City’s Riverlink plan, which will then coordinate and be a part of a larger vision for eco-system restoration of the entire 51 miles of the LA River and will have the additional benefit of enhancing our beaches and coastal areas.
BACKGROUND
The LARRC’s mission is to ensure that the 51 miles of the LA River integrates design and infrastructure to bring people and nature together. LARRC was chartered by the City of Los Angeles as a non-profit organization to work with private and public partners to create 51 miles of possibility for our region.
Imagine the possibilities of bringing our river to life as a linear Central Park that connects people, restores natural habitat, creates public spaces in one of the most park-poor cities in the country, updates river infrastructure to help meet LA’s water sustainability needs, and leaves the legacy of a transformed river for generations to come. In order to envision the river as a vital resource for our region, LARRC recently partnered with the acclaimed LA-based architect Frank Gehry and his team, along with Olin Studio and Geosyntec, to conduct an independent, data-driven study of the river and to create a digital platform that will make the findings accessible to the public for future design planning and water-related decision-making.
Project Description
The goal is to develop an integrated design and technical analysis of Long Beach and select Lower LA River reaches to yield recommendations for a range of river interventions/capital improvements based on design storm impacts and design process methodology that ultimately creates a unique identity and multi-use benefits for the 51-mile length of the LA River while maintaining flood control capacity. Preliminarily studying Long Beach and select Lower LA River general sites and conditions, including data gathering and developing a framework for obtaining more difficult data sets, will be the preparation for a more detailed analysis of intervention/capital improvement areas and water resource development within the Lower LA River in later phases of work.
Scope of Work
Phase One covers Long Beach and select Lower LA River deliverables to be completed in an approximate 12-week timeline, in congruence with funds provided by the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC), and adjacent to the time spent towards analysis of the Upper LA River reaches through the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) grant. As a funding agency, Long Beach will have a strong voice in the outcome of the Study.
The support provided by the City of Long Beach allows the LARRC to continue to leverage funds received towards the 51-mile river analysis and integrated design study. The activities and deliverables related to the Lower LA River, taking shape through this funding request, represent approximately 16 percent of the larger project budget for Phase One. Work performed in this first phase will become the foundation for future project phases and related scopes, which will be presented to the City Council at such time as funding is identified and available.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on March 9, 2016 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on March 10, 2016.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 22, 2016, so that the work may commence.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total cost for the Long Beach portion of the Integrated Design and Technical Analysis is $500,000. Of this amount, authorization is requested to issue payment of $250,000, offset by General Fund FY 15 Year-End Surplus. Use of FY 15 Year-End Surplus means that the City will have a remaining funds available of approximately $250,000 in the General Fund. While this amount is lower than the previously recommended $500,000 amount, based on the results of the first performance report for FY 16, the City is on track to end the year in balance despite the impact of lower oil revenues. As this cost is currently unbudgeted, an appropriations increase of $250,000 is included in the recommendation. Staff will return to the City Council to increase the agreement amount to $500,000, and to request budget appropriation for the remaining $250,000 in support of the project when the additional funding sources have been identified.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER