SUBJECT: TOP OF THE WORLD PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY ALIGNMENT SELECTION AND DESIGN CONTRACT AMENDMENT

Transcription

1 City of Laguna Beach AGENDA BILL No. 1 6 Meeting Date: 8/19/14 SUBJECT: TOP OF THE WORLD PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY ALIGNMENT SELECTION AND DESIGN CONTRACT AMENDMENT I. SUMMARY OF THE MATTER Pedestrians and cyclists currently use existing unimproved trails that traverse County, City, and private properties as access to and from Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park and the Fire Road. On May 6, 2014, the City Council considered several options for the location of an improved trail between Top of the World Drive and the Fire Road. At that time, staff was directed to pursue a trail generally in the alignment of the existing informal pathway or an alternative alignment to extend the trail further through the open space at reduced grades. That alternative alignment has an additional estimated cost of $200,000, which an adjacent property owner initially stated at the City Council meeting might be covered by him and another adjacent property owner. Final arrangements for such a contribution could not be reached. Therefore, staff is recommending the selection of an alignment generally along the existing pathway alignment as further described in this report. Staff is also recommending a design contract amendment for additional design work and CEQA document preparation as described further in this report. (Continued) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council: 1. Direct the City Manager to pursue Alternative 6, as shown on Attachment 2, for a Top of The World Pedestrian Pathway; 2. Direct the City Manager to submit a resolution to the City Council for acceptance of a portion of Top of the World Drive and Alta Laguna Blvd. for public access to the pathway; and 3. Approve a contract amendment with the design engineer, Stantec, for additional design and environmental services in the amount of $62,000. Appropriations Requested: (None) Submitted by:., Steve May, Director of Parte -Works Fund: Attachments: (1) Concepts 1-5 Coordinated with: WM ;9-4.L1V7 Wade Brown, roject Director (2) Alignment 6, (3) Stair/Ramp Detail Approved: Jolin Pietig, City Mana

2 "Top of the World Pedestrian Pathway Alignment Selection and Design Contract Amendment" August 19, 2014 Page 2 of 3 II. PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY ANALYSIS Three alternative alignments were presented to the City Council in May. These alternatives are shown as Alignments 1, 2, and 3 on Attachment 1. Since that time, three additional alignment alternatives have been developed and are shown as Alignments 4 and 5 on Attachment 1 and as Alignment 6 on Attachment 2. Alignment 6 is the recommended alignment for reasons described below. Alternative 4 was explored to reduce grades and Alternative 5 was developed to move the trail farther away from the developed properties contingent on receiving a contribution from the property owners to cover the additional costs for that alignment. Finally, Alignment 6 was developed to follow the existing alignment and to minimize impacts to the County Park and open space. The pathway in Alignment 6 follows the general alignment of the existing informal trail. By utilizing a stair and ramp combination in the steeper sections as shown on Attachment 3, the trail will provide improved access for pedestrians, cyclists, and pedestrians with strollers. The stair and ramp section will provide a smooth surface to ride a bicycle, or to walk the stairs while pushing a bike alongside on the ramp. This trail alignment will not have any new impacts to the County Park, since the trail will follow the existing informal pathway through the Park. Alignment 6 is fully supported by the OC Parks staff, and would likely require minimal permitting through the County. Finally, Alignment 6 is the least expensive alternative. Therefore, Alignment 6 is now the recommended trail alignment for the project. III. RIGHT-OF-WAY, SIDEWALK, AND PARKING In order to design a trail, easements and other rights must be acquired. To reach the Park and Fire Road, people travel along a private portion of Alta Laguna Boulevard, from Treetop Lane to Top of The World Drive, along the private street Top of The World Drive, and across private property. To ensure that the public is traversing the area by means of legal access, it is recommended that the City accept the private portion of Alta Laguna Boulevard and a portion of Top of the World Drive and install additional paving, parking spaces, and sidewalk to the trail. In addition to providing legal access, these improvements will provide public benefits associated with the pedestrian trail. These street improvements are also a valuable trade for the new easement across the private property that is required for the trail. It is recommended that the City Council direct staff to prepare documents for the acceptance of portions of the private streets mentioned above. IV. DESIGN CONTRACT In February 2013, the City Council awarded a contract to Stantec for the design of a pedestrian pathway that would run through the proposed new easement, through City property, and through County Park land. Additional work has been completed for the preparation of the six conceptual alignments and CEQA documents for a trail through the Park. The proposed project now requires additional work to prepare engineering for the street improvements, a water quality management plan, a legal description for the right-of-way acceptance, and the revisions to CEQA documents to address the recommended Alignment 6. Stantec has prepared a proposal for the work in the amount of $62,000. It is recommended that the City Council approve a contract amendment with Stantec for that amount, for a total contract amount of $153,000.

3 "Top of the World Pedestrian Pathway Alignment Selection and Design Contract Amendment" August 19, 2014 Page 3 of 3 V. BUDGET The remaining project budget, after the award of a design contract amendment described in Section IV, will be $320,000. It is too early in the design process to accurately estimate the project construction costs, especially since the conceptual plans for the street improvements have not been started. It is possible that additional funds will be needed to complete construction. VI. SCHEDULE To meet the grant deadlines for design completion by February 2015, the project must move forward without delay. There is no possibility of extending the grant deadlines. If Alignment 6 is approved by the City Council, then the anticipated schedule for the project would be as follows: Complete preliminary design Complete CUP and CEQA process 90% final design County and Coastal Conservancy reviews Complete final design Start construction Complete construction 9/11/14 11/12/14 12/15/14 1/05/15 1/20/15 5/01/15 7/31/15

4 GRAPKOSCALE LEGEND SOWN. Mar ram warier worm morr r LAGUNA PATHWA:y_(:214442) TOP OF THE MELD ALIGNMENTS ANALYSIS CONCEPTS 1-5 PROW in Concept Alignments 1-5 Ji ALIGNMENTS 1-5 ALIGNMENTS 1, 2, 5, pt am to Imam, r or, er. sricl 10,1/6 mons 1.10 MX SUM IISS. "MOUS WEISZ INK ROM C le MK P.M :40. INSIS NON SOZ 1/11 PM NO Off In ON NE mamas ALIGNMENT4 E PATHWAY SECTION 4' PATHWAY SECTION SECTION AA AT BEDE= SECTION C-C ALIGNMENTS 1-5 ALIGNMENT 1 ALIGNMENT 3 ALIGNMENT 4 ALIGNMENT 5 CU I arm ram sam r WOOS UOISSS. ROM < MOZ 5' PATHWAY SECTION SECTION IF* PATHWAY SECTION SECTION 043 SW PATHWAY SECTION IP PATHWAY SECT/ON B' PATHWAY SECTION SECTION B-0 SECTION D-0 SECTION ES Stantec WIDOZILOGT E.S.SINE,(0 =WWI CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH 005 FONZENUI SEACHC8 CONTACT: WADE 0170W CD

5 CD OEM= ROM P910 title' r Sat HI. ore! EWING GUMS OR POMO VMS. UR MAWS MOW MEM SIAMH ICS STOW PROVEC11011 =MO NO 90% COIPACTIM SUNNI" 1\.) tr PATHWAY SECTION SECTION A-A It_Far_ggww. PEWS. ROME V.OPE >152. Mr01 < ION MVO AT COMM. SUMS RD= PAT1 MOM TO IMMT411 rat Mt REMO.,--VIONE EROSION POOIECTOVI '-W PATHWAY SECTION SECTION Eta Alignment 6 (10 Stantec 31111EC1NOL0GY OPIVERME CA stanie.carn LAGUNA PATHWAY TOP OF THE WORLD CONCEPT EXHIBIT AND ALTERNATIVE SS ANALYSIS PROJECT sow of 1

6 Ramp Plan View Stair and Ramp Combination Trail Stairs Handrail (this side only) PA EMT C N UNK FENCE 10' EXIST EASEMENT VARIES VI-5 11 MINUTE OR PERVIOUS P244G WHERE SLOPE >104 PERVIOUS MATERIAL WHERE SLOPES < 10X CONCRETE STAIRS RAILING AT CONCRETE STAIRS REDUCE PATH WIDTH 10 MAINTAJN =1. who 2' MAX lit RETAINING STONE EROSION PROTECTION WHERE SHOWN 5'43' PATHWAY SECTION SECTION B-B E luawq 0e1W