Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2d - Construction of Sustainable Demonstration Gardenv � �r 5, 1903 Igo Igo 3 of VAW STAFF REPORT Public Works Services Department DATE: May 6, 2014 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Tom Tait, Public Works Services Director By: Ken Herman, PE, Principal Civil Engineer Carmen Masud, Management Analyst SUBJECT: AGREEMENT WITH THE UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DEMONSTRATION GARDEN Recommendation: Approve SUMMARY The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District ( "Upper District ") established a Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program to convert high water -use landscaped areas to drought tolerant low impact demonstration gardens. The Upper District approved a budget of $25,000 for each selected site to install high efficiency irrigation equipment and low water use plants. The Public Works Services Department ( "PWSD ") submitted the pocket park located at the southwest corner of Huntington Drive and Second Avenue for consideration in the program. The City was recently notified that the location was approved and eligible for participation in the Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program. There will be no City funding as part of this project. All of the costs to renovate this site will come from the Upper District as part of the Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program. It is recommended that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to execute an agreement with the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District for the construction of a sustainable landscape demonstration garden. BACKGROUND The Upper District's Water Use Efficiency Master Plan ( "Plan ") identified several new water use efficiency programs tailored for municipalities in its service area. The Plan emphasizes that outdoor water use is the most promising target for water savings. For this reason, the Upper District established the Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program. The Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program aims to convert five high water -use landscaped areas in cities within the Upper District's service area to drought tolerant low impact demonstration gardens. This program will modify high Agreement regarding Sustainable Demonstration Garden May 6, 2014 Page 2 of 3 water use landscaped areas in public places by installing water efficiency irrigation equipment and low water use plants that will reduce each site's water footprint. The demonstration gardens are intended to not only save water, but to also educate and encourage the community to modify their landscaped areas by showing how landscaped areas can be improved to be more water efficient and still remain attractive. The Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program is also intended to assists cities in meeting SBX7 -7 goals of reducing the State of California's per capita water consumption by 20% by year 2020. The Upper District awarded a contract to EcoTech Services, Inc. ( "EcoTech ") to construct the demonstration gardens. EcoTech Services will complete the design of the demonstration gardens and work with City staff to make sure that the landscape features are specific to the needs of the City. DISCUSSION On August 13, 2013, the Upper District invited cities within their service area to participate in their Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program and submit proposed landscaped areas that have potential for water savings. Based on factors such as public visibility, potential water savings, feasibility of converting the site, and construction restrictions, it was determined that the pocket park adjacent to the Outback Steakhouse at the southwest corner of Huntington Drive and Second Avenue would qualify as a location to place a demonstration garden (see attached Location Map). In September 2013, the City of Arcadia submitted the proposed location to the Upper District. Shortly after, the City was notified that the site qualified for the Upper District's Program and that the City would receive up to $25,000 in professional landscape services from EcoTech Services to complete a sustainable demonstration garden. Currently the pocket park consists of turf, old shrubs, ground cover, and mature trees (see attached Site Photograph). The proposed demonstration garden will keep the existing mature trees that are on site, but will replace the existing turf and shrubs with drought tolerant plants and ground cover. The landscaped area will be accented with mulch that will reduce the amount of water that is normally lost due to evaporation. The demonstration garden will also include decomposed granite pathways, benches, and tables for people to stop and enjoy (see attached Sustainable Demonstration Garden Design). Removing the turf at Second Avenue and Huntington and replacing it with drought tolerant landscaping will reduce the water used at this location by approximately 40 percent, a savings of about 100,000 gallons of water per year. In order to receive landscape services from EcoTech through the Upper District's Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program, the City Council must authorize and direct the City Manager to execute an agreement (see attached agreement) with the Upper District. Upon entering into the agreement, the Upper District will provide the landscape related services for the purpose of installing a demonstration garden. Agreement regarding Sustainable Demonstration Garden May 6, 2014 Page 3 of 3 FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact to the City of Arcadia for participating in the Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Program. The Upper District has awarded a contract to EcoTech Services, Inc. to provide landscape services to the City of Arcadia for the demonstration garden and has approved a budget of $25,000. The total cost of the demonstration garden will be paid by Upper District. The City of Arcadia will be responsible for maintaining the demonstration garden once it has been completed. It is expected that there will be maintenance savings due to the slow - growing nature of the selected plants, the lack of turf, and the installation of new irrigation equipment on the site. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to execute an agreement with the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District for the construction of a sustainable landscape demonstration garden. Approved: Dominic La7zar City Manager Attachments: Location Map Site Photograph Sustainable Demonstration Garden Design Agreement Sustainabiiity Demonstration Garden at Huntington Drive and 2nd Avenue s RAND :IEw NORTH bW CITY OF ARCADIA SSE RA DREBL tigy4 r 7 W O (� ORANGE GR01'E r Yj a o a z n".11 RE . m y F T IL FOREST PARK II COLORADO ST R OAJ E C T CGLDR 9L — LOCATION WIG MIRA LJL -J 5 �,,E �R SAN AR ST �Ck HI ITING1 N R t p� ti ao _z Q O a�`\ f4F SAIIG ARRh U R � HONTINGYON GOLF CWRSE R F F � a CAMPUS DR � A R C A D I A H 5 W z a a pUAR"fE a � m o z 0 a 'a � z m AMI REAL 4 CAMINO REAL Y 4 � O z = 4 ; r w z z LO3GDEN 11 J ❑ J Q m LIVE O v LAS TUN:.S DR LI. k- OAK ` o 2' 0 a µ 1� VO D LOCATION MAP NOT TO SCALE 'a �,. �. '��' , '� '1 •• i Y ' y L,q �. � 7 : �' , �. rM.l. e� .1��' r�s��ly��i�' y` 1 C ���/1• ;:!�4 �1 �����i `�,�y�"�!'.��•.� ;� ,� �r�w ,d,+ �•• v -b• , �,.'��, .1061?�* ',� •. r. ♦�' �. �QH•, yy,it 7i/•i =�1 A, •!`!i. 7, f - }a.k � s" �f+l ,+ r ''� • ``- �`r'rY}'� 6'R� � �� .� ��:' )' i� .thy .� 1# �. ' ��b'�i+$ • A 40 At IL AL "'i'��' ' 4 .1, y / � , -, e .� •� ✓� 4p� ��^� �•}•�' 3 • }f1 � T �� �j Rte, ' � � �• ' ,. �w i +'� -. R ° r +s : - - rr awe --••' dolS' SCALE 1:12 von JIL '41 z Z O Z 0 C m SAGE El MULCH TABLE WITH BENCHES LANTANA GROUND COVER KANGAROO PAW 1 DECOMPOSED GRANITI �K n a BENCHES * TREE - PALO VERDE V BOULDERS is TREE - LIQUID AMBER (E) CM MYOPORUM .� CITY OF ARCAOIA SUSTAINABILITY DEMONSTRATION GARDEN f° ° ALONG 210 FWY PROJECT 0°` PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES DEPARTMENT HUNTINGTON DRIVE AND SECOND AVENUE 10C_ L7m_E�C� . i_�i�i•i• AGREEMENT BETWEEN UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF ARCADIA REGARDING THE SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District ( "DISTRICT ") and the City of Arcadia ( "CITY "), (together referred to as "Parties" or each individually, "Party "), agree to the following terms as of March 25, 2014. Section 1. Introduction. 1.1. DISTRICT has established the Sustainable Landscape Demonstration Project ( "Project "). The Project implements a program to convert high- water -need landscapes to drought tolerant and low impact gardens in cities and public spaces within DISTRICT's service area. The Project is also intended to help meet SBX7 -7 goals of reducing the State's per capita water consumption by 20% by the year 2020. DISTRICT desires to provide to CITY the services of a landscape designer and licensed landscape contractor (EcoTech Services, Inc.) to design and install high- efficiency irrigation equipment and low- water -use plants at a public site within CITY. 1.2. DISTRICT and CITY desire to work together to implement the installation of a Demonstration Garden ( "Garden ") to further their common interest in educating and motivating homeowners and commercial site owners in CITY and DISTRICT's service area to retrofit their own landscapes in order to reduce water consumption and runoff. Section 2. Obligations of the Parties. 2.1. DISTRICT will provide certain landscape - related services to CITY as its contribution to CITY's Garden. These landscape services include a landscape designer, a licensed landscape contractor, all required materials, and any other necessary labor to construct and install the Garden. DISTRICT will perform necessary soil grading and remove unneeded landscape items from the Garden site, including small plant materials and irrigation system components, but not including the removal or pruning of existing large trees and installation of major retaining walls and hardscape and structures. Page 1 DISTRICT shall be responsible for complying with the Public Contracts Code and all other applicable statutes, local ordinances and permits governing the installation of the Garden on public property. 2.2. CITY agrees to work closely with DISTRICT to determine the appropriate site for the Garden based on factors such as public visibility, potential water savings, feasibility of converting the site, construction restrictions and community outreach involving the site to demonstrate sustainable landscaping. CITY will provide a location for the Garden, and ensure access for the design and installation crews to inspect the site and install the Garden. CITY will also provide a schematic of existing conditions and inform DISTRICT of any possible unforeseen conditions of the Garden site prior to the design process, contact Dig Alert and ensure all utility lines are clearly marked with flags on the site before the designing process occurs, and pay for and obtain all necessary permits. 2.3. If the Garden is not maintained for a 5 -year period following installation, DISTRICT may, at its own discretion, require reimbursement of all funds spent by DISTRICT designing and installing the Garden. Section 3. Term 3.1 The Parties agree that the installation of the Garden shall be completed by December 31, 2014. Section 4. Indemnification 4.1. CITY shall hold harmless, defend at its own expense, and indemnify DISTRICT, its officers, employees, and agents against any and all liability, claims, losses, damages, or expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from all acts or omissions to act of CITY or its officers, agents, or employees arising from or in connection with the funding or activities performed under this Agreement; excluding, however, such liability, claims, losses, damages, or expenses arising solely from or to the extent caused by DISTRICT's negligence or willful acts. 4.2. DISTRICT shall hold harmless, defend at its own expense, and indemnify CITY, its officers, employees, and agents against any and all liability, claims, losses, Page 2 damages, or expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from all acts or omissions to act of DISTRICT or its officers, agents, employees or volunteers, arising from or in connection with the funding or activities performed under this agreement; excluding, however, such liability, claims, losses, damages, or expenses arising solely from or to the extent caused by CITY's negligence or willful acts. Section 5. Assignment 5.1. CITY shall not assign, sell, or otherwise transfer any obligation or interest in this Agreement without the specific written consent of DISTRICT. Section 6. Independent Contractor 6.1. CITY is a separate public entity and not an employee of DISTRICT. 6.2 DISTRICT is a separate entity and not an employee of CITY. Section 7. Applicable Law 7.1. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of California. Section 8. Integration 8.1. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the Parties. No prior oral or written understanding shall be of any force or effect with respect to those matters covered by this Agreement. Section 9. Termination 9.1 Either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time with thirty (30) days written notice to the other Party. In the event of termination by CITY, CITY shall reimburse DISTRICT for all expenditures incurred prior to termination for the Garden described herein. Page 3 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written. UPPER SAN GABRIEL VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT Shane Chapman, General Manager Date APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY OF ARCADIA Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager Date APPROVED AS TO FORM: is Lemieux and O'Neill, District Counsel Stephen P. Deitsch, City Attorney Page 4