Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, June 04, 2024
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER RECORDING A “NOTICE OF EXEMPTION” IN THE OFFICE OF THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY CLERK AND WITH THE STATE CLEARING HOUSE FOR PROJECT NO. 1726 (COMMUNITY CENTER COURTYARD AND EAST PARKING LOT), PURSUANT TO SECTION 15301 OF THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines has determined the Community Center Courtyard and East Parking Lot Project (Project No. 1726) to be categorically exempt. Plans Specifications and Estimate (PS&E) was recently completed and ready to be advertised to solicit construction bids.
The City Council is requested to authorize staff to record the Notice of Exemption to satisfy the California Environmental Quality Act’s requirements and advertise for construction bids.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following actions:
1. AUTHORIZE staff to advertise the work and call for construction bids for Project No. 1726: Community Center Courtyard and East Parking Lot.
2. MAKE the California Environmental Quality Act finding that the proposed City Hall 2nd Floor Carpet Upgrades are categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act guidelines.
3. AUTHORIZE staff to record the “Notice of Exemption” in the office of the Los Angeles County Clerk and with the State Clearing House at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research for Project No. 1726: Community Center Courtyard and East Parking Lot.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE any other action the City Council deems appropriate, consistent with the requirements of the law.
1. DO NOT APPROVE the above recommendations. However, staff will not be able to proceed with the construction of the project.
2. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate, consistent with the requirements of the law.
IV. BACKGROUND
Project No. 1726 is adopted in the Capital Improvement Project for fiscal year 2023/24. The Community Center Courtyard East Parking Lot Project (Project No. 1726) involves grading a small portion of the landscaped-mound for the proposed stage and audience area. The 1,000 sq.ft stage will be accompanied with a audience area for seating or other event features. To compliment the audience area, a new pergola will be installed adjacent to the audience section, abutting Hall A. As part of this project, the current courtyard outside of Room 107 will be remodeled. Its footprint will slightly expand. The newly remodeled courtyard will have a waterfall feature with lighting accents and landscape features. A similar pergola will also be installed abutting Room 107. The entire site will have new lighting, decorative pavement and new landscape layout (Exhibit No. 1). A portion of the east parking lot area of the Community Center involves reconfiguration of theparking area. The project will eliminate the landscaped planter portion of the parking lot to allow an open flat area for outdoor events usually held in this section of the Community Center. The elimination of the raised landscaped area will not remove nor will it reduce any of the parking stalls.
The plans specifications and estimate for Project No. 1726 has been completed by the Engineering Services Division of the Public Works Department and are now ready to be advertised for construction bids.
Based on California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, the proposed project is categorically exempt (Exhibit No. 2) according to the following:
• Section 15301 of the CEQA includes the type of existing facilities projects that are categorically exempt. The following sections applies:
• Section 15301 (a): Interior or exterior alterations involving such things as interior partitions, plumbing, and electrical conveyances.
• Section 15301 (b): Existing facilities of both investor and publicly owned utilities used to provide electric power, natural gas, sewerage, or other public utility services.
It is requested that the City Council authorize staff to advertise the project for construction bids, and to record the Notice of Exemption to satisfy the California Environmental Quality Act’s requirements.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
No funding is being requested as part of this staff report. At this moment staff is requesting for authorization to advertise the work for construction bid as well as recordation of the CEQA exemption. The preliminary estimated construction cost of the project is $5,000,000 and it is anticipated Development Impact Fee (DIF) and Quimby Funding will be used to cover the construction cost of this project. The project will be presented in the 5-year CIP Plan for Fiscal Year 2024/25.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Concept Plan (pg. 4)
2. Notice of Exemption (pg. 5)
Prepared by: Raymond Velasco, PE Operations Manager of Public Works