Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, July 16, 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. 1368 (CARRIAGE CREST PARK IMPROVEMENT), PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 15303, 15304, AND 15061 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 Carriage Crest Park Improvement Project (Project No. 1368) to be categorically exempt. Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) were recently completed and are 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. 1368: Carriage Crest Park Improvement.
2. MAKE the California Environmental Quality Act finding that the proposed Carriage Crest Park Improvement is categorically exempt pursuant to Sections 15303, 15304 and 15061 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. 1368: Carriage Crest Park Improvement.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
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. 1368 is adopted in the Capital Improvement Project for fiscal year 2024/25. The Carriage Crest Park Improvement Project (Project No. 1368) will consist of renovating the newly leased site with a slight modification to its current grade surface to accommodate the proposed improvements. The existing community center building will remain with minor interior upgrades. Plans for the renovation and expansion of the park includes addition of three baseball fields with two soccer fields complete with dugouts and shaded bleachers. Other activity areas will have two basketball courts, a volleyball court and 3 sets of pickleball courts, a fitness area, and a playground area. The park will also accommodate a new dog park accompanied with a new parking lot, while the current parking lot will be expanded. These will be complemented with remote restrooms, a concession stand a few picnic shelters. The park in its entirety will have new landscape and irrigation system paired accent and safety lighting throughout the park. Lastly the park will have a newly upgraded and enlarged digital park marquee to be placed at the corner of the park adjacent to the intersection of Figueroa St and Sepulveda Blvd.
The plans specifications and estimate for Project No. 1368 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:
Sections 15303, 15304 and 15061 of the CEQA includes the type of existing facilities projects that are categorically exempt. The following sections applies:
• Section 15303(e) as the remote restrooms, concession stand, picnic shelters, shade structures, dugouts, and bleachers would be considered accessory structures.
• Site grading and landscaping would meet the provisions of 15304 (a) and 15304(b) as all grading will occur on land with a slope of less than 10%.
• All other aspects of this project would comply with the provisions of section 15061(b)(3) as it is clear that no other aspects of the project will have a significant effect on the environment.
• Additionally, this park expansion was accounted for in the Carson 2040 General Plan EIR. This EIR determined that the cumulative impacts of all planned park expansion projects outlined in the Carson 2040 General Plan would not be cumulatively considerable
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
None. 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 $18,000,000 and it is anticipated Development Impact Fee (DIF) and OGALS Funding will be used to cover the construction cost of this project.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Concept Plan (pg. 4)
2. Notice of Exemption (pg. 5)
Prepared by: Dr. Arlington Rodgers Jr., Director of Public Works and Raymond Velasco, PE Operations Manager of Public Works