TO: TARA SCHULTZ, CITY MANAGER
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, INTERIM COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: JUNE 25, 2019
Reviewed by:
City Manager: TS
Finance Director: AP
SUBJECT:
Title
MEMORIAL PARK SECURITY LIGHTING PROJECT DESIGN
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SUMMARY
The 2018-19 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget includes funding to install pathway and parking lot lighting at Memorial Park (840 N. Indian Hill Blvd). Staff retained A&F Engineering Group, Inc. to prepare the lighting design. The proposed design includes eleven pole mounted light fixtures and six building mounted fixtures providing security lighting around the Garner House and the parking areas. The additional lighting is intended to provide sufficient light to facilitate safe ingress and egress from the park at night.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed lighting design for Memorial Park and direct staff to bid the project.
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ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Request additional information from staff.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The 2018-19 CIP budget contains $145,000 from Park Dedication funds for Park Security Lighting Improvements at Memorial Park. To date, the City has expended approximately $13,800 on design services. The remaining budget of $131,200 is available for fixture purchase, construction and inspection services. No general fund money will be used for this project.
The staff cost to prepare this report and coordinate the project is estimated at $2,787 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
In 2013, the City retained A&F Engineering Group, Inc. to prepare a Park Lighting Survey and Analysis. The analysis included evaluating the City’s 21 urban parks and preparing recommendations for lighting enhancements. In January 2015, City Council approved the Park Lighting Survey and Analysis and recommended park lighting priorities. The City Council identified Wheeler Park and College Park as the top priorities for lighting enhancements. The Wheeler Park Improvement Project was completed in 2016 and College Park was completed in 2018. Memorial Park was identified as the next highest priority. Priorities were developed based upon frequent evening uses as well as the frequency of calls for service from the Claremont Police Department.
A&F Engineering was also retained to produce plans and specifications for the Memorial Park Lighting Improvement Project. City staff hosted a neighborhood meeting on May 2, 2019 to solicit feedback from the neighborhood on the proposed design (Attachment A). The meeting was attended by six residents. The residents expressed concern regarding light trespass onto adjacent properties. They also expressed concern about the potential for lights to stay on past 9:00 p.m. when the basketball lights go off.
A&F Engineering staff provided information about the LED technology that will be utilized to target light towards the walkways and eliminate any light trespass onto private property. The neighbors also preferred the Mozart Series LED light to the Razor lighting that was installed at College Park. They felt the Mozart lighting was more in keeping with the historic nature of Memorial Park. The Mozart light fixture information is attached (Attachment B).
The lighting improvement project is the first phase of a complete park lighting system for Memorial Park. The long-term goal is to have security lighting on Yale Avenue and 8th and 10th Streets. This project includes installing eleven park lights and six exterior building mounted fixtures. The fixtures are LED for improved energy efficiency and ability to prevent lighting unintended areas.
Although the costs for LED are slightly higher, the life cycle analysis reveals that LED is the most cost-effective technology over time due to its longevity and low energy consumption. LED is also the only fixture type that can be set on dimmers and motion sensors. Motion sensors enable the fixture to automatically dim to fifty percent light and energy output when no motion is detected and to increase to 100 percent light output when motion is sensed, reducing overall energy consumption. The motion sensors were favored due to their ability to minimize lighting when the park is not in use. Electrical infrastructure for future expansion is included in this project.
The fixtures are also compatible with a master controller. The master controller monitors the operation of each light fixture and reports the status of the system to a console located at the City Yard. This type of digital system will allow maintenance crews to schedule maintenance and/or preventative maintenance activities based on the reports provided by the control system. Additionally, the system programming can be altered from the central control station at the City Yard to meet the needs of residents and support planned evening activities. Currently, all changes to time clocks must be made manually in the field. Having the ability to track maintenance issues and make adjustments remotely will increase efficiency.
Once the design is approved by the City Council, staff will solicit construction bids, award contract, and begin construction in Fall 2019 after the summer concert series. The project is anticipated to take sixty to ninety days. Depending on the lead time for the fixtures to be manufactured, estimated completion is February 2020.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds the following:
Council Priorities - This item applies to Quality of Life Issues and Sustainability.
Sustainability Plan - This item complies with the goals of Sustainability Plan Energy Efficiency goals.
Economic Sustainability Plan - This item is consistent with the Statements of City Council Basic Values on Economic Sustainability.
General Plan - This item addresses Measure II-39 relating to Community Facilities Maintenance, Renovations, and New Construction.
2018-19 Budget - This item is consistent with the following work plan goals:
CP-2: Implement applicable sustainability actions as listed in the Sustainable City Plan.
CS-8: Ensure that parks are in healthy and clean condition - free from litter, graffiti, pests, and disease - to provide a safe environment for the public.
Youth and Family Master Plan - This item does not comply with the objectives in the Youth and Family Master Plan.
CEQA REVIEW
In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the installation of the lighting standards is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15301. This Class 1 exemption permits the minor alteration to existing facilities with negligible expansion. This project involves installation of eleven new lighting standards and six building mounted fixtures to increase the security in the park at night and are LED for improved energy efficiency. New LED technology has the ability to focus light and prevent lighting unintended areas. Consequently, this additional lighting is a negligible expansion of the existing lighting in the park and the Class 1 exemption applies.
Additionally, none of the categorical exemptions set forth in State CEQA Guideline section 15300.2 applies to the proposed project because the proposed project (1) is not located in a uniquely sensitive environment as this is an existing park, (2) is not located within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway, (3) is not located on a hazardous waste site, (4) would not have a cumulative impact, (5) would not have a significant substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, the Class 1 exemption applies and the exceptions do not.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
At its May 13, 2019 meeting, the Parks, Utilities and Hillsides Committee recommended that the Community and Human Services Commission approve the proposed lighting design for Memorial Park. The excerpt from the meeting minutes is attached (Attachment C).
At its June 5, 2019 meeting, the Community and Human Services Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council approve the proposed lighting design for Memorial Park. The excerpt from the meeting minutes is attached (Attachment D).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Copies are available at the City Hall public counter, the Youth Activity Center, the Alexander Hughes Community Center, and the City website.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan David J. Roger
Interim Community Services Director Community Services Deputy Director
Attachments:
A - Memorial Park Lighting Design
B - Mozart Light Fixture Information
C - Excerpt from the 05-13-19 Parks, Hillsides, and Utilities Committee Meeting Minutes
D - Excerpt from the 06-05-18 C&HS Commission Meeting Minutes