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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-30 City CouncilTO: City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT:UTILITIES DATE:SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 CMR:408:96 SUBJECT:Alma Substation - Permanent Facade REQUEST This is an informational report and no action is required from the City Council at this time. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is to inform the City Council of the Utilities Department’s plans to design and construct a new permanent facade for of the Alma Substation, to screen the equipment from view on Alma Street. The Utilities Department is currently expanding the electrical capacity of the Alma Substation, under a previously approved Capital Improvement Program project. Utilities is planning to remove the temporary fence "blue wall" that was installed in 1995 (ref. CMR:466:94) as directed, and replace it with a permanent facade. Utilities is planning to seek Architectural Review Board approval for a historic wall to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Electric Utility, which will occur in the year 2000. This new wall will resemble in appearance the Palo Alto Electric Power House built in 1912. BACKGROUND Since 1992, staff has met several times with the Planning Commission, ARB, and Council to discuss a temporary wall as well as a permanent facade to be constructed along the west side of the Alma Substation. In 1992, an architectural student charette identified areas of improvement along the Alma corridor, including an improved wall in front of the Alma Substation. The student’s sketch for a brick wall with planters was placed in the Urban Design Plan for the Alma Street District to serve as an example of a possible improvement. This initial planning did not require the students to consider safety, security, historical significance, or functional issues associated with a high voltage electric substation. CMR:408:96 Page ’1 of 3 Subsequent discussions with the Planning Division, Planning Commission, ARB, and at least one adjacent propei’ty owner, indicated a strong emphasis on hiding the substation equipment from view. During the substation expansion planning prior to 1992, staff began considering ways to improve the appearance of the substation. Some of the appearance improvements considered were: Undergrounding the utilities, Lowering the profile of the equipment within the substation, and Replacing the front fence with a building facade. Since the high voltage equipment in the substation requires a ten foot minimum setback from the perimeter structure, there is insufficient room to set the front wall or fence back off the sidewalk to allow for landscaping. Since landscaping was not viable, staff considered a building style consistent with the surrounding buildings as the best approach. On October 21, 1993, the ARB approved the demolition of the 841 Alma building to expand the substation site. One condition of the approval, was to save the clay roof tiles for future historic value in conjunction with the design of the new wall. Staff also identified the design of the original Power House (Palo Alto Water Works and Power Plant attached) with the potential to not only include these tiles, but to blend with the style of the adjacent structures, and hide the substation equipment. Staff also felt that the construction of this replica wall would allow the electric utility to incorporate various historic artwork and displays to recognize its upcoming centennial anniversary (Concept: ’Window Into Electric Company’, attached). The installation and design of the temporary blue wall was in response to ARB direction to incorporate some art work. The artist’s’ intention on the temporary fence was to highlight the substation since the wall was not tall enough to hide the equipment. The "energy" figures were selected for the site conditions showing the electric structure in the background. Utilities staff intends to conceal the substation equipment as much as possible to improve the appearance of the area consistent with the intent of the Urban Design Plan, to enhance security, and to discourage graffiti. As part of the ongoing system improvements, staff is considering the feasibility of lowering the high voltage structure to hide it from view. This would completely conceal the equipment and the attempt to highlight it would no longer be needed. FISCAL IMPACT Funds for this project are included in the FY 1995-96 Electric Fund, Capital Improvement Program. CMR:408:96 Page 2 of 3 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT This project was considered categorically exempt as part of the Council approval of the 1995-96 CIP, and no further enviromnental review is necessary. ATTACHMENTS/EXHIBITS Referenced CMR:466:94 Concept: ’Window Into Electric Company’ Palo Alto Water Works Building & Power Plant - Plan dated 1912 Prepared by: Sam Zuccaro Department Head Approval: City Manager Approval: CMR:408:96 Page 3 of 3 TO: gity of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report HONORABLE’CITY COUNCIL 2 FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTILITIES AGENDA DATE:October 17, 1994 CMR:466:94 SUBJECT:Demolition of the Building at 841 Alma Street ’and Installation of Fences REQUEST This report requests that Council approve and authorize the Mayor to execute ~ contract with Ferma Corporation in the amount of $74,901 to demolish the City-owned building at 841 Alma Street and to install fences at the front and rear of the property. This includes a temporary solid wood fence for an Architectural Review Board (ARB) approved mural along the Alma Street frontage. RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends, that Counci!: Authorize the Mayor to execute the attached contract with Ferma Corporation in the amount of $74,901. for the demolition of the building and fence work at 841 Alma and Authorize the City Manager or her designee to negotiate and execute one or more change orders to the contract to cover additional related but unforeseen work which may develop during the project. The value of these change orde~:s shall not exceed $11,250. POLICY IMPLICATIONS This contract does not represent any change to existing policies. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 1965, the City purchased the property and building at 841 Alma Street to facilitate the upgrade and expansion of the substation, to meet increasing demand for electrical power. CMR:466 : 94 Page 1 of 3 The site contains a v spaces in the rear. .at 3,750 square-foot automotive s~... ~ce building and four parking On February. 11, 1993, Council approved an amendment to the Palo Alto Zohe Map (CMR:161:93) to change the zoning of the City-owned parcel at 841 Alma Street from CD-S(P) (Commercial Downtown Service Subdistrict with a Pedestrian Overlay) to PF (Public Facilities). This change permits use of the site for expansion of the substation. Council also directed the ARB to require a solid fence design for the temporary fence to be constructed along the southern portion of the site’s Alma Street frontage. The solid ¯ fence design-was approved by the ARB on October 26,. 1993. After completion of the work by Ferma Corporation, a local artist will install a mural along the Alma Street frontage. Utilities staff plans to replace the aging 4KV equipment with new 12KV equipment in the substation. This plan was approved by the Council in the 1992-1997 Capital Improvement Program budget. The project will also include construction of a permanent fence to replace the temporary solid wood fence. The design of the permanent fence will follow the guidelines in the Downtown Urban Plan and will be submitted to ARB for approval. Bid requests were mailed, to ten contractors and three builder’s exchanges. Three bids were received on October 4, 1994 (Bid Summary Sheet Exhibit "B" is attached). Based upon the lowest responsible bid, relevant work experience and a review of references in three previous contracts, staff recommends the contract be awarded to Ferma Corporation. FISCAL IMPACT Funds for this project are inciuded in the FY 1994-95 Electric Fund, Capital Improvement Program. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT .1) The related’Environment Assessment 92-EIA-45 was attached to the staff report (CMR: 161:93) under the heading of"341 Alma Street, Zone Map Amendment from CD-S(P) to PF," and the Negative Declaration was adopted by the Council on February 11, 1993. 2)Asbestos: The City hired KELLCO, a registered asbestos consultant, to conduct a survey and provide a clearance report on the removal of regulated asbestos containing material in the 841 Alma Building. The two reports prepared by KELLCO, dated June 2, 1994 and August 16, 1994, are included in the project specifications. 3)Lead: KELLCO conducted a lead-containing-material inspection. Their final report with findings and recommendations are also included in the project specifications. CMR:466:94 Page 2 or" 3 4)Petroleum Oil: l’he two abandoned hoists, alo,,g with the petroleum oil contaminated soil in the west side of the parking area behind the building, have been removed. A report by Wahler Associates, a RUST Environment & Infrastructure Company, dated July 8, 1994, is on file in the City’s Fire Department. The Fire Department has accepted the closure of this case and the Santa Clara Valley Water District is ,expected to as well. ATTACHMENTS Exhibit "A": Contract Exhibit "B": Bid Summary PREPARED BY: Thomas Lo and Michael Beanland.. DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL: ED-WA!~D" J. MRI~Kk Directol" of Utilities CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: BERNARD M. STROJN’Y Assistant City Manager ., CMR: 466 : 94 Page 3 of 3