HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 117-07C ty Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
DATE:JANUARY 22, 2007 CMR:117:07
SUBJECT:APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURE OF UP TO $85,000 FROM THE
CITY COUNCIL’S CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT FOR PUBLIC
POLLING FOR THE MITCHELL PARK LIBRARY/COMMUNITY
CENTER, PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND ENHANCED
LIBRARY OPERATIONS
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve the use of up to $85,000 of the City Council’s
contingency account to hire a polling firm in order to test public support for a Public Safety
Building, Mitchell Park Library and Community Center design options, and enhanced library
operations.
BACKGROUND
On December 4, 2006, staff presented the results of the Mitchell Park Library Space Study
(CMR: 434:06). The item was continued to December 11, 2006, at which time the Council
directed staff to secure the services of a polling firm in order to test public support for a new
Mitchell Park Library, combined Mitchell Park Library and Community Center, enhanced library
operations and a new Public Safety Building. The polling consultant would be retained for
supplemental polls up to the time of any bond election for the projects. The City Council
contingency account contains $85,000 that staff recommends using to fund the polling activities.
DISCUSSION
In order to meet the timelines for both the Mitchell Park Library/Community Center and the
Public Safety Building, staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a consultant to provide
poi1ing services in late December. Although the $85,000 amount is within the City Manager’s
contracting authority, authorization is needed to utilize funds from the City Council contingency.
After a consultant has been selected and the contract is finalized, the polling language will be
developed and polling of the punic will take place in late February. Staff is also working with
library and public safety stakeholder groups as part of the polling firm selection process. There
will be representatives from each group participating in the selection interviews. Results of the
preliminary poll will be presented to Council on March 5 or March 12, 2007, and design work on
the Mitchell Park Library/Community Center could begin shortly thereafter. Design work on the
Public Safety Building is already in progress.
CMR: 117:07 Page 1 of 2
RESOURCE IMPACT
Funding for polling on the Mitchell Park Library/Community Center and PuNic Safety Building
projects is available in the City Council contingency. The polling consultant will be retained
throughout the preliminary design process for both projects so that subsequent polls could be
completed if needed. If the fee for the consultant exceeds the $85,000 requested, staff would
return to Council to request additional funding from the City Council contingency account or
from the General Fund Budget Stabilization Reserve. As a result of this request, the balance in
the City Council contingency account will decrease, from $212,000 to $127,000.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
This recommendation is consistent with Council’s direction to the Library Advisory Commission
and consistent with the establishment of the Library as a Top 3 priority for 2006.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is not a project requiring environmental review under the California Environmental Quality
Act (CEQA).
PREPARED BY:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
I~LLY MORARIU
Assistant to the City Manager
Assistant City Manager
CMR: 117:07 Page 2 of 2