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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4244 City of Palo Alto (ID # 4244) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Informational Report Meeting Date: 12/16/2013 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: California Avenue Streetscape Project Title: Update on the California Avenue Transit Hub Corridor Streetscape Improvements Project From: City Manager Lead Department: Planning and Community Environment Recommendation Staff recommends that Council receive this informational report for the California Avenue Transit Hub Corridor Streetscape Improvements Project. Background The California Avenue Transit Hub Corridor Improvements project provides for streetscape improvements along California Avenue between El Camino Real and the California Avenue Caltrain Station. Improvements include landscaping, traffic calming treatments, streetscape elements, new street lighting, parking enhancements, and improvements to the Park Boulevard Plaza. The project includes sidewalk replacement in many areas to accommodate wider pedestrian walking and dwelling areas. A number of the improvements were included after extensive outreach with merchants and other community members, including preferences for specific streetscape furniture and placement. The process for approving the placement of proposed streetscape furniture such as seating walls, benches, bicycle racks and corrals, tree and planting species, media racks and color palette selection has been completed. The palette of streetscape furniture was approved by the Architectural Review Board (ARB) on June 28, 2013. Staff has been working on finalizing the construction plans which also includes the new streetlights and pedestrian scale lighting and the fountain at the Park Boulevard Plaza. City of Palo Alto Page 2 The project construction was originally scheduled to begin in Fall 2013. However, a water main replacement was introduced into the project over the summer. The Utilities Department recommended the installation of the water main as part of this project in order to avoid additional construction impacts after the completion of the California Avenue Transit Hub Corridor project. The existing California Avenue water main is approximately 74 years old and show signs of extensive corrosion and has recently had recurring breaks. The Utility Department attempted to complete the water main replacement ahead of the streetscape project and bid the project out separately in September. However, no bids were received due to a competitive construction environment. The water main replacement is being included in the streetscape project and as a result, the project is now scheduled to begin in January 2014 Discussion Construction Staging and Business Marketing Plan City Staff will continue to work with merchants to develop and implement an advertising and marketing plan to increase patronage to the California Avenue Business District during construction activities. The project budget currently includes a $30,000 allocation for a business protection plan through construction, including use of the City Shuttle Program to accommodate off-site parking for employees and customers. Additional strategies may include changeable message signage along El Camino, banner, print and online advertising, sponsoring events during construction, phasing and hours of operation, and extensive signage to direct customers to stores and restaurants and drivers to parking lots. The City anticipates both daytime and nighttime construction activities to expedite the construction schedule and to minimize business impacts from the project. The City plans to maintain vehicle and pedestrian access to the project area at all times during construction. Furthermore, the construction firm will be required to provide regular updates to the surrounding community and create a point of contact available to address any concerns. Farmers Market The Urban Village Farmers Market has applied for an amendment to their Conditional Use Permit to expand the area of operation to Birch Street (It now ends at Ash). This will allow the reconfiguration of booths to accommodate the changing streetscape (both during and after construction), while also providing some buffer space between key booths as requested by the merchants to increase their visibility. As a result, a small number of additional vendors can also be accommodated. City of Palo Alto Page 3 Staff has requested some additional documentation in order to complete the application. Once the application is complete, the Director of Planning and Community Environment will review the application for approval. Significant outreach has already occurred, including a mailing to the 600ft radius, several staff/ merchant meetings, and electronic communication to the city’s mailing list. Staff anticipates another round of outreach/ communication once the application has been made complete. Although a majority of the comments regarding proposed expansion have been positive, staff will continue to work with merchants to address remaining concerns. Resource Impact On March 4, 2013 the City Council reviewed options and provided direction to include street lighting improvements in the California Avenue Transit Hub Corridor Streetscape Project. Prior to that time, street lighting had not been included in this project. The City Council provided authorization to spend up to $1.2 million on street lighting improvements at that time, however the additional funding has not yet been provided. Also included in the March 4, 2013 report was an update on project funding status. The report identified a gap in funding of $542,000 between available funding and anticipated costs. The $542,000 gap did not include the street lighting elements, so the projected gap at that time was up to $1,742,000 of the estimated project cost of $4.7 million. It is important to note that the estimated cost may be higher or lower depending on the construction bidding environment at the time of bidding. The project is currently out to bid; the award for the project is anticipated in January 2014 and the project to commence early February 2014. There is currently $3.025 million allocated for the construction of this project. A summary of the funding currently available for this project is outlined below: Fund Source Amount VTA CDT Grant $1,175,000 Initial City Grant Local Match $550,000 Street Maintenance (PE-86070) $550,000 Measure B Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) $750,000 Total Project Construction Funding: $3,025,000 City of Palo Alto Page 4 Provisions for the VTA CDT Grant and required local match have already been appropriated as part of the California Avenue – Transit Hub Corridor Project (PL-11002). The funding for Street Resurfacing is included in the Street Maintenance Project (PE-86070). It should be noted that the numbers included in the above summary have been updated based on current information and are slightly higher than the figures included in the March 4, 2013 report due to fund estimates from the VTA for the CDT Grant and projected increases in the VRF program. At the time of award, a Budget Amendment Ordinance will be required in order to make the Measure B Vehicle Registration Fees available for expenditure, address the $1.7 million shortfall described above, and address any additional shortfall that may exist once bids are received. To address the shortfall of funding in this project, staff will most likely recommend a decrease in the Infrastructure Reserve. Funding for Utilities’ waterline project will be also be handled through an Interdepartmental transfer from Utilities to the California Avenue Streetscape Project CIP at the time of award. Staff will return to Council for Construction Contract award in January 2014, and provide an update to the current project funding as a result of the project bids received. Timeline The California Avenue Transit Hub Corridor Improvements Project is currently out to bid. City Council award is anticipated in January and construction beginning immediately after. Policy Implications The City’s Comprehensive Plan recommends that the City enhance the California Avenue streetscape by upgrading the visual quality of the street to attract additional business and visitors to the area. Consistent with those Comprehensive Plan goals, the proposed streetscape and place-making improvements along California Avenue should ensure continued vitality of the California Avenue Business District. The Comprehensive Plan also encourages a mix of residential and non-residential uses at a scale of development that is comfortable for pedestrian use. The Plan encourages improving the appearance of the street while preserving its “hometown” character. Furthermore, Program L-18 specifically calls for street improvements that could make a substantial contribution to the character of Commercial Centers, including narrowing travel lanes. Environmental Review A preliminary Initial Study and the Negative Declaration - CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) checklist for the project were completed, circulated for public review in December City of Palo Alto Page 5 2010 and approved by Council on February 14, 2011. The Negative Declaration concluded that the project will not result in any significant environmental impacts and may be reviewed online at www.cityofpaloalto.org/calave. Some local businesses brought a legal challenge to the sufficiency of the environmental review and the Court of Appeal recently upheld the City’s action.