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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1981/08/04 Item 14 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item ' 14 Meeting Date .8/4/81 ITEM TITLE: Resolution~0,S~9 Approving landscape theme at the west end of the Chula Vista Public Library and authorizing staff to solicit bids for construction work and statuary for said area SUBMITTED BY: Director of Planning A. BACKGROUND (4/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) 1. On February 10, 1981 the City Council approved a water feature for the open area at the west end of the library. 2. On February 24, 1981 Council rescinded the February 10 approval and directed staff to prepare three alternatives for City Council consideration. Alternative 1 was to be a simple landscaping treatment; alternative 2 was to feature a statue or figure which would be modest in initial cost and ongoing maintenance; alternative 3 was to be either the originally approved water feature or some other design which also employs a water feature. B. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to advertise for bids for the construction of a seating area around the periphery of the 20 ft. diameter circle, with a statue and plantings based on plans prepared by the Landscape Architect (Proposal "B") C. DISCUSSION 1. General description. Pursuant to Council's direction of February 24, 1981, the Landscape Architect and I have explored several alternatives for the treatment of the planter area at the west end of the library. Each alternative involves the removal of the four ficus trees which are located in the four 6 ft. diameter circles around the central unplanted 20 ft. circle. The roots of these ficus are beginning to produce cracks in the concrete and the trees should be removed to avoid a continuing problem. The alternative proposals range in cost from $2,200 to $29,000. The lowest cost alternative involves only landscape materials; the medium cost alternative involves statuary, plus a planter area and seating space; the most expensive alternative involves a water feature and ongoing energy costs and is the same treatment Council approved on February 10, 1981. Each of the alternatives is discussed in more detail below. 2. The Alternatives. a) Proposal "A" - Estimated cost $2,200 (no energy cost) Proposal "A" involves the planting of a group of three palm trees (Brahea armata) commonly known as Mexican Blue Fan Palms, within the 20 ft. diameter circle. Two of the trees (approximately 8 ft. in height) would be transplanted from the Public Works Yard and a third (about 12 ft. in height) would be purchased. The 20 ft. circle would also be mounded and planted with grass to provide a setting for the trees. The area now occupied by the four ficus trees in the 6 ft. diameter circles would be surfaced with a the flooring to match the roof tiles on the library. The effect of this alternative is to create a passive area for sitting at a minimum cost. Form A-113 (Rev. 11/79) Page 2, Item 14 Meeting Date 8/4/81 b) Proposal "B" - Estimated cost $8,000 (no energy cost) This proposal involves a statuary element which would denote learning through reading. The statute would be of a child clutching a book and would be approxi- mately 5 ft. in height. The statue would be cast in lead and would have to be special ordered. An alternative might be a cluster of smaller figures from "Winnie the Pooh" or other storyland figures. The periphery of the 20 ft. circle would feature a low seating area defining the circumference of the circle and the boundary of the planter area, which would be maintained with seasonal color. The seasonal plantings can be a community effort with various clubs or school groups making contributions to main- tain the color of the plantings year around. As in Proposal "A", the existing 6 ft. diameter circles would be filled with red ti le flooring. c) Proposal "C" - Estimated cost $29,000 (approximate energy costs @ $85/month) The major element of this water feature is the utilization of a grouping of three weathered bronze finish sculptures, up to 6 feet in height, set at random in a 20 foot diameter reflecting pool. The flow of water and turbulence effect is not dramatic but the fountain equipment profile will provide a continuous sculpture and interesting reflection or shadow pattern in the calmness of the pool when the fountain is non-operational. The disposition of the trees in the four 6 ft. diameter circles is the same for all proposals. D. CO"dCLUSION Proposal "B" has the advantage of relating to the theme of learning by reading, thus denoting an important function of the library. It is moderate in cost and will provide an interesting design feature at the west end of the library. This alternative further lends itself to community involvement in the maintenance to provide a constantly changing color palette. E. FISCAL IMPACT $10,000 is available and appropriated in the Library Construction Fund which is sufficient for either Proposal "A" or Proposal "B". DJP:RWS:hm -io5~'9 Form No. F-229 12/73 CERTIFICATE OF CITY/DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Certification of Unappropriated Balance I HEREBY CERTIFY that the money required for the appropriation of funds for the purpose set forth in the attached resolution is available in the Treasury, or is anticipated to come into the Treasury, and is otherwise unappropriated. Amount $ Fund Purpose Bidder Director of Finance The City of Chula Vista Date By Certification of Unencumbered Balance I HEREBY CERTIFY that the indebtedness and obligation to be incurred by the contract or agreement authorized by the attached resolution can be incurred without the violation of any of the provisions of the Charter of the City of Chula Vista, or the Constitution or the laws of the State of California, that sufficient monies have been appropriated for the purpose of said contract, that sufficient monies to meet the obligations of the contract are actually in the Treasury, or are anticipated to come into the Treasury to the credit of the appropriation from which the same are to be drawn, and that said monies now actually in the Treasury, together with the monies anticipated to come into the Treasury, to the credit of said appropriation are otherwise unencumbered. Amount Not to Exceed $ 8,000.00 ~~ Director of Finance The City of Chula Vista Date 8/4/81 By Fundlibrary Cons r~~tion Fun~ept./Activity Planning Purpose Approving landscape theme and solicit bids for construction Bidder h~~ /C~ ~~~ Certificate No. 5 J/