Title
Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with ELS Architects, Inc. for City Aquatic Center Schematic Design Services and Community Engagement through December 31, 2024, in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $503,687.50. (Recreation)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Aquatic Center (Center), located on the west side of Sweeney Park, will provide critical additional pool space to meet the increasing and unmet community needs for competitive and recreational aquatic programs. This agreement with ELS Architects, Inc. (ELS), in an amount not-to-exceed $503,687.50, will enable ELS to complete the community engagement process and design services through schematic design, which services were previously included in the Phase I Design/Build agreement with Blach Construction. Unrelated to ELS’ work on the Center design, the City issued a stop work notice to Blach Construction on June 3, 2024 and this agreement will allow ELS to continue design work while a new Request for Proposal process for a design/build team is conducted and will limit the delays to the project timeline.
BACKGROUND
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-20 budget, City Council authorized funding for the Center conceptual design. In January and February 2020, the City of Alameda (City) held community workshops on pool design options and the input was incorporated into a final conceptual design. This design was recommended by the Recreation and Parks Commission on August 13, 2020. The project was paused, however, due to the pandemic, shifting priorities, and lack of funding sources.
On February 15, 2022, City Council heard options to fund aquatic facilities in Alameda, including the rebuild of the Emma Hood Swim Center at Alameda High School and construction of an Center on a City-owned site. City Council provided general direction to staff to further pursue possible funding mechanisms for both facilities.
On October 18, 2022, City Council approved the Center to be constructed on the west side of Sweeney Park. At the same meeting, the City Council also approved funding up to 50% of the Center costs, including design and construction, using the General Fund Unassigned Residual Fund Balance and funding the balance of project costs with a financing mechanism to be determined.
On February 21, 2023, City Council approved funding the Center in the amount up to $30 million with $15 million from the Unassigned Residual General Fund balance and financing the remainder from a Certificate of Participation. This approval included the provision that when staff returned with a final financing plan, information on the cost of funding a 50-meter pool and alternatives for funding the 50-meter pool were to be included.
On July 18, 2023, City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Griffin Structures, Inc. for the project management of the Center.
On September 19, 2023, City Council approved the sale of bonds in the amount of $16,000,000 to finance the construction of the Center. A detailed cost analysis comparing 50-meter and 30-meter pools was provided in the staff report.
On May 7, 2024, City Council approved the Phase I Design/Build Agreement for the Design and Permitting of the City Aquatic Center to Blach Construction (Blach).
DISCUSSION
The Phase I Design/Build Agreement with Blach included ELS as the primary design firm for the Center. The Phase I design process began May 13, 2024, with a joint meeting of the City Council and the Recreation and Parks Commission at Jean Sweeny Park. The community engagement process included two workshops, five stakeholder meetings and two citywide surveys.
Unrelated to services being provided by ELS, the City issued Blach a stop work order on June 3, 2024. However, to keep the project schedule on track, the City requested ELS to submit a scope of work for completing the community engagement process and design services through schematic design.
The Agreement with ELS (Exhibit 1) sets forth design services and provided for all remaining community engagement tasks from June 3, 2024, through schematic design. The design options continue to include a 30-meter pool and activity pool, a 50-meter pool, and potential infrastructure improvements for remaining areas of Jean Sweeney Open Space Park. The design will also include the associated building with locker rooms, office space, restrooms, and community room as well as the associated parking lot and amenities to support the Center. These are the same design elements included throughout the community input process. If the Blach agreement is terminated, subject to City Council approval, then staff will issue a new Request for Proposals/Request for Qualifications (RFP/RFQ) that resumes the scope of work at schematic design and bring a design/build agreement to City Council for approval.
ALTERNATIVES
• Approve the agreement with ELS in an amount not-to-exceed $503,687.50 for the City Aquatic Center project schematic design.
• Direct staff to stop the design process and issue a new RFP/RFQ for the design/build for the City Aquatic Center. This will delay the project by approximately six months.
• Direct staff to reconsider traditional project delivery methods, such as low-bid style of contracting. In this scenario, there is a high likelihood for significantly higher costs and schedule delays designing and constructing an aquatic center.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The cost of the ELS agreement for completion of community engagement and schematic design of the City Aquatic Center Project is not-to-exceed $503,687.50. Sufficient funds are available for this Agreement in Capital Improvement Project No. C55400 New City Aquatic Center.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-61.8 related to Design-Build. The 2023-2026 Strategic plan identifies the City Aquatic Center under the strategic priority “Enhance community Safety and Services” project CS10. This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action involved in this item is exempt from environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because the Aquatic Center Project is categorically exempt as an infill project under CEQA Guidelines, section 15332 (the project is consistent with the applicable General Plan designation and all applicable General Plan policies, as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations; the proposed development occurs within the city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses; the project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare of threatened species; approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality; and the site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services). Moreover, none of the exceptions to the exemption apply.
CLIMATE IMPACT
All buildings associated with the Center will meet a minimum LEED Silver certification pursuant to the City’s building ordinance. With additional funding, there are options that will be explored such as full electrification of the systems with solar or wind energy generation or raising the LEED certification to Gold or Platinum that would reduce the climate impacts of this facility.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with ELS, in an amount not-to-exceed $503,687.50 for schematic design services and community engagement for the Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Justin Long, Recreation and Parks Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibits:
1. ELS Architects, Inc. Agreement