Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council Regular Meeting of March 26, 2019
Title
NORTH SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
SUBCOMMITTEE AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
FULFILLMENT OVERSIGHT ROLE
(City Manager Suja Lowenthal)
Body
Recommended Action:
Recommendation
The North School Reconstruction Project Subcommittee (Subcommittee) members recommend that the City Council authorize the Subcommittee to continue to serve as the Council’s representatives on the joint City and Hermosa Beach City School District collaborative charged with overseeing the fulfillment of the North School Reconstruction Project Memorandum of Understanding executed on February 27, 2019.
Body
Executive Summary:
On January 31, 2019, the City Council created and appointed a temporary subcommittee to represent the City on the joint City and Hermosa Beach City School District collaborative to negotiate elements of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two parties delineating mutually agreed upon outcomes through the North School Reconstruction Project. On February 27, 2019, an MOU was signed by the City of Hermosa Beach and Hermosa Beach City School District demonstrating the commitment to work together collaboratively to safely manage transportation, traffic, and student loading and unloading activities, primarily through the development and implementation of a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan (NTMP).
Background:
In January 2019, Council appointed Mayor Stacey Armato and Councilmember Justin Massey to the North School Reconstruction Project temporary subcommittee to negotiate on behalf of the City with the Hermosa Beach City School District regarding commitments and responsibilities related to reconstruction of North Elementary School located at 417 25th Street.
On February 27, 2019, the City and School District approved a Memorandum of Understanding (Attachment 1) to address North School project transportation, traffic, student loading and unloading, pedestrian and vehicle travel routes, offsite drop-off locations, cost sharing and other key issues. The MOU provides for retaining a transportation planner/traffic engineer, development of a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan, scheduling of community meetings, and completion of other key milestones as detailed in a staff report presented to Council on February 26, 2019 (Attachment 2).
Discussion:
On March 18, 2019, at a joint meeting between the Hermosa Beach City School District and City Council, School Board President Douglas Gardner outlined key project timeline and milestone dates for approvals, construction, and opening of the school including Coastal Commission project approval, and pursuit of state matching funds by the School District to defray the cost of the project.
The School Board and Council also noted the key MOU deliverables including development of the joint Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of a Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan. Staff anticipates returning to Council with a Draft Scope of Work for this RFP and an updated timeline for the NTMP process on April 9th.
To ensure that the MOU elements are addressed and project planning, operational, fiscal and administrative obligations are met, it is recommended that Council authorize the North School Reconstruction Project Subcommittee to continue representing the City on the joint City and Hermosa Beach City School District collaborative charged with overseeing the fulfillment of the North Elementary School Project Memorandum of Understanding.
General Plan Consistency:
PLAN Hermosa, the City’s General Plan, was adopted by the City Council in August 2017. The development of the NTMP related to North School would help implement our collective community vision to provide exceptional local schools to the Hermosa Beach community and support several goals of the Governance Element, Land Use Element, and Mobility Element.
Governance Element
Goal 1 - A high degree of transparency and integrity in the decision-making process.
• 1.6 Long-term considerations. Prioritize decisions that provide long-term community benefit and discourage decisions that provide short-term community benefit but reduce long-term opportunities.
Goal 2 - The community is active and engaged in decision-making process.
• 2.7 Major planning efforts. Require major planning efforts, policies, or projects to include a public engagement effort.
Goal 8 - A performance-based management and benchmarking program.
• 8.1 Community Indicators. Utilize performance metrics, standards, and data collection procedures to evaluate progress towards goals.
Land Use Element
Goal 7 - Adequate space and appropriate integration of community and school facilities that support physical activity, civic life and social connections for residents of all ages and interests.
• 7.3 School modernization upgrades. Support Hermosa Beach City School District plans to renovate and modernize school facilities to meet evolving educational needs in a manner that minimizes burdens to adjacent neighborhoods.
• 7.4 Flexible use of school facilities. Collaborate with the school district to identify appropriate temporary and flexible uses of school facilities that minimize impacts to surrounding neighborhoods during dips or fluctuations in school enrollment numbers.
Mobility Element
7.1 Safe public right-of-ways. Encourage that all public right-of-ways are safe for all users at all times of day where users of all ages and ability feel comfortable participating in both motorized and non-motorized travel.
Fiscal Impact:
While there is no direct fiscal impact associated with this action, as with other subcommittees, staff time will be utilized for coordination and implementation of work plans. The City would share costs with the Hermosa Beach City School District related to the Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan, resultant infrastructure upgrades and operational costs as specified in the project Memorandum of Understanding.
Attachments:
1. Link to North Elementary School Project Memorandum of Understanding - 02-27-19
2. Link to City Council 02-26-19 Meeting - Item 6b
Respectfully Submitted by: Kevin Nagata, Management Analyst
Concur: Leeanne Singleton, Environmental Analyst
Concur: Nico De Anda-Scaia, Assistant to the City Manager
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Legal Review: Mike Jenkins, City Attorney
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager