COR System Plans: Schematic Design for Parks
 

PURPOSE
Consider approving the Schematic Design Proposal (consulting team of Bruce Jacobson and LHB).


BACKGROUND
The attached Schematic Design Proposal will take the park planning to the next level for ‘Lake Ramsey Commons’ and ‘Municipal Plaza’ described in the COR Parks + Public Places – Public Realm Framework document dated January 2016. The proposal outlines the specific tasks needed to translate existing concept ideas into Park Programming/Schematic Design recommendations. This work will help guide near-term excavation/grading operations needed to prepare both sites: the ‘Municipal Plaza’ site as it relates to the proposed adjacent development, and the ‘Lake Ramsey Commons’ or water-centric park site as it relates to additional (future) park improvements and grade elevations at that location. *One key element of this is the preliminary investigation to identify how much fill sand would be available for other development sites in The COR from the excavation of the 'lake feature'.  The Scope of work is identified at a not-to-exceed $30,000—and staff is recommending a $5,000 contingency that would be available only for tasks that are not specifically identified, and not conceived of at this time.


This Scope of work is consistent with:

(A) COR System Plans: Public Infrastructure Feasibility Study
The purpose of this previously considered Council case and associated work is to obtain concept/ feasibility information needed for the development of The COR. This information will be valuable for the City (help us better evaluate development proposals, help staff better negotiate development deals, help elected officials have policy discussions/ strategy discussions, help the city put together an accurate proforma for The COR, etc.). This information is also needed by developers/ prospects to evaluate projects. Additionally, two projects that will be evaluated and developed by the City are the two planned parks in the center of The COR—Municipal Plaza and the larger water-centric park space sometimes referred to as Ramsey Commons or Lake Ramsey.

Note: That Scope of work for the schematic design for the two parks in The COR, may be considered a companion planning project to the Bolton & Menk work order, which will allow both studies (infrastructure and parks) to be completed at the same time, and will allow them to "talk-to-each-other" and be more cohesive/ effective. Also, at about two months into the schematic work for the parks, and the public infrastructure study, a civil engineering component would be brought forward for Council consideration that would provide for a grading plan for both parks, and the fill sand volume to be available for development sites in The COR, at the time of mass grading of the water-centric park. Attached is scope of services estimate for the civil engineering aspects from Bolton & Menk (to be considered at a future date).



(B)  The COR Interim Development Plan
Considerable time, public engagement and prudent planning and dialog have occurred over the last two years that has resulted in the The COR Interim Development Plan. The COR Parks and Public Realm Framework (attached) was the parks planning element of this process and plan.  Moving forward with the Schematic Design for Municipal Plaza and the water-centric park at this time, will further refine and define these public realm elements, and also help promote development deals in The COR. The following are highlights of the recent timelines of boards' and commission's work, and/or approvals of The COR Interim Development Plan, which again, included The COR Parks and Public Realm Framework:

• Joint Planning Commission and City Council work session, April 25th 2017
• Economic Development Authority, May 25th, 2017
• Park and Recreation Commission, June 8th, 2017
• Environmental Policy Board, June 19th, 2017
• Planning Commission—many recent months, including a recommendation to formally distribute for public comment
• City Council, October 10th, 2017—distribute The COR Interim Development Plan

Please note that the COR 'Systems' Plan attachment contains important details on the various planning work underway, or remaining for The COR.



(C)  The Inland/Affinity Living project
The 175 unit market-rate apartment will be the west boundary of Municipal Plaza, and defining the interface between the apartment and park is an important element of site plan approvals.  While the The COR Parks and Public Realm Framework lists potential park program elements and estimated costs—none of these park features have been specifically selected, nor 'mapped' for the now defined shape of Municipal Plaza.

The apartment will also be across Ramsey Parkway from the water-centric park.  The Schematic Design process for this park space will also inform various aspects of the parkway design elements; driveway and parking area alignments, intersection geometrics, crosswalk locations, median configuration, drainage and storm water opportunities, etc.

The previously identified timeline for the Inland project is below.  Having some of the above design and feasibility work underway in the next couple months would seem prudent given the expected timeline for the project, provide answers on grade elevations, and also address how the apartment will be associated to this most prominent and important park in The COR.

PROCESS/TIMELINE
(1) Site Selection, August 2017 (completed)
(2) Purchase Agreement, September/ October 2017 (completed)
(3) Bolton & Menk Infrastructure Analysis (project discussed prior to this case)
(4) Entitlement Process, January/April 2018
(5) Construction, 2018/2019



(D) The City's 10-year Capital Improvement Program—Parks
The COR Parks and Public Realm Framework was the basis for the total cost estimates for build-out, of the two park project work sheets within the CIP (Municipal Plaza $3.5M, and the water-centric park $6.2M).  These estimates were assumptions of potential construction costs based on similar park development in the region, and 'rough numbers'.  For Municipal Plaza this equated to $40 per square foot, and for the larger 'Lake Ramsey Commons' $11 per square foot.

The schematic design project for these two parks, coupled with the later to be authorized civil engineering work, will result in plans (not construction documents) for these parks that have reliable cost specificity, allowing the Park and Recreation Commission and City Council to better consider future capital improvements.  The detailed plans will also allow many of the park program components to be done in increments or phases (E.g. mass grading, then landscape, then splash pad etc.).
 

N/A

The Scope of work for the schematic design for the two parks is a not-to-exceed amount of $30,000, plus contingency of $5,000. $40,000 was reserved from the 2016 Parks General Fund budget, anticipating this work to begin in 2017.

The balance of the funding for next phase of this project (civil engineering) is recommended to come from the Park Trust Fund.  It may be noted here, that the estimated Park Dedication proceeds from the Inland/Affinity Living project is $386,750

 

Bruce Jacobson and LHB have a demonstrated effectiveness in working with City Staff and the Park and Recreation Commission in developing the COR Parks + Public Places – Public Realm Framework document.  This plan has informed in a favorable way, many aspects of the The COR Interim Development Plan.

Additionally, Mr. Jacobson is intimately familiar with The COR, having worked with the City's staff, Park and Recreation Commission and City Council over the years—first with the Town Center park plan, and later the successful implementation of The Draw.  Accordingly, staff is very comfortable recommending the consulting team of Bruce Jacobson and LHB for the work this case discusses.

Staff would note, the Alternative: If the City Council prefers to complete a formal RFP process, staff will bring back a RFP document for approval in January (proposals would be received in February). A contract would be approved in March. This would add about 45-60 days to the process.

Motion to:
Authorize the attached Schematic Design Proposal (consulting team of Bruce Jacobson and LHB), at a not to exceed cost of $30,000, with a $5,000 contingency to complete concept designs and feasibility reports for the two park spaces in The COR.