Approve agreement with Wilson Design Studio Landscape Architecture (WDSLA, LLC) in the amount of $419,315 to provide architectural and engineering services for the Knights Landing Community Park for the period of July 15, 2022 through July 15, 2025; and authorize the County Administrator or designee to execute agreement amendments within 10% contingency, not to exceed $461,247. (No general fund impact) (Perez/Sabatini)

In 2018, the County embarked on a rigorous community-based planning process to develop a master plan for a new community park in the heart of Knights Landing.  A “project development team” has been working collaboratively with the County and the community for the past 4 years.  The 10-member Team consists of representatives of community non-profits, local youth leadership, local business owners, and community members.  The Project Development Team met regularly in the community of Knights Landing to plan robust public outreach and gather information on a desirable location and potential park amenities for the community.  The project development team put together a detailed schedule to ensure project readiness for funding and construction. 

Outreach efforts have included participation in community events, distribution of a multilingual survey, and focused community discussions.  Early on in this process, a park site was identified: an unused 7+ acre parcel that is owned by Woodland Joint Unified School District (WJUSD) and is adjacent to the Science and Technology Academy in Knights Landing.  The County and WJUSD had executed a Memorandum of Understanding and Joint Use Agreement (MOU) for the construction and use of the park in 2019 that expired on June 30, 2020 due to delays in obtaining funding for the park.  However, WJUSD and the County have negotiated a new MOU for the park (approved by the WJUSD Board on June 16, 2022 and by the Board of Supervisors on June 28, 2022) following the allocation of $1,620,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for Phase I of the park and efforts are underway to secure additional financing for Phases II and III of the park.

Desired amenities were identified through robust community outreach and public participation in the design process over the last four. years.  These amenities include a regulation soccer field, a little league baseball field/softball field, a full-size basketball court, a multi-age play area with play structures, a public walking trail, shaded gathering areas, picnic areas, and additional parking. 

The park can be constructed as a single project, or in three distinct phases.  An exhibit depicting each park development phase is provided as Attachment A to this staff report.

Phase 1, which consists of the soccer field, full-size basketball court, ball wall, group picnic area, and associated walking paths and landscaping, will be constructed with the Board's approval of an $1.62M allocation of ARPA funding. 

The proposed park has completed CEQA and was designed to be compliant with all existing floodplain regulations.  A CEQA Notice of Exemption (SCH# 2019070756) is on file with the State Office of Planning and Research.  

Current Request
The current request is that the Board consider approval of a 3-year contract with Wilson Design Studio Landscape Architecture (WDSLA) to provide architectural and engineering services in support of the Knights Landing Community Park.  Specifically, services to be provided under this agreement include creation of construction documents, technical specifications, and opinion of probable construction costs for the Knights Landing Community Park, including 100% final construction documents and assistance with bidding and permitting.  WDSLA was the most qualified respondent to a request for qualifications (RFQ CAORFQDL2201- Landscape Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Documents for Knights Landing Community Park).  

Staff have collaborated extensively with the Knights Landing Park Project Development Team, District 5 Office, the Office of County Counsel, the Department of Financial Services, the ARP Parks & County Facilities Work Group, Capital Investment Committee and the Yolo County Parks, Recreation & Wildlife Advisory Committee on this item. 

The County issued a request for qualifications for these services (RFQ CAORFQDL2201- Landscape Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Documents for Knights Landing Community Park). WDSLA was the most qualified respondent, with an average score of 96.57 out of 100 possible points.