Santa Monica’s city council members last week unanimously approved two consent calendar items directing more than $2.5 million to a paving project and an additional $102,000 to the Universally Accessible Playground.
City Hall will be moving forward with its Annual Paving and Sidewalk Repair project. The paving improvements associated with the City’s Bicycle Action Plan will cost $2,658,890.
California-based Toro Enterprises will receive a vast majority of the contract – $2,404,836, to be exact – to perform the paving services. Civil Source will receive the remaining balance – $254,054 – for construction management.
According to City staff, the paving and sidewalk repair project “would maintain the City’s streets at a high functional rating level, enhance pedestrian safety, and continue implementing recommendations of the City’s Bicycle Action Plan.”
Work to be completed as part of the project includes asphalt paving, slurry sealing, striping improvements, and sidewalk repair in locations damaged or uplifted by roots.
Funding for the project came from the General, Water, Wastewater, and Gas taxes as well as Proposition 1B, Measure V and grants.
Street and sidewalk maintenance occur annually.
According to City staff, street paving would take place north of Montana Avenue and east of 17th Street. The North of Montana neighborhood is also designated for sidewalk repair.
Also approved May 14 by council members was a contract modification for the Universally Accessible Playground, which is currently under construction at a portion of the beach near Ocean Park.
Council members approved an additional $102,762 to be paid to California-based Micon Construction, Inc., to bring the total contract value to $1,101,243 for one year.
Originally authorized to build the playground for $988,481 in September 2012, representatives requested from City Hall additional funding for construction services “due to unforeseen conditions and requirements during construction.”
City staff states construction began on October 15, 2012 and is expected to be completed by June 20 of this year.
Despite the “unforeseen conditions,” construction is still on pace to be complete by June 20, according to City staff.
Council members also approved the purchase of nine new police motorcycles from Hollister Honda. The purchase will cost City Hall $234,433.
The motorcycles will be used as part of Santa Monica Police Department’s Special Enforcement Division.
Finally, the panel on the dais approved a request by Council member Ted Winterer to allocate $10,650 from the Council’s discretionary funds to cover the Ocean Park Association’s Fourth of July parade. The funds are expected to cover SMPD’s presence at the parade, medics, rerouting of Big Blue Bus lines, bike valets, parking, trash collection, and signage.
